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Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited chairman Mr Delma Lupepe (right) chats with Chief Executive Officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke (centre) and Group Chief Finance Officer Mr Farai Matanhire after Zimpapers annual general meeting in Harare on Thursday. — Picture by Justin Mutenda

Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE Stock Exchange listed Zimpapers will push growth through the creation of new audiences as a way of boosting the topline and profitability. Group chief executive Mr Pikirayi Deketeke told the Annual General Meeting on Thursday that the group was redefining its operating model as part of an objective of becoming a fully intergrated media house.

“We are putting resources towards innovation because we feel very strongly that an organisation that does not embrace change and continue to look at its products and market itself for the future will not achieve much.

“It’s one thing to contain costs and thereby maintain profitability but more importantly one needs to constantly grow the market and in the process create new revenue streams.”

Zimpapers’ new products in 2016 include DiamondFM, which now controls 97 percent of Mutare listernership since its inception, as well as websites for H-Metro and SportsZone.

This is in addition to its already existing and extensive array of print, broadcast and digital products.

Performance in the five months to May was mixed with revenue declining seven percent while good cost control saw the operating line increase five percent.

“Even though the environment is very difficult we’ve done slightly better than we did last year,” he said.

“In terms of revenue we are below prior year by about 7 percent because it’s difficult to spend more dollars, but we are protecting our bottom-line and trying to grow it as much as possible so we expect that by year-end we will have a relatively healthy profit.”

Newspapers continued to dominate on revenue contribution at 80 percent, while the commercial printing and broadcasting divisions both contributed 10 percent.

Mr Deketeke said the performance of the broadcasting division was on a growth trajectory. Zimpapers’ broadcasting division includes StarFM and DiamondFM while the group is looking at expanding into television.

“While newspapers remain our core business but broadcasting is beginning to creep in to make sure that we diversify our portfolio of products that we’re offering the market and we’re still holding on to our commercial printing business whose performance is beginning to improve,” he said adding that the group “believes in being read, seen and heard.”

On profitability in the period, Harare contributed the bulk at 50 percent while Star FM brought in 25 percent and Bulawayo 24 percent. NatPrint overturned a loss position to contribute 1 percent.

“So in terms of our portfolio, I think we’re in a relatively good place as the group has maintained a strong grip in terms of market share.”

The group has utilised capex to the tune of $547,000 this year to date in the purchase of equipment for its commercial printing division, building renovations and setting up of the DiamondFM studios.

Full-year capex budget is at $2,6 million.

At the AGM, directors fees for the past year were approved at $255,457 and auditors fees at $110,146. In line with good corporate governance, the group also changed its auditors to Baker Tilly Gwatidzo from BDO Kudenga.