Zimpapers joins Covid-19 fight

STAFF WRITER

ZIMBABWE Stock Exchange listed media firm, Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited Group (Zimpapers), is launching a fundraising initiative this week, as it moves to play its part in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Zimpapers chief executive, Pikirayi Deketeke, said the group is going to tap into its ability to reach out to millions and launch a national fundraising campaign to mobilise resources towards the national response to Covid-19.

“With this campaign; we are inviting Zimbabweans to come together to contribute to the national Covid-19 response. There are not enough test kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for those who need them.

“There are also heartbreaking personal stories of people who are struggling to put food on the table; which our reporters are highlighting daily through our platforms. With winter fully upon us now; our hearts go out to those thousands who do not have enough warm clothing or blankets,” the Zimpapers boss said.

The campaign will see all the group’s platforms- print, digital, television and radio mobilising audiences across the country and globe to lend a hand to the Covid-19 response. These include radio stations Star FM, Nyaminyami and Capitalk; Newspaper titles The Herald, Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News, Manica Post, Kwayedza, H-Metro and online content creation channel ZTN.

Zimpapers has been running an educational campaign on Covid-19 with all its newspaper and broadcast platforms running with information aimed at educating the public about Covid-19 since March.

Beneficiaries of the campaign will include front-line workers, the elderly, the disabled,  underprivileged children and other vulnerable groups.

The fundraising campaign will run under the tagline: #TogetherWeStandTogetherWeWin. Zimpapers platforms and personalities will throughout this campaign interact with the public as the Group amplifies stories and experiences of communities in this Covid-19 era.

A separate bank account and merchant code has been created for this campaign with Zimpapers committing to accounting for all donations as the campaign runs.

All Zimpapers offices across Zimbabwe will serve as collection points where the public can drop in their donations.