Saboteurs blow up newspaper’s print works

A series of blasts rocked the printing works of Zimbabwe’s main independent newspaper today, wrecking its printing press and possibly putting the fierce government critic out of action for weeks.

No one was injured in the attack, which comes amid growing public discontent and political tension as the country faces a crushing economic crisis.

Six men, one of them armed, arrived at the Daily News printers outside the capital of Harare, according to guards.

Three attackers forced the guards on to the ground while the others smashed their way into the main building. At least three explosions were heard, and the saboteurs fled in two pick-up trucks, the guards said.

Police investigator Charles Haley, said five explosions appeared to have taken place, but declined to further comment.

Five of the newspaper’s six 20-ton printing machines were destroyed with only their steel frames left in tact. The rest of the machinery was reduced to chunks of cast iron and a tangle of wiring. The blasts blew off most of the corrugated roof of the large warehouse and shattered every window.

Muchadeyi Musunda, chief executive of Associated Newspapers Zimbabwe which owns the Daily News surveyed the gutted printing works.

‘‘This is the height of intolerance,’’ he said.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said police had been deployed to protect all media institutions around the country to prevent similar incidents.

The attack came hours after Information Minister Jonathan Moyo threatened to close the newspaper, which has an audited circulation of 50,000.

Musunda feared it would be at least two weeks before printing could fully resume. However, deputy editor Davison Marusiva vowed to bring out an edition Monday by finding alternative printers.

Political tension has recently flooded over into a newspaper war, with both government supporters and backers of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change attempting to stop the circulation of publications backing their opponents.

Supporters of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party demonstrated on Saturday outside the Daily News’ city centre editorial offices for the second time this week, threatening to silence it for alleged ‘‘unpatriotic’’ reporting.

On Tuesday, journalists were roughed up during a similar protest while police stood back.

Masunda said Sunday’s sabotage was the work of ‘‘criminals taking advantage of the present breakdown of law and order.’’

He declined to speculate on who was responsible.