Zimbabwe Independent milestones over the past 25 yrs

Zimbabwe Independent this year celebrates 25 years of journalistic excellency and awardwinning journalism.

In the coming weeks, we will be celebrating our milestones. We have been playing our fundamental role in holding leaders accountable, exposing abuse of power and corruption and contributing to democratic processes. We are 25 years in May and still going strong!

first 15 years

1996: Current Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) chairperson Trevor Ncube and business partners Clive Wilson and Clive Murphy launch Zimind Publishers, publishing the first issue of the Independent in May that year. Ncube and his colleagues wanted to provide an alternative quality, independent and credible voice in the media focusing on the political economy, while also ensuring pluralism and diversity in a media landscape dominated by state-controlled media outlets; On May 10, 1996, the first edition of the Independent is published and since then, the paper has been appearing on the streets every week. Its staff complement was only 13 people in one location at the time. e paper focused on local, regional and international news, with a special emphasis on business and financial issues even though politics always loom large in its coverage; 1997: e Independent launches its website, becoming the first ever local publication to do so; entering the digital age ahead of older competitors. Now AMH, the Independent’s holding company, which also publishes the NewsDay and Standard, has over 6,5 million unique visits and 16 million page views on its online platforms. AMH also owns Heart & Soul Teleradio, the first teleradio station in the country;

 1998: e Quoted Companies Survey magazine, an enduring product of the paper, is introduced. It has now become one of business’s most favoured local media products;

 1999: Another innovative product is launched, the Banks and Banking Survey magazine, a platform for in-depth analysis of banks and the financial sector’s performance. It has become the most authoritative publication in that area;

 2002: Ncube, formerly Financial Gazette editor, resigns as the Independent editor, after taking over the Mail & Guardian in South Africa. Iden Wetherell replaces him;

 2004: Zimind buys Munn Marketing (Pvt) Ltd from Allan Munn and family. is purchase allows Zimind to control the distribution aspect of its business;

 2004: Vincent Kahiya takes over from Wetherell as the Independent editor.

 2009: Zimind buys Strand MultiPrint. e acquisition allows Zimind to have its own independent press for competitiveness and cost efficiency.