Marshall Bwanya
Harare – A consortium of close to 10 pioneering independent news organisations, spanning investigative and hyperlocal outlets, has established the Zimbabwe Independent Journalism Fund (ZIJF), a digital-first initiative designed to tackle the severe sustainability crisis plaguing the country’s media sector.
Formally launched on 22 March 2025, the Fund aims to revive independent journalism, a cornerstone of public accountability, which has been pushed to the brink by economic turmoil and political pressures.
In a statement issued on Monday, ZIJF outlined its mission to provide long-term newsroom support, fostering resilient journalism amid hostile political and economic conditions.
“We are proud to announce the establishment of the Zimbabwe Independent Journalism Fund (ZIJF)—a groundbreaking initiative created by and for digital-first independent news organisations in Zimbabwe, aimed at addressing the long-standing sustainability crisis facing the country’s media landscape.
“For years, independent news outlets in Zimbabwe have operated under enormous strain,” read the statement.
“Many have relied on short-term project grants, navigated hostile political and economic environments, and functioned without the safety net of long-term institutional support.
“These conditions have led to burnout, reporting inconsistency, and—in some cases—the closure of vital public-interest media initiatives,” further read the ZIJF statement.
The launch of ZIJF signals a paradigm shift in how independent journalism is financed in Zimbabwe.
The fund is steered by a consortium council elected by member organisations.
Its inaugural chairperson, Tawanda Majoni, is a veteran journalist, director of the Information for Development Trust (IDT), and editor of NewsHub.
Divine Dube, ZIJF’s secretary and coordinator, is a dynamic media innovator, director of the Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy, and executive editor of The Citizen Bulletin.
Golden Maunganidze, ZIJF’s treasurer, is a prominent journalism academic and director of TellZim.
At its core, ZIJF seeks to support sustainability through long-term, flexible funding, strengthen collaboration between independent media actors, and promote innovation in revenue generation, among other progressive aspirations.
Many independent outlets rely on short-term grants, leading to erratic reporting cycles, journalist burnout, and, in some cases, the complete shutdown of critical public-interest newsrooms.
“The Fund seeks to pool philanthropic resources into a single, coordinated mechanism that provides core operational support, innovation funding, and tailored capacity-building for credible, independent journalism in Zimbabwe.
“What sets ZIJF apart is that it’s a long-term, newsroom-led solution—not a one-off response to donor funding calls,” read the statement.
“It is governed by independent, digital-first news organisations and built to support their sustainability.
Unlike short-lived consortia, ZIJF offers a permanent, collaborative platform for flexible funding, shared capacity, and innovation—anchored in transparency, editorial independence, and local ownership,” the statement added.
ZIJF reflects a new way of thinking, that journalism sustainability cannot be outsourced and that journalists themselves must shape how the profession is supported, protected, and strengthened.
It marks a shift from ad hoc, short-term project funding to long-term support grounded in media viability frameworks.
The future of journalism in Zimbabwe and in similarly under-resourced contexts across the Global South depends on how the media reports and their efforts to sustain independent reporting.
The initiative’s founding members have called on regional allies, global media development partners, and philanthropic organisations to back this effort.