ZIMBABWE’S independent newspaper publishers are up in arms about the government launching a tabloid newspaper yesterday — without a licence.

Only the government is allowed to publish daily newspapers in Zimbabwe.

Webster Shamu, the media minister, tried to cool tempers by claiming that state newspapers are exempt from licensing requirements.

Zimbabwe Independent newspapers, owned by Trevor Ncube, proprietor of the Mail & Guardian, has been waiting for a licence for more than six months.

The group, which publishes two weekly papers, the Standard and the Zimbabwe Independent, wants to launch a daily, NewsDay.

“We are going to launch our newspaper and invite the minister without waiting for the Zimbabwe Media Commission to be formed,” threatened a frustrated senior staff member at Zimbabwe Independent newspapers.

Other independent dailies waiting for a licence include the Daily Gazette and the Daily News.

The government said it launched its new tabloid, H-Metro, to take over the market before independent media were allowed to operate.

By AFP