Moto, established in 1959 in Gweru, Zimbabwe's Midlands town, originated as a weekly community newspaper founded by the Catholic Church.

Over time, it transitioned into Moto Fast, gaining prominence during the liberation war by openly criticizing the colonial government and supporting African nationalist parties.

The publication faced suppression by the Smith regime in 1974 but re-emerged in 1980, evolving from a newspaper to one of the early magazines providing content in ChiShona, SiNdebele, and English languages.

It aimed to amplify voices often overlooked by the state-controlled media, emphasizing socioeconomic issues and human-interest stories from rural regions.

Despite economic difficulties and opposition from the Mugabe government, which attempted to shut down the publication multiple times, Moto's readership expanded, attracting intellectuals, professionals, students, and rural audiences.