The recently constituted Zimbabwe Media Commission announced at a news conference late Thursday that it will issue licenses for four new daily papers in a major expansion of the country's long-suffering press.
The Media Commission said it will issue the licenses within three days for the rollout of papers including the Daily News, forced to close in 2003 by the government, and Newsday from the Independent/Standard group.
The commission has been embroiled in controversy since news emerged that former Media and Information Commission Chairman Tafataona Mahoso, responsible for shutting a number of publications, was engaged as the chief executive officer of the commission that replaced in a process that was supposed to reform the sector.
Commissioners said they needed his administrative experience for the interim.
Correspondent Irwin Chifera reported from Harare on the licensing process.