Zimpapers Poised to Reclaim Blue Chip Status

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Zimpapers poised to reclaim blue chip status

Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00
Masvingo Bureau
Zimbabwe Herald

Zimpapers is poised to reclaim its blue chip status through the ongoing efforts to make the organisation an integrated media house with interests in newspapers, radio and television, board chairperson Dr Paul Chimedza has said.

Dr Chimedza said on Friday last week that Zimpapers was on course to becoming an integrated media house.

Dr Chimedza was speaking at a cocktail party held by Zimbabwe’s largest media house during the official switch-on of the country’s fastest growing radio station, StarFM, that was attended by top business leaders at a hotel in Masvingo.

“We are happy that the company is doing very well and is actually poised to become a blue chip company on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange through the ongoing strides to make it an integrated media house with interests in newspapers, radio and television,” he said.

“Our thrust as a board and company at the moment is for Zimpapers to reclaim its blue chip status like in the 1980s when the company was among the best listed companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and we are happy that we are moving in the right lane.’’

Dr Chimedza said the major thrust was to make sure that Zimbabwe had an indigenous integrated media house that told the country’s story.

He said Zimpapers was striving to become a major player in the Zimbabwean media through its various products.

“We want to grow like other media houses such as Russia Today and SABC in South Africa, that is our ultimate goal to be able to cover all the four corners of the country with our media products,’’ he said.

Dr Chimedza said the company would acquire a television licence once Government started inviting applications.

As part of the launch of StarFM in Masvingo, Dr Chimedza handed over blankets, day-old chicks and chicken feeds to members of Gutu South constituency at a road show held in that area.

“StarFm said they want to give blankets to the elderly,” said Dr Chimedza at the ceremony. “Hatigumiri ipapo, tinoziva kuti kunema youth, tinoda kuti tivape ma projects ehuku.”

Dr Chimedza urged the youths to use the chicken project as a springboard to embark on other bigger projects.

The blankets were donated to the elderly from the seven wards in the constituency, while the day-old chicks were donated to the youths.

Tapiwanashe Mawere, a youth leader from ward 26 under Chief Mukaro, expressed gratitude for the donation and urged unity among the youths.

Mbuya Nikitai Makavi said the blankets came at an appropriate time as winter was approaching.

The StarFM roadshows in Masvingo were witnessed by top Zimpapers officials among them the group’s Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer Mr Pikirayi Dekete, Zimpapers Harare branch general manager Mr Samuel Bepe and Bulawayo branch general manager Mr Walter Chipwaya.