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Accreditation deadline set
Media Institute of Southern Africa - Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA-Zimbabwe)
July 12, 2002


The Media and Information Commission has declared 31 October 2002 as the deadline for the submission of applications for the registration of media companies and accreditation of journalists. This, according to the
commission, will give time for the applications to be processed before 31 December when every journalist is expected to be registered.

"Applicants should submit their papers in ample time to provide 60 days for processing applications before the mandatory date of December 31 when everyone has to be registered. The answer lies in Sections 8 and 9 of statutory instrument 169c of 2002 as gazetted," said Dr Tafataona Mahoso the Chairperson of the Commission.

The new law, the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act requires that mass media services pay an application fee of $20 000 (US$360) and a registration fee of $500 000 (US$ 9000). Journalists in the field are supposed to pay $1000 (US$18) for application and accreditation respectively, while freelance journalists pay $500(US$10) and $2500 (US$45). Foreign journalists intending to work temporarily in Zimbabwe are required to pay US$50 and US$100 for application and registration. Foreign media
houses will also pay US$2000 and US$10 000.

Local journalists mainly from the independent media have vowed not to seek registration pointing out that it undermines their constitutional right to practise their profession. Two weeks ago in a report by The Sunday Mail of 23 June the Minister of State for Information and Publicity was on record warning all media houses and journalists who refuse to register that they would face the wrath of the law or that they would not be able to practise all together.

The Independent Journalists Association of Zimbabwe (IJAZ), the Foreign Correspondents Association, the newly formed Zimbabwe National Editors Forum with the support of the Media Defence Fund established by MISA-Zimbabwe, are planning to challenge the law in the courts.

Rashweat Mukundu
Research and Information Officer
MISA-Zimbabwe

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