The press freedom we have

 
Executive Secretary of MCT, Kajubi Mukajanga

Recently the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) condemned the Government’s decision to close down two national newspapers Mwananchi and Mtanzania, for allegedly publishing seditious stories. 

Mwananchi had been shut down for 14 days while Mtanzania for 90 days from September 27, 2013 in compliance with Government Notices Number 332 and 333. 

Executive Secretary of MCT, Kajubi Mukajanga said that the steps taken by the government was very unfortunate and undemocratic. 

According to Mukajanga, freedom of expression is the most fundamental of all rights and a country that professes to be founded on democratic principles and human rights values like Tanzania should strive by all means to safeguard this basic right.

MCT said, there are bad laws like the Newspaper Act of 1976, which gives immense powers to the minister responsible for information to ban newspapers without recourse to the right to be heard or appeal. 

Other laws that restrict freedom of expression and of the media and access to information include the National Security Act of 1970 and the Official Secrets Act of 1963 among many others. About 40 pieces of legislation have been identified as unfriendly to the press. 

The National Security Act, for instance, allows the government to punish any investigative journalism that touches on information it considers classified. 

Other laws, such as the Civil Service Act and the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act, block access to information for journalists. Many public officials face legal restrictions on providing information to the media.
 

The 1993 Broadcasting Services Act provides for state regulation of electronic media and allows the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), a nominally independent agency, to close stations at will. There is concern that the TCRA is subject to government influence because its board chairman and director general are both appointed by the president.

Press freedom has shrunk considerably in Tanzania, with journalists and media houses finding it more difficult to do their work, according to the 2013 World Press Freedom Index. The country has dropped 36 places and is now ranked at number 70 of the 179 countries surveyed. It was in position 34 last year.

The 2013 World Press Freedom Index findings found that press freedom has been curtailed in the country. The APRM report, which was tabled for review in the presence of President Jakaya Kikwete, cited the banning of Mwanahalisi newspaper as evidence that the government was intolerant of opposing views in the press.



“Till June 2012, Tanzania had registered 763 newspapers and publications. This is the largest number in Africa. We also have 85 radio stations and 26 TV stations. Up to 90 per cent of these are owned by private individuals and non-governmental organisations.” President Kikwete said.

According to veteran journalist Generali Ulimwengu, who is the chairman of the board of Raia Mwema newspaper, there is no doubt that the report paints the true picture.

“Having a big number of television stations, newspapers, and radio stations, as Mr Kikwete alluded to in Addis Ababa , does not constitute freedom of expression. What is needed is the right to access and disseminate information without government restrictions—subject only to the laws of libel, obscenity and sedition.”Ulimwengu said.

The recent attacks on journalists, he said, have signalled to the international community that Tanzania does not have freedom of the press expressed either in the culture or the legislative framework.

He added: “We do random journalism depending on whom you meet and in which mood...if you met a fair person, you get healthy cooperation. But if you meet someone cruel, the result is what happened to Daudi Mwangosi.”
According to veteran journalist Generali Ulimwengu, who is the chairman of the board of Raia Mwema newspaper, there is no doubt that the report paints the true picture.

“Having a big number of television stations, newspapers, and radio stations, as Mr Kikwete alluded to in Addis Ababa , does not constitute freedom of expression. What is needed is the right to access and disseminate information without government restrictions—subject only to the laws of libel, obscenity and sedition.”Ulimwengu said.

The recent attacks on journalists, he said, have signalled to the international community that Tanzania does not have freedom of the press expressed either in the culture or the legislative framework.

He added: “We do random journalism depending on whom you meet and in which mood...if you met a fair person, you get healthy cooperation. But if you meet someone cruel, the result is what happened to Daudi Mwangosi.”
According to veteran journalist Generali Ulimwengu, who is the chairman of the board of Raia Mwema newspaper, there is no doubt that the report paints the true picture.

“Having a big number of television stations, newspapers, and radio stations, as Mr Kikwete alluded to in Addis Ababa , does not constitute freedom of expression. What is needed is the right to access and disseminate information without government restrictions—subject only to the laws of libel, obscenity and sedition.”Ulimwengu said.

The recent attacks on journalists, he said, have signalled to the international community that Tanzania does not have freedom of the press expressed either in the culture or the legislative framework.

He added: “We do random journalism depending on whom you meet and in which mood...if you met a fair person, you get healthy cooperation. But if you meet someone cruel, the result is what happened to Daudi Mwangosi.”

Mr Neville Meena, the Tanzania Editors Forum secretary-general, said the findings of Reporters without Borders reflect the true picture. He added: Jesse Kwayu, the managing editor of Nipashe newspaper, said that while Tanzania gave the impression of freedom of press, it had been unmasked after the recent killings of journalists. 

The national director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Tanzania (MISA-Tan), Tumaini Mwailenga, said there is no longer freedom of the press in Tanzania due to hostility between the police and journalists. 

In a country like Tanzania it is difficult to define what independence of the press is. Universally, it means media being allowed to report truthfully on societal issues - good or bad, that are of public interest.

The media industry in Tanzania was only liberalized about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, almost all the media houses have one thing in common: all they care about are the advertisers above all. 

They are the ones that keep the papers afloat. Correspondents go for up to six months without pay. And it is not the situation with just one house, but many. 

Journalists and correspondents go out to hunt for stories where the sources are willing to pay. Many NGOs press conferences takes place in Dar es Salaam, where envelopes stuffed with cash are dished out. 

Under such a horrible environment, envelope journalism has become the only way out for scribes. Integrity loses meaning in the face of hunger and ridicule. 

Survival means foregoing your integrity or else if you love the job too much there must be another job going hand in hand with journalism. This is the kind of the press freedom that we have.