Elias Mambo Appointed Zimpapers Group Editorial Executive

Takudzwa Karowangoro 

Veteran investigative journalist Elias Mambo has been appointed Group Editorial Executive at Zimpapers, the country’s state-owned media conglomerate, placing him at the helm of editorial strategy across its print, broadcast, and digital platforms.

The appointment positions Mambo as the chief overseer of editorial content spanning newspapers, radio stations, television, and online outlets at a time when the media house is undergoing wide-ranging internal reforms amid ongoing financial strain.

Previously serving as General Manager and Head of News, Mambo joined Zimpapers after a career at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), where he worked as a senior reporter. His elevation is viewed as part of a broader reorganisation of editorial leadership that seeks to balance institutional continuity with an aggressive shift towards digital-first operations.

Confirming his new role via social media, Mambo said his responsibilities would include coordinating editorial activities across nine print publications, four radio stations, and one television channel. Central to his mandate, he said, is the rollout of a fully integrated “superdesk” newsroom model designed to merge print, broadcast, and digital workflows into a single, unified operation.

Zimpapers’ restructuring comes against the backdrop of mounting economic pressures. The media group has faced persistent challenges, including delayed remuneration, shrinking advertising income, and declining newspaper sales. These pressures have accelerated the move away from traditional print-focused structures towards a converged, technology-driven newsroom.

In recent months, several editorial positions tied to hard-copy production have been phased out as the company pivots to a digital-led strategy. While management has described the changes as a necessary modernisation drive, critics argue they reflect an urgent effort to stabilise the organisation financially.

Media observers have linked Zimpapers’ commercial difficulties to long-standing concerns over editorial credibility, pointing to years of perceived political influence that weakened audience trust and contributed to declining readership.

The newly established superdesk — commissioned late last year — brings together television, radio, print, and online teams to centralise content production, improve efficiency, and reduce operational costs.

Speaking at the launch of the converged newsroom, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere described the initiative as part of a broader digital transformation aligned with global media trends and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 development agenda. He said the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics would strengthen public information delivery.

Zimpapers board chairperson Doreen Sibanda hailed the superdesk as a critical step towards data-driven, platform-neutral journalism, while Acting Chief Executive Officer William Chikoto noted that the restructuring acknowledges a fundamental shift in audience behaviour towards digital consumption.