Photo: Voice Of America
Tanzania President John Magufuli addressing a rally in Dar es Salaam. (File photo).
Dar
es Salaam — Nine people out of ten citizens (87 per cent) believe they
should be able to criticize the government if they think there is reason
to do so, reads the Twaweza's Voice of the Citizen new report.
According to the
report, majority of the citizens believe that they should be free to
criticize the government and the president for making bad decisions and
not taking advice.
"They believe that criticism helps leaders to avoid making mistakes," reads the report.
The findings were released by Twaweza in a study titled "Not to that extent? Tanzanians view on information and public debate".
A proportion of 81
per cent of citizens feels criticism of leaders is a good thing because
it helps stop them from making big mistakes.
Despite this
proportion a majority of 60 per cent still does not feel free to
criticize the president and 54 per cent do not feel free to criticize
the vice president.
The report also shows a decline in trust in different main sources of information.
Radio trust has
dropped from 80 per cent in 2016 to 64 per cent in 2017 and 69 per cent
drop for television in 2017 from 73 per cent in 2016.
Although trust in
media has declined 62 per cent of citizens believe in media freedom and
would rather a newspaper publish false or incorrect information
apologise and publish correction than be shut down or fined.
Despite citizens'
strong views on access to information, very few are aware of the law
that govern this issue and majority are not connected to the system.
Twaweza's executive
director Aidan Eyakuze said, "citizens strongly support access to
information and free expression but citizens rarely demand for
information and they do not feel they can criticize senior government
officials".
He added "the
government must recognise the value of open public debate and
constructive criticism in eliminating waste and on the fight against
corruption in the country".
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