Embarrassing howlers force Tommy Sithole to elbow Lawrence Moyo out of H-Metro
Staff Reporter
HARARE – Embarrassing howlers in H-Metro, a racy tabloid in the Zimbabwe Newspapers stable, have seen its editor, Lawrence Moyo — after 12 years at the helm — shunted aside and replaced by Herald sports editor, Robson Sharuko.
Moyo was conspicuous by his absence at the editors retreat in Victoria Falls two weeks ago.
According to sources, the conglomerate’s chairman Tommy Sithole blocked Moyo’s attendance over a recent H-Metro front page on which the f-word appeared. On the day of the publication, Moyo was reportedly not at work, having travelled to Hwange on a ZESA tour of power stations.
In February, two sub editors — Washington Gwanzura and Tinashe Chuma — were fired after a reader’s lament that Soul Jah Love should have survived and a Zanu PF presidium member died in his place was erroneously published. On that day too, Moyo was not at work.
Sharuko, who had been the senior sports editor of The Herald, has been at Zimpapers for nearly three decades – all of his time on the sports desk.
In a parting note on Twitter yesterday, Moyo wrote: “Today I officially handed over H-Metro to Robson Sharuko after a 12-year reign. We launched this unique product in September 2009 and made an impact, dominating street sales. I made lots of friends and a couple of enemies. Now time for a new phase. Robson and team have what it takes.”
Sharuko, quoting Moyo’s tweet, said: “After 29 years and one month on the Herald sports desk and 21 years as the boss of its sports desk, I have moved to other pastures. It’s a good day for some, bad day for others, thanks for the support, to God be the glory.”
Moyo will remain at Zimpapers, however, with company chiefs reportedly planning a new role for him, possibly in the online department.
H-Metro made gossip, sex, celebrity and real-life stories from the townships its selling point, and remains one of the biggest newspapers in the country by circulation.
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