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Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited (Zimpapers), the country’s largest integrated media group continues to rule the roost following the winning of its stables in the print media and electronic categories at the esteemed 2023 Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Superbrand Awards in Harare yesterday, with The Herald restating its dominance as Zimbabwe’s number one daily newspaper.

The Herald won the Superbrand of the Year Award (2023) in the print media category, while The Sunday Mail was the second runner-up.

This year’s event is running under the theme: “Anchoring Brands Success on ESD”. NewsDay was the first runner-up in the 15th edition of the annual business awards, held to recognise excellence among local brands, and promote competitiveness among local firms.

On winning the award, the Editor of The Herald Hatred Zenenga said: “Once again, we are delighted our brand continues to dominate in the print media sector. We belong up there, soaring higher and higher.”

He emphasised that The Herald’s continued success was through collective effort from the editorial team, advertising and marketing, circulation, finance and management.

“We owe it all to the Digital and Publishing team for giving it their all,” he added.

The prestigious awards also saw Zimpapers’ Star FM radio clinching the gong in the electronic media category, with Radio Zimbabwe winning the first runner-up honour, while Power FM won the second runner-up award.

Editor of The Sunday Mail Victoria Ruzvidzo dedicated the award to God, saying nothing beats teamwork, determination and willpower.

In a speech read on her behalf by Permanent Secretary, Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, who was the guest of honour, said brands should prioritise environmental, social and governance considerations in their operations and practices to encourage consumers to be mindful of such.

The Herald is Zimbabwe’s largest daily newspaper established in 1891. It was formed as part of the Argus Company of South Africa, which sent William Ernest Fairbridge north as its agent.

Fairbridge established the first newspaper in Zimbabwe using a makeshift cyclostyle “press” in a hut in what is now Africa Unity Square in Harare. As the first editor of The Herald, he published the first issue of The Mashonaland Herald and Zambesian Times, forerunner to the Rhodesia Herald, on June 27, 1891.

It is Zimpapers’ flagship. Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, the Zimpapers Group is an integrated media house that holds 12 newspaper publications, among them, The Herald, The Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News and Manica Post, four radio stations and a television channel.

The radio division comprises Star FM, Diamond FM, Nyaminyami FM and CapiTalk FM, while Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) is the group’s other subsidiary.

To capture events as they happen, the publication established eight bureaus across the country’s 10 provinces, headed by bureau chiefs. The Herald’s target market principally encompasses Zimbabweans resident in the country and the Diaspora, as well as the rest of the world, riding on the huge appetite for information on Zimbabwe in the wake of the Second Republic’s global reengagement call under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa.

The market consists of different segments. Therefore, the papers’ genres are variably tailored for each segment, while offering general news and current affairs analyses to the entire market.

Nonetheless, the publication has maintained a strong digital footprints with a reach of six million readers on its digital platforms such as Zimpapers App for online readers, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram in addition to its Website.

Therefore, the paper of repute has managed to strike a balance between print and digital preferences to keep abreast with the times. That way, The Herald remains the strongest player on the media landscape in Zimbabwe.

The publication was ranked as the most widely read paper by the Zimbabwe All Media Products (ZAMPS) in 2011 and 2012 with 916 714 and 799 950 readers, respectively.

Having earned trust as an integral mainstream newspaper, The Herald influences decision making in business, politics, economics and other spheres. It, indeed, influences policymaking.