Government, he said, is unhappy to see stakeholders accusing it for the recorded Bunge broadcasts, a decision which he said “there’s no government hand on the matter.”“The decisions to have the present broadcasts wasn’t made by the government; it was made by Parliament as independent pillar. It is unfortunate that the decision has created disharmony among stakeholders,” he said.
The minister said it was possible that there was no thorough analysis of outcome of the decision, adding that he was optimistic the committee will help end the dispute. He, however, said it is important for Tanzania to consider having its model of broadcasts of parliamentary sessions like it is the practice in other countries to ensure people are being provided with the right information.
He expressed government’s commitment to freedom of speech and expression “and that’s why it is also ready to revisit the Cyber Crime and Statistics Act to make it more friendly.”
Guest of honour at the event, Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, said that while advocating for its freedom, the media should closely check its contribution in the promotion of the rule of law and good governance.
He said that media practitioners must always strive for better education as the foundation of professionalism. He urged media owners to ensure that their workers receive regular training to keep them up to date with key national and global events taking place every day.
He warned the media against bias, especially during critical moments such as the general election. “We saw during the last general election that some media outlets were deliberately slanting news in favour of certain political parties and candidates,” Chief Justice Othman said in a speech read on his behalf by the Lake Zone Judge In-charge Robert Makaramba.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Alvaro Rodriguez and the European Union Deputy Head of Mission Luana Reale said they were committed to promoting and supporting freedom of opinion and expression. Rodriguez said that the media is a key partner in the dissemination of information on the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
The event was addressed by media personalities who called for ethical considerations in the practice of journalism to fight such social evils as corruption. Media Owners of Tanzania chairman Reginald Mengi said some media outlets are not spared with corruption allegations.
He, therefore, called for strict adherence to the professional code of conduct. Meanwhile, the Legal and Human Right Centre has appealed to the government to allow media organs perform their duties freely without interference.
It reminded the government to engage media and non-governmental organisations to conduct research and provide information which will assist in increasing accountability and observance of human rights.
It also urged the government to review the Cyber Crime Act and Statistics Act which are said to have some clauses which violate human rights and good governance principles.
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