Online Reporter
Zimpapers Writer
ZIMPAPERS has appointed Chronicle Editor Lawson Mabhena as its new Head of News as the country’s largest integrated media group steps up its transformation into a modern, digital-first and platform-agnostic organisation.
In a statement issued yesterday, Zimpapers chief executive officer Mr William Chikoto confirmed the appointment, saying the leadership changes form part of the company’s strategy to build a converged newsroom capable of delivering high-quality content across multiple platforms in real time.
“These leadership changes are aligned with our vision of building a truly converged, platform-agnostic newsroom capable of producing high-quality content for every audience, on every platform, in real time,” said Mr Chikoto.
Mabhena will oversee the group’s integrated content factory, the central newsroom responsible for producing news and current affairs content for its newspapers, radio stations, television platforms and digital channels.
“In his new role, he (Mabhena) will chair the Super Desk, the central co-ordination hub in Zimpapers’ Intake-Output editorial model, which is designed to streamline the gathering, development and distribution of content across multiple platforms.
“The model seeks to promote greater newsroom collaboration, improve efficiency and expand audience reach while retaining the distinct identities of individual publications and platforms,” read the statement.
Zimpapers said editors across its publications and platforms, including The Herald, The Sunday Mail, The Chronicle, radio stations and television news services, will retain full editorial authority and responsibility for content published or broadcast under their respective brands.
Mabhena brings extensive newsroom leadership experience to the role, having previously served as editor of The Chronicle.
Before his appointment at the Bulawayo-based daily, he was News and Politics Editor at The Herald, where he played a pivotal role in the publication’s national news coverage and political reporting.
Zimpapers said Mabhena’s appointment forms part of a broader editorial restructuring programme aimed at enhancing content quality, accelerating digital transformation and optimising resources across the group.
As part of the restructuring exercise, Zimpapers has also converged the editorship of The Chronicle and Sunday News, with Hatred Zenenga appointed editor of both publications.
Zenenga, who previously served as editor of Sunday News, brings significant editorial experience to the position, having also held the role of editor at The Herald and The Manica Post.
Former Head of News Mr Elias Mambo has been appointed Group Digital Services Executive.
In his new role, Mambo will spearhead the monetisation of Zimpapers’ growing digital content portfolio while overseeing the development of new digital revenue streams, audience growth initiatives and content commercialisation strategies across the group.
Mr Chikoto said the appointments position the company to accelerate its evolution from a traditional media organisation into a modern multimedia enterprise driven by content excellence, innovation and sustainable growth.
The appointments take immediate effect.
