By Patience Gondo
The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has brought long awaited relief to journalists in Beitbridge after announcing that the border town will host a media accreditation outreach programme on January 22 2026 .
The Beitbridge outreach forms part of a wider ZMC countrywide programme targeting Bulawayo, Gwanda and Beitbridge aimed at widening access to accreditation and strengthening professional journalism across the provinces.
According to the Commission, the programme will commence in Bulawayo from January 19 to 20, proceed to Gwanda on January 21, before concluding in Beitbridge on January 22.
In Beitbridge accreditation services will be offered at Office Number 3 Lava Lounge Building Old Border.
In a statement, ZMC called on journalists to seize the opportunity, urging all media practitioners in these areas to take advantage of the outreach programme and get accredited, in what the Commission described as part of its ongoing drive to decentralise services.
The outreach is expected to be particularly significant for Beitbridge based journalists, many of whom have historically travelled hundreds of kilometres to Harare to process accreditation.
For freelancers and community reporters the costs associated with transport ,accommodation and time away from work have often been prohibitive.
By bringing accreditation services directly to the border town, ZMC is effectively lowering barriers for journalists covering one of Zimbabwe’s most strategically important areas, where stories of cross border trade, migration, public health and customs operations unfold daily.
To facilitate the outreach, ZMC has also announced that accreditation services at its Harare offices will be temporarily suspended from Monday January 19 to Friday January 23 2026.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this time,” the Commission said.
Media practitioners requiring further information have been advised to contact ZMC via info@zmc.org.zw or through its hotline +263 719 299 150.
With Beitbridge now firmly included in the accreditation rollout, the move signals a deliberate shift by the Commission towards inclusivity and accessibility reinforcing the professional standing of journalists working at Zimbabwe’s key border communities.