Friday, April 29, 2016

Editors’ Forum stresses live Bunge sessions coverage

ANNE ROBI
MEDIA stakeholders in the country have reiterated the need for the Parliament and the government to consider airing live, the ‘Bunge’ sessions before media practitioners give a resolution over the matter.

The Acting Chairman of Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), Mr Deodatus Balile, said in Dar es Salaam during a press briefing on the National Commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2016.
Mr Balile stressed that the Parliament and government should decide early for the ‘Bunge’ sessions to air live before the media practitioners issue a resolutions to ensure the right of people to access information and right of pressmen to carry out their duties freely.
“It is wise for the Parliament and the government to decide early if they are collaborating over the matter and allow the ‘Bunge’ sessions to be live,” he said, noting that TEF is yet to take action if the Parliament fails to allow live broadcasts.
According to Mr Balile, among other matters, the issues over the Parliament to prevent live ‘Bunge’ sessions coverage would be decided at the press conference of commemorating the National World Freedom celebrations to be held in Mwanza.
Commenting on the commemoration of the WPFD, the Chairperson of Media Institute of Southern Africa, Tanzania Chapter (MISA-Tan), Mr Simon Berege, said that the conference would be held in Mwanza on May 2nd up to 3rd, this year.
He said the conference will provide a platform to discuss and deliberate among other issues, on the implication of laws that the government has passed including bills tabled in the Parliament last year. The conference would also discuss on the cybercrime Act 2015, Statistics Act 2015, Media services bill and the bill for the Access to information.
“During the event, victims of the press freedom violations will give testimonies on their experiences and lessons leant from veterans in the field,” he said.
The conference planned to attract 250 participants would be officiated by Chief Justice (CJ), Mr Othman Chande. Minister for Information, Sports, Culture and Artists, Mr Nape Nnauye, would also grace the event.

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