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Chronicle Reporter
THE editor of the Chronicle, Mduduzi Mathuthu, has announced senior editorial changes.
Former Features Editor Kennedy Mavhumashava has been promoted to the position of Assistant Editor with immediate effect, taking over from Isaac Waniwa who becomes the Managing and Production Editor.
Clemence Manyukwe has been named News Editor, joining from the Financial Gazette where he was Political Editor. He will be deputised by senior reporter Prosper Ndlovu, who becomes Deputy News Editor.
Mkhululi Sibanda, who was News Editor for over a decade, joins our sister paper, Sunday News, as Assistant Editor.
Mernat Mafirakurewa becomes the Business Editor, joining from NewsDay where he was News Editor. He takes over from Arnold Mutemi, who has replaced Mavhumashava as Features Editor.
Melissa Mpofu also joins from NewsDay as Showbiz Editor, taking over from Daisy Jeremani who moves to the position of Gender Editor.
Former Sports Editor Lovemore Dube has been promoted to Senior Sports Editor.
Mathuthu also promoted several junior reporters to senior positions — Leonard Ncube, Ricky Zililo, Factmore Dzobo, Oliver Kazunga and Patrick Chitumba.
Thandeka Moyo, Yoliswa Dube and Auxillia Katongomara have joined the Chronicle news team, which also welcomes Lucky Tshuma and Obey Sibanda as photographers.
Garikai Madende, formerly with NewZimbabwe.com, and Farai Mupambiwa, previously with Southern Eye, have been recruited to the production team as graphic designers.
Mathuthu said the appointments were a precursor to exciting new changes aimed at re-establishing the Chronicle as an important voice in the national media.
“We’ve recruited some of the best journalists, photographers and designers in Zimbabwe to beef up our team, and this is a serious statement we’re making about where we want to be as a publication,” Mathuthu said.
“The Chronicle is changing, and in the coming months — once we’ve our new printing press being donated by the People’s Republic of China in place — we’re going to abandon the broadsheet look for compact (tabloid size) which is more cost-effective and will allow us to do the journalism we want with a better design, more pages and full colour throughout.”
Mathuthu said the editorial appointments in the midst of a tough operating environment were proof of the Zimbabwe Newspapers Group’s commitment to quality journalism and staying ahead of the competition.
He added: “It’s particularly significant that the Chronicle is strengthening and consolidating in the same year that we’re celebrating 120 years. Starting next month, we’re going to organise programmes to thank our readers, advertisers and staff who have made this great organisation what it is. over the years”
The company has just recently invested heavily in refurbishing the Chronicle building, including upgrades in equipment and furniture.
The Zimpapers portfolio includes our sister papers Sunday News, The Herald, The Sunday Mail, B-Metro, H-Metro, Manica Post, Umthunywa, Kwayedza, Zimtravel, Bridal Magazine, The Southern Times as well as radio station StarFM and printing arm, Natprint.
Bongani Ndlovu