- Sizwe Dhlomo shared a viral video on X showing a Zimbabwean newspaper packed with congratulatory political portraits
- The clip, captioned 'when you decide to buy a newspaper in Zimbabwe', drew a wave of reactions from social media users
- Several netizens weighed in on the state of media in Zimbabwe, with some drawing comparisons to South Africa
Source: Getty Images
Sizwe Dhlomo has sparked conversation online after sharing a video that pokes fun at the state of print media in Zimbabwe. The media personality posted the clip on X on 23 October 2026, tagging colleagues @UncleCul and @StaggaSays alongside three weeping-face emojis, letting the footage speak for itself. Nearly every page is filled with congratulatory advertisements and portraits of a political figure, leaving little room for actual news.
The clip, originally shared by @Moooldridge, shows someone flipping through a physical newspaper in what appears to be an indoor setting with the caption:
"Reason why Zimbabweans don't buy newspapers."
Zimbabwe’s media landscape raises questions
Zimbabwe’s media landscape has long faced concerns about political influence, with state-owned newspapers often giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling ZANU-PF party significant coverage. Critics have described this as a form of media capture, where government influence over media ownership, funding and editorial decisions can limit independent reporting and make political leaders appear central to national life. Concerns about press freedom are heightened by reports of journalists facing intimidation, arrests and pressure to self-censor when covering sensitive political issues. While this does not mean every Zimbabwean newspaper operates under direct government control, the dominance of state-aligned media has raised questions about whether citizens receive a balanced picture of their country's political affairs
Netizens weigh in
The post attracted tens of thousands of views and drew sharp responses from X users across the region.
@zondo_sikhumba said:
"Imagine every page just reminders of who's robbing you daily. 😡"
@Luvo_iJali wrote:
"If it wasn't for the white population in SA and their well-funded private sector, unfortunately ANC could've done the same thing here in SA too."
@dngaru simply stated:
"Zimbabweans are tired."
Man takes his SA wife to Zimbabwe
A Zimbabwean man took his South African wife to Zimbabwe for the first time, filming the moment at Joina City Mall in Harare.
The couple's TikTok vlog quickly caught attention online, with viewers praising the man for bringing his family along.
Source: Briefly News
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