New weekly paper for Gweru

Platinum News is set to be the fifth community weekly operating from the Midlands capital, Gweru Today can confirm.

Currently the city is home to The Times, The Sun, The Northern Citizen, and Midlands Monitor.

 

Monitor publisher Tendai, with husband Tonderai

The Midlands Monitor-run Midlands Daily only published for a week before operational costs choked the daily paper. It was owned by award-winning female journalist Tendai Manhundu-Marobana, once an editor at The Sun.

However only the government-controlled The Times can be expected at Gweru newsstands every week as the rest struggle to publish once a week.

Willie 'Blango' Mponda

Newman  Mugada, the brains behind Platinum News, confirmed the paper  is set to roll this month.

ZMC assistant registrar Thabang Farai Manhika

"Actually, we are working on our first copy, to be published at this end of this week," said Mugada, better-known as 'Newmara' to his journalist peers.

The paper will be using former Moto magazine offices at Mambo Press along Senga Road, and will be printed by the Catholic-run printer.

Mugada is also a one-time editor at veteran journalist Willie Mponda's The Sun. His column WardWatch was a favourite of many as the journalist sought to expose evils (and good) by local councillors, who were eventually suspended by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

 Zimbabwe Media Commission assistant registrar Thabang Farai Manhika all but confirmed the development.

"Platinum News? Yes, I think they were registered," he told this reporter Monday morning.