Harare, (New Ziana) —The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) on Thursday said it is engaging stakeholders to understand developments at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) where management and workers are locked in lawsuits and counter-lawsuits.
In a press statement on Thursday, the ZMC said it had taken note of recent developments involving AMH and members of its workforce, including reported legal action involving employees of the media group.
The intervention comes as the crisis at the group which owns the NewsDay, The Standard, The Zimbabwe Independent and Heart & Soul has spilled into the courts.
According to High Court papers filed on 29 September 2026, ZimInd Publishers, the publishing division of AMH owned by Trevor Ncube, has filed a US$100 000 defamation lawsuit against 36 of its employees over statements linked to unpaid salaries and working conditions.
The dispute stems from an all-staff meeting on 5 March this year chaired by Ncube with the company alleging that employees were instructed not to use mobile phones during the meeting but they ignored the instruction.
The employees allegedly circulated statements on social media accusing the company and Ncube of being cruel and insensitive as well as withholding salaries out of malice and corruption. ZimInd said the statements are false and damaging to its reputation.
The claim has drawn attention because on the same day as the meeting, Ncube issued an open letter titled “On Our Failure to Pay Staff” in which he apologised for failing to meet salary obligations on time, saying the delays for 177 colleagues represented broken trust.
Workers on the other hand allege they have gone for more than a year without proper salaries, had benefits such as fuel and airtime scrapped without consultation, as well as had union dues and medical aid deducted without remittance.
In counter-action, 46 workers represented by their union filed claims with an arbitrator demanding overdue salaries, arguing the company breached the Labour Act.
The ZMC said it recognises differing perspectives and is approaching the matter with impartiality and respect for due process.
“The Commission’s engagement is intended to provide an opportunity for constructive dialogue and, where appropriate, to facilitate the peaceful resolution of issues affecting the parties. The ZMC believes that dialogue and engagement are important in addressing disputes within media organisations while safeguarding the independence of media institutions and the rights of media practitioners,” it said.
The Commission said it is also taking practical steps to address the broader crisis facing the media.
“The Commission wishes to place the current developments within the broader context of the operational and economic challenges confronting the media industry in Zimbabwe. Media organisations are operating in an increasingly challenging environment characterised by pressures on revenue, changing audience consumption patterns, technological disruption, rising operational costs and the need to adapt to new digital business models,” it said.
New Ziana
