Minister for Information,
Youths, Artists, Culture and Sports Nape Nnauye
GOVERNMENT will act on complaints raised by media stakeholders on the Right to Information and Communication Bill is ready in the 2016/2017 financial year.
It has also appealed to the stakeholders
to form a committee to reexamine and seek a lasting solution to the
simmering dispute over live coverage of parliamentary sessions.
Addressing journalists at the climax of
the World Press Freedom Day here yesterday, Minister for Information,
Youths, Artists, Culture and Sports Nape Nnauye said the team to be
formed will have to visit the Bunge Studio in Dodoma and see how it
operates.
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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