Subject:Â Leadership, Renewal, and Our Path Forward
Dear Stakeholders,
I write to you with candour, humility and resolve.
Alpha Media Holdings has, over nearly three decades, stood as a testament to the power of independent journalism and the enduring Zimbabwean spirit. We have navigated political headwinds, economic turbulence and structural shifts in the media landscape. Today, I address you in the wake of challenges that have tested us deeply — and I do so without equivocation.
ON OUR FAILURE TO PAY STAFF
The matter that weighs most heavily on me is our failure to meet salary obligations on time.
Salaries are not abstract numbers. They are school fees and rent paid, groceries purchased, medical bills settled — and, above all, dignity preserved. For the 177 colleagues who give their talent and loyalty to AMH every day, the delays are not an accounting matter; they represent broken trust. We regret this deeply and unreservedly.
The immediate cause is the significant debt owed to us by the Zimbabwean Government and other clients, which has directly constrained our cash flow. This context does not diminish our responsibility — it explains it. The obligation to our staff is unconditional. Management and shareholders are actively pursuing recovery of all outstanding receivables and are implementing stronger financial controls to ensure this vulnerability is never repeated.
To our employees: you are the heartbeat of this organisation. Your professionalism through this period has been humbling. You have my personal gratitude and my sincere apology.
ON THE ZIMBABWE INDEPENDENT / ZBC STORY
The recent Zimbabwe Independent piece relating to ZBC licensing fees, and its aftermath, have raised legitimate questions about our editorial standards. Trust, once questioned, demands deliberate action to restore.
Editorial credibility is the only currency we have. Without it, we are nothing.
The AMH Independent Editorial Advisory Board, chaired by Muchadeyi Masunda, has convened a three-member panel to conduct a thorough inquiry — not a cosmetic exercise, but a substantive examination of what transpired, where process failed, and what safeguards must be put in place. Independent journalism demands not only courage, but rigour. We owe our audiences both.
A NEW CHAPTER IN LEADERSHIP
Kenias Mafukidze has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer after guiding AMH through a period of extraordinary volatility — currency instability, economic headwinds and rapid shifts in audience behaviour. His steadiness under pressure and commitment to independent journalism were invaluable. The Board and I extend sincere appreciation for his service.
The Board has appointed Takura Mapfumo as General Manager. Takura moves into this role from his position as Chief Technology Officer. This is a deliberate signal of strategic intent.
Print is in structural decline — not only in Zimbabwe, but globally. But independent and quality journalism are core to a vibrant society. The economics of traditional publishing have been under sustained assault for two decades: the internet fractured distribution, social media atomised attention, and advertising revenues migrated. We have adapted. But the next disruption is already here. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how information is gathered, produced, distributed and consumed, at a pace and scale that dwarfs anything that came before.
By placing a technology leader at the helm, AMH is making a clear statement: the competencies that will define our survival and success are digital fluency, systems thinking and the capacity to innovate. This transition is about continuity of purpose — independent, credible journalism — but a fundamental evolution in how we deliver it.
BUILDING THE AMH OF TOMORROW
The world is in a difficult place. The media industry is under existential pressure. Zimbabwe’s economy remains challenging. We are not immune to any of this.
But we are not giving up.
Our transformation is not about cost containment alone. It is about rebuilding AMH from the inside out — embedding technology at the core of our operations, leveraging data intelligently, developing digital revenue streams that reduce our dependence on print advertising, and building platforms that extend well beyond the printed page. We are investing in newsroom tools, deepening investigative capacity and diversifying income in ways that protect editorial independence.
In a world awash with misinformation and AI-generated content, credible, independent journalism is not a relic — it is more necessary than ever. It is core to nation-building and the health of our society. That conviction is the foundation on which AMH stands.
BUSINESS AS USUAL — WITH LESSONS LEARNED
Our publications continue to operate. Our journalists continue to report. Our digital platforms continue to grow. AMH / HStv stand.
We do not deny our missteps. We confront them, learn from them and build systems that make us stronger. Resilience is not the absence of difficulty; it is the ability to adapt, correct and press forward with clarity of purpose.
To our shareholders: your investment is anchored in an institution committed to renewal and long-term sustainability.
To our advertisers and partners: we value your confidence and are working to ensure your association with AMH continues to deliver credibility and impact.
To our readers: we are accountable to you. We will earn your trust — every edition, every article, every day.
In moments of strain, organisations reveal their character. Ours will be defined by responsibility, transparency and the courage to change.
We are steady. We are reflective. And we are resolute.
Yours sincerely,
Trevor Ncube
Chairman, Alpha Media Holdings
