Tanzania has freest press in the region, says Kikwete

President Kikwete cuts a ribbon to inaugurate AzamTV at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

President Jakaya Kikwete has said that Tanzania has shown a good image in providing freedom of the press compared to neighbouring countries.

Speaking shortly after launching Azam TV in Dar es Salaam yesterday,  President Kikwete also said that although the government closed down some publications, the aim was to protect freedom of the press.

 

“The government has taken some measures to close some of the newspapers but this is one of the ways that the government is doing to protect freedom of the press. Tanzania has got much higher media freedom than some of our neighbouring countries,” he declared.

 

The president asserted that it was difficult for information authorities to check what was being written, broadcast or beamed in a country with 28 TV stations, 95 radios and 825 newspapers, magazines and periodicals.“You cannot have all these media if there is no freedom of the press, therefore this shows how much the country has attained in media freedom,” he said. “The government is also welcoming investors in the media field. We are improving laws and policies so as to assist investors in that sector,” he stated. 

 

For her part, the Minister of Information, Culture, Sports and Youths, Dr Fenella Mukangara appealed to media houses to produce reports and programmes consonant with the culture of Tanzanians to promote our traditions and culture. 

 

 In July 2012, the government decided to close down the production of Mwanahalisi for an unknown period of according to the Newspaper Act of 1976,clause(25)(i). The clause was in effect from July 30th, 2012 based on the government notice 258 published on the government newspaper produced in Dar es Salaam on 27th July, 2012.

 

The government requires the owners, editors and journalists to abide by the law, patriotism, follow the guidelines and ethics of journalism in their aim to spread news, inform and entertain people.

 

Through this notice, the government explains that the reasons for closing down the publication include the presence of articles and news that incite violence, enmity and give citizens a reason to doubt the authorities.

 

In 2013 the government again closed down three newspapers forcing media stakeholders to  resolved not to give press-coverage for an indefinite period to the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Dr. Fennela Mukangana and the Director of the Tanzania information Services (Maelezo) Assah Mwambene.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN