Harare — PRODUCTION challenges at Mutare Board and Paper Mills have forced the Zimpapers group to reduce print runs for its newspapers, the group's chief executive, Mr Justin Mutasa, said yesterday.

Zimpapers, which publishes The Herald, The Sunday Mail, The Chronicle, The Sunday News, Kwayedza and The Manica Post, relies on Mutare Board and Paper Mills, the sole supplier of newsprint on the local market.

In a statement, Mr Mutasa -- who apologised to readers and advertisers -- said Zimpapers Harare Branch uses 100 tonnes of newsprint every week while the Bulawayo Branch requires 30 tonnes a week.

"Since last week Harare Branch has been getting 14 tonnes a week and Bulawayo four tonnes. This is totally inadequate. We are, therefore, printing very few copies of newspapers under our titles because of the acute shortages," he said.