Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) has invested $4 million (about Sh5.2 billion) in an ultra-modern press which can print in colour both sides of a newspaper.

The Nation Media Group (NMG) chief executive officer, Mr Linus Gitahi, said yesterday that the state-of-the-art press can print 45,000 copies per hour.

It was bought in India through the NMG -MCL's principal company- regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. It is expected to start working in the next two months, he said.

Mr Gitahi, who was addressing some MCL workers in Dar es Salaam yesterday, said the company would use the advanced press to produce highly competitive media products.

"MCL is truly and the only truly independent media house in Tanzania. We are doing this because we want people to deliver to the maximum," said Mr Gitahi.

The NMG CEO explained that the company was revamping its operations to become more professional and competent.

To achieve this, he went on, the management was carefully procuring the right resources.

He said some 17 MCL journalists, including five sub editors, had received training in various fields under an NMG initiative to ensure professionalism.

Mr Gitahi also spoke on plans to list the MCL on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), saying the idea was to enable other Tanzanians buy shares and own the company.

"We want to change it, and we will trade all the 70 per cent (NMG) shares so that even the principal shareholder will become a minority," said Mr Gitahi.

He added that the company was planning to enter into the electronic media sector in the near future.