A fire that broke out this week at Zimbabwe’s only newsprint producer has crippled production, the official Herald daily said on Thursday.
Newsprint for the handful of newspapers still operating in Zimbabwe comes from the eastern border city of Mutare, which lies close to a number of timber plantations.
But in a dire blow for the struggling newspaper industry, firefighters had to be called in to Mutare Board and Paper Mills on Tuesday night to douse the flames of the freak fire, the report said.
”An alert worker on duty noticed the fire and tried to put it out, but failed. He then raised the fire alarm, said police spokesperson Brian Makomeke.
There was no water in the fire hydrant to put out the blaze, worsening the damage, the report said.
At least one machine has been severely damaged and pulp products destroyed. No foul play is suspected.
Residents of Mutare said there were no copies of the Herald on sale early on Thursday morning. The price of the paper was raised again last week to Z$25 000, the same as a loaf of bread.
The newspaper industry is struggling to keep pace with Zimbabwe’s skyrocketing inflation, believed to have topped 4 530% in May. The authorities have yet to release official figures.
Operations at Mutare Board and Paper Mills were expected to return to normal in seven days, the Herald said. — Sapa-dpa