New Ziana, formerly known as the Zimbabwe Inter-Africa News Agency, is a state-owned news outlet in Zimbabwe that runs a news agency and several local newspapers. In the past, it was known as a propaganda outlet that was waxing lyrical about the late Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s last dictator.


Media assets

News agency: New Ziana

Publishing: Chaminuka, Ilanga, Indonsakusa, Masvingo Star, Nehanda Guardian, Pungwe News, Telegraph, The Times

State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)


Ownership and governance

The government fully owns New Ziana Private Limited, the company that runs New Ziana news agency. As part of recent reforms of Zimbabwe’s state entities, New Ziana has been transformed into a department in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.

Source of funding and budget

New Ziana generates revenues from ads sold on its web page and in its local newspapers. However, the bulk of New Ziana’s financing comes from the government.

Editorial independence

In recent years, New Ziana has been modernized as part of a larger strategy aimed at improving the agency to be able to compete with the increasing number of news media outlets online. However, the agency remains a state-run outlet that disseminates primarily news promoting the government and that rarely ventures into investigations or any critical coverage of the government.

No statute that establishes independence of New Ziana has been identified.

October 2023