Zimbabwe’s state-owned media giant, Zimpapers, has commenced a significant retrenchment exercise, seeing prominent figures like Capitalk’s Phathisani Sibanda and Star FM boss Yvonne Tivatye depart from their roles. This move comes amidst swirling speculation linking the departures to an alleged ‘Chivayo gifts row’, suggesting a deeper administrative shift influenced by public affairs and social media trends.
Key Players Involved
- Phathisani Sibanda: Former Capitalk boss, reportedly retrenched.
- Yvonne Tivatye: Former Star FM boss, reportedly retrenched.
- Zimpapers: State-owned media group implementing the retrenchments.
- Wicknell Chivayo: Implied figure in the ‘gifts row’ linked to the retrenchments.
Event Timeline
- September 22, 2026, Evening: Reports emerge of Phathisani Sibanda and Yvonne Tivatye’s retrenchment from Zimpapers, with links to a ‘Chivayo gifts row’.
- September 23, 2026, Morning: Further news outlets confirm the Zimpapers retrenchments.
