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Andrew Chimedza Herald Reporter
The appointment of Pikirayi Deketeke, a career journalist as group chief executive officer of Zimpapers (1980) Ltd, is a milestone for journalists, the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) said yesterday.

ZUJ also congratulated Mr Delma Lupepe for his appointment as the group’s chairman.

“The union would like to congratulate the appointing authorities for recognising the value that a journalist like Pikirayi can contribute,” reads the statement.

The union said those who worked hard should be given the merits they deserved. ZUJ secretary general Foster Dongozi said Deketeke and Mr Lupepe’s appointments would provide an opportunity for continued engagement between the union and the group to improve the working conditions for journalists.

“We wish the two well in their offices and the union will stand ready to avail itself on the issues pertaining to the improvement of the Zimbabwean media industry from a professional, ethical and development perspective and the working conditions and labour rights of all workers, particularly journalists,” said Mr Dongozi.

Deketeke has worked for Zimpapers since 1987 when he joined the Sunday Mail as a junior reporter.

He rose through the ranks to the post of editor of The Herald in March 2001, a position he held for eight years. In May 2009, he was appointed group editor-in-chief, assuming the responsibility of implementing and guiding the editorial policy of the entire group’s newspapers. Deketeke has been leading the group’s media strategy, which has seen Zimpapers launching new products such as popular market tabloids, H-Metro and B-Metro, the country’s first commercial radio station, Star FM, and winning the licence for metro radio station in Mutare, Diamond FM.