SADC Announces its Media Awards for 2026 -By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced its SADC Media Awards for 2026, emphasising that the platform offers a powerful opportunity to raise visibility within the regional media landscape. The Awards were established in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional cooperation, integration and development in the SADC region.

SADC Media Awards competition are designed in four categories namely, Photo, Print, Television and Radio Journalism. The participation is open to journalists from SADC Member States.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Shadric Namalomba, has urged journalists in the southern African region to participate in the SADC Media Awards, emphasising during the official launch of the competition that the awards go beyond financial rewards and act as a strategic avenue for projecting impactful narratives that support long-term development perspectives in southern Africa.

According to Namalomba, the establishment of the awards is an initiative to stimulate journalists the chance to shape development narratives with an indepth, accuracy and purpose across the southern African region. He reaffirmed commitment to equipping journalists with essential tools and resources to improve access to information.

Noting that such support is vital for enhancing media quality and reinforcing professional standards across the country, Namalomba reassured providing access to information, official sources and resources that support a free and responsible media sector at the regional stage.

SADC National Adjudication Committee member, Innocent Chitosi, said the committee will intensify sensitisation efforts to ensure journalists submit high-quality entries. He said the committee plans to engage editors and reporters on award requirements to strengthen performance, focus on innovative, factual and research-driven storytelling as they prepare their entries for the 2026 competition.

The contest aims at promoting regional integration, shared identity and collective development through high-quality journalism. The SADC Media Awards are held annually to recognise outstanding contributions in print, radio, television and photojournalism across Southern Africa.

The Secretariat is further advising interested journalists to obtain more information and entry forms from the SADC National Media Coordinators (SNMCs) in their Member States or SADC Website on this link (www.sadc.int). The list of SNMCs can be found on (https://www.sadc.int/media-coordinators). Completed forms, with all required information typed-in must be submitted to the SNMCs within Member States by 28th February 2026.