adminInnocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Government has gazetted registration fees for accreditation of journalists by the Zimbabwe Media Commission with a first applicant expected to pay US$10 while those renewing would part with US$5 down from US$10 last year. The ZMC immediately called on all mass media service providers and journalists to renew their registration certificates and accreditation cards.
In a statement yesterday, ZMC chairman Mr Godfrey Majonga said the deadline for the accreditation is March 21, this year.
According to registration and accreditation fees published in the Government Gazette last Friday;
“Journalists intending to renew their accreditation status should do so by March 21, 2014. A once-off penalty fee of US$10 will be imposed on all applications of renewal of accreditation received after the deadline.
“All mass media service providers in all categories are requested to check the expiry dates on their registration certificates and approach the commission’s offices immediately in cases where registration has expired,” he said.
He advised media houses with outstanding levy payments to settle their arrears immediately before seeking to accredit their journalists or renew expired registration certificates.
“It is an offence to operate a mass media service without a registration certificate and to work as a journalist without accreditation as prescribed by the law,” he said.
Late renewal fee for accreditation for local journalists is US$10 while that of registered mass media service providers is US$200.
Application fee for mass media houses is US$500 while the registration is US$2 000. Renewal fee for mass media houses is US$1 500.
News agencies pay US$100 in application fees. Registration is US$1 000 while renewal costs US$500.
Local journalists would be required to part with US$10 application fee and renewal accreditation fee for local journalists is US$5.
Local journalists working for foreign media would pay US$50 application fee, US$200 for accreditation and US$150 renewal fee. Sadc and other media representatives would pay a US$200 application fee and US$500 for permission to operate.
Sadc special accreditation fee is US$15 while the rest of Africa is US$30 while others would fork out US$100.
Online Reporter