Paper for Zimbabwe Expats

A weekly newspaper for expatriate Zimbabweans, edited by journalists expelled from the country, was launched in South African and Britain yesterday.

The Zimbabwean, published in Johannesburg and London, will highlight issues affecting the three million Zimbabweans estimated to be living outside their country.

The editor, Wilf Mbanga, was a founding editor of the Daily News, which was shut down by Robert Mugabe's government. Mr Mbanga, once a supporter of Mr Mugabe, was briefly jailed by the Harare regime. He said the paper would inform expatriate Zimbabweans about their country.

The Zimbabwean expects to find a ready market, as 25% of the country's 12 million people live outside the country. More than two million are estimated to live in South Africa and about 500,000 in Britain.

"These people are hungry for news about home and effectively cut off from their families and each other," Mr Mbanga said. "The Zimbabwean will provide them will the news and will help them communicate with each other."

Initial print runs have been small at about 20,000, but there are plans to increase the figure to 120,000.

The paper was welcomed in Johannesburg. "We are keen for more news," said Daniel Molokele, a Zimbabwean lawyer based there.

"To wake up in Johannesburg and read the Zimbabwean will strengthen our national identity."