US$52 million scandal — Zimpapers editor Elias Mambo fired
The board of Zimpapers has suspended its Group Chief Executive Editor, Elias Mambo, pending investigations linked to the recent Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) radio licensing controversy.
In a letter dated 26 February, the board — chaired by Doreen Sibanda — informed Mambo that he would be suspended with effect from 1 March while investigations are conducted.
The suspension comes in the wake of turbulence within the Information Ministry following the reassignment of former Information Minister Jenfan Muswere to another portfolio by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The saga began on 2 February when Muswere wrote a five-page letter terminating Helliate Rushwaya as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation board, citing allegations of corporate misgovernance. Shortly afterwards, The Independent published a story alleging that US$52 million in radio licensing revenue at ZBC could not be accounted for.
The publication triggered immediate reaction within government. The Information Ministry strongly disputed the US$52 million claim, questioning its factual basis and procedural integrity. In rapid developments that followed, Muswere was reassigned to a different ministry, while the dismissals of Rushwaya and fellow board member Craig Matambo were nullified and referred to the Attorney General’s Office for legal review.
In a dramatic turn, The Independent editor Faith Zaba later acknowledged that the story had been published without adequate verification. She issued a written apology to Rushwaya and the Ministry, and the article was retracted from its platforms. The paper subsequently suspended senior reporter Freeman Makopa pending an internal investigation into the origin and credibility of the information used in the report.
Attention has since shifted to Mambo. Allegations have circulated that he may have been connected to the flow of information that informed the disputed story. However, Mambo has not publicly confirmed these allegations, and no official findings have yet been released linking him directly to the article.
Mambo is widely regarded as having been close to Muswere during the latter’s tenure in government. Before joining Zimpapers, he worked at The Independent and later founded an online publication. He was subsequently appointed Personal Assistant to Muswere at the ICT Ministry and moved with him when Muswere became Information Minister. His rise within State-linked media structures was seen by some observers as reflecting that relationship.
Sources within media circles have also claimed that during his earlier days at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), Mambo was considered aligned to Muswere and reportedly enjoyed backing from individuals linked to President Mnangagwa’s family. Some insiders allege he was recommended for strategic positioning within media spaces and that he facilitated the publication of certain political narratives. These claims, however, remain unproven and have not been independently confirmed.
Mambo later joined Zimpapers as General Manager before being elevated to Group Chief Executive Editor. His ascent followed leadership changes within the company, including the departure of then-CEO Pikirayi Deketeke and the subsequent appointment of William Chikoto.
Further allegations suggest that Mambo may have attempted to discourage publication within the Zimpapers stable of Faith Zaba’s apology letter. These claims also remain part of the ongoing investigation and have not been formally substantiated.
The Information Ministry serves as the parent ministry for both Zimpapers and ZBC, placing the unfolding matter within a closely linked governance framework. The suspension of a senior editorial executive at the country’s largest media house signals the seriousness of the institutional fallout.
Investigations are ongoing, and no conclusive findings have yet been made public regarding Mambo’s alleged role. The case continues to raise broader questions about editorial accountability, political influence and governance oversight within Zimbabwe’s State-linked media institutions. *_-ZimEye_*
