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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
ZIMPAPERS has launched two free suburban community newspapers that cover elite Harare suburbs as it strives to maintain its dominance in the country’s media space.

The Avondale Edition and the Borrowdale Edition will cover suburbs which include Mt Pleasant, Mabelreign, Marlborough, Westgate, Ridgeview, Milton Park, Strathaven and Bluff Hill, Highlands, Greendale and Chisipite suburbs.

In a statement, Zimpapers Public Relations and Corporate Affairs Manager Ms Beatrice Tonhodzayi said the suburban newspapers, although a new concept in the country, is common in the developed world.

She said locals from the mentioned suburbs have already shown interest in the publications.

“As it moves to consolidate its position as a leader in content creation and dissemination through its various platforms, Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd has unveiled two free community weekly publications; running under the title ‘Suburban’ in Harare. The two editions, which are advertisement-driven, are focused on the Avondale and Borrowdale areas as well as other suburbs in the vicinity. The view is to grow the footprint serviced by the community papers over time,” said Ms Tonhodzayi.

She said the publications will be led by former Chronicle Editor and Southern Times Editor Itayi Musengeyi.

She called on advertisers to take advantage of the publication which aims at reaching their targeted audiences.

“It is such a simple concept in that if you are operating or offering services that are targeted at residents in Borrowdale and surrounding areas; we as Zimpapers have offered you a publication that is going to reach out to those specific audiences. The fact that the Suburban editions are free publications also means they will reach out to many people, which is what every advertiser wants,” she said

Musengeyi said the publications seek to give a voice to residents by covering their religious, entertainment, sports, academics among others social issues.

“Suburban newspapers contain ‘hyper local content’, which basically is community news. We realise that people in communities want to read more about what is happening in their locality than what is happening elsewhere. Through these publications; we speak to such readers and track their interests like how they spend their weekends and where they like to hang out,” said Musengeyi.