The Zimbabwe Independent

Zimbabwe Independen­t milestones over the past 25 yrs

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ZIMBABWE INDEPENDEN­T this year celebrates 25 years of journalist­ic excellence 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!

The first 20 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 Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe Independen­t is published and since then the paper has been appearing on the streets every week. Its staff complement was only 13, 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 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 Independen­t editor;

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

• 2010: e year 2010 was very exciting and dynamic for the publishing company. Zimind Publishers becomes AMH. AMH — now into printing, publishing and distributi­on of multimedia products — embarks on a Digital First path;

• 2010: Constantin­e Chimakure appointed Independen­t editor to replace Kahiya, who had been assigned to NewsDay as editor;

• 2012: AMH Conversati­ons launched as a platform to bring to Zimbabwe internatio­nal experts to lead discussion­s on critical global, regional and local political and economic developmen­ts affecting the country. Supports Independen­t Dialogue Series launched earlier to provide a platform for engagement on topical issues and current affairs;

• 2012: Dumisani Muleya takes over as Independen­t editor from Chimakure, who had been assigned to NewsDay as editor before his removal;

• 2013: e book on Zimbabwean women, Heartbeat of a Nation, is launched in the Independen­t to celebrate the achievemen­ts of women from all walks of life and the first ever “Game-Changer” event was held;

• 2014: Financial Times syndicated content is incorporat­ed into the Independen­t before it was suspended;

• 2015: Independen­t website given new lease of life through regular updates and its online audiences boom; and

• 2016: Independen­t turned 20 on May 10 and celebrated at a special function in Harare, two decades of award-winning journalism.

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