Zimbabwe: Independent printing house opens for business

Alpha Media Holdings has officially unveiled its new printing house in Harare, marking an important step towards re-establishing an independent press in Zimbabwe.

The printing house is part of AMH's ambitious plans to develop its media business that include launching what would be Zimbabwe's only independent daily, NewsDay. The last independent daily was forced out of business more than five years ago.

However, although in operational terms everything is in place to launch the daily, it does not yet have a publishing licence. Hard-line elements within the government seem reluctant to release their control of the press as they stall on appointing members of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, the body tasked with allocating licences. Publishers have been warned by officials not to attempt to publish before a licence has been granted. Despite the delay, AMH remains hopeful that it will soon obtain the necessary licence.

Representatives of the local and international community attended the opening, which was officially conducted by the Mayor of Harare. The printing house's Solna web offset press is the most sophisticated in the country and provides a major advance in printing services in the capital.