/ 15 March 2009

A new daily for Zimbabwe

Zimbabweans will soon be able to pick an independent daily news­paper alongside state-run dailies The Herald and The Chronicle.

NewsDay is a new title in the stable of newspapers belonging to Trevor Ncube. Ncube already owns weekly titles The Independent and The Standard, published in Zimbabwe, and the Mail & Guardian, published in South Africa.

NewsDay will be published every day except Sunday. The Independent and The Standard will continue to be published on Fridays and Sundays respectively.

Ncube said: “As a local invester we are encouraged by the opportunities that the global political agreement offers. While there have been teething problems we believe that the new inclusive Zimbabwean government realises the importance of creating an economic environment that encourages local and international investors.”

Ncube said his company had been waiting for a conducive environment for this project and was encouraged by the fact that the legislative framework had been improved by the three political parties late last year ahead of the signing of the political agreement.

He said that the company had also been encouraged by the discussions that it had had with the inclusive government and the regulatory authorities. “We have briefed both the inclusive government and the regulatory authorities and we are confident that we will be licensed as soon as possible. We don’t foresee any obstacles at all,” Ncube said.

Ncube said the task facing the new inclusive government will be assisted by the re-emergence of a vibrant and independent media sector that will empower both the people and those in authority. “We all need accurate information to make vital decisions and right now both the people and those in authority are poorly served.”

“Strong and competitive nations are those that create a market place for ideas where ultimately the best ideas win. Right now such a market place does not exist and Zimbabwe is poorer for it,” Ncube said.

The NewsDay project along with related operations is expected to create more than 300 jobs in the publishing sector, at an investment of US$4-million over two years. Ncube is also encouraged by the authority’s view that NewsDay is not just about press freedom but also represents an important financial investment.