Newspaper reps: Zimbabwe must consider pricing
By Leah McBride Mensching, Tuesday 20 November 2007 at 23:03 :: General :: #883 :: rss
The reduction of newspaper circulation figures in Zimbabwe are due to newsprint shortages, load-shedding and a delay in considering price review applications by the National Incomes and Pricing Commission (NIPC), a Herald article posted on AllAfrica.com today stated.
Representatives of the country's newspaper industry presented their findings to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Communications, chaired by Makonde Member of Parliament Cde Leo Mugabe. They told the committee that the issue of pricing must be seriously considered if the industry is to be viable.
Although newsprint supply problems are being looked at by the government and Mutare Board and Paper Mills, the NIPC needs to be flexible, Justin Mutasa, chief executive of Zimpapers, told the committee.
“It is our view that the NIPC should be flexible in its operations. A meeting between us and the commission had to be postponed because the NIPC could not make a quorum. We went there the other day seeking a price review and we were told that there were only two commissioners. Our business is suffering because NIPC has failed to get a quorum,” Mutasa said, according to AllAfrica.com.
Mutare Board and Paper Mills, Zimbabwe's only newsprint supplier, has been unable to sell Zimpapers enough newsprint, because of several problems, one of which is a lack of foreign currency to import pulp, Mutasa said. In Harare, Zimpapers subsidiaries have been getting 50 tons of newsprint per week, when they need 150 tons. Those in Bulawayo have been receiving 10 tons when they need 30 tons, he said.
Mugabe urged the newspaper industry to approach the NIPC as one unit to help strengthen their case.
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