state of the media in tanzania 2017—2018 - mct · ii state of the media in tanzania state of the...

2017-2018 REPORT

MEDIA COUNCIL OF TANZANIA

STATE OF THE MEDIA IN TANZANIA 2017—2018

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STATE OF THE MEDIA IN TANZANIA

STATE OF THE MEDIA IN TANZANIA2017— 2018

©Media Council of Tanzania, 2019

First print - 2019

ISBN 978-9987-710-72-0

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2017-2018 REPORT

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. 11.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 11.1 Objective of the Report .................................................................................................... 11.2 Organisation of the Report ............................................................................................... 12.0 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 13.0 Key Findings for Tanzania Mainland .............................................................................. 24.0 Key Findings for Tanzania Zanzibar ............................................................................... 45.0 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 56.0 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 6

ABOUT AUTHORS .......................................................................................................... 6PART I .............................................................................................................................................. 9TANZANIASTATE OF THE MEDIA TANZANIA MAINLAND 2017-2018 ............................................. 9

CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................. 13Developments in Legal/ Regulatory Framework ............................................................ 131.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 131.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework: Key Issues in 2017 and 2018 .............................. 131.1.1 Media Service Act, 2016 Regulations, 2017 ................................................................. 131.1.2 Access to Information Act Regulations, 2017 .............................................................. 151.1.3 Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2018. ...... 181.1.4 Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting) Regula-

tions, 2018 ......................................................................................................................... 191.2 Amendments of the Statistics Act, 2015 (Cap 351, 2018) .......................................... 201.3 Political developments and their Implications to press freedom .............................. 211.4 Development as the Agenda of the Media ................................................................... 221.5 Press Freedom Violations ............................................................................................... 241.6 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................... 251.7 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 25

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................. 27Current Trends in the Print Media ................................................................................. 272.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 272.2 Current Status of Print Media in Tanzania................................................................... 272.3 Newspapers Ordered to Re-register, No Licence, No Permission to Operate ......... 272.4 Just Few Proprietors Still Dominate Newspaper Landscape ...................................... 292.5 Newspapers Sustainability Issues ................................................................................... 312.5.1 Newspapers in Progress to Re-conquer the Market, Regain Position ...................... 312.5.2 Restrictive Laws an Obstacle to Newspapers Sustainability ...................................... 312.6 Journalists Abused, Clamp Down on Outlets…the List is Long ............................... 32

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2.6.1 Incidents of Abuses against Print Journalists ............................................................... 322.7 Incidents of Newspaper Suspensions and Banning .................................................... 352.8 Status of Self-censorship and Chill in Coverage of Some Stories .............................. 362.8.1 Restrictive Laws Trigger Fear, Journalists Opt for Self-censorship ........................... 362.8.2 Tough Laws Fuelled Self -Censorship, Ethical Violations .......................................... 382.9 Introduction of Fees for Online Newspapers ............................................................... 412.9.1 High Fees Forced Existing Online Outlets Close Down ............................................ 412.10 Complaints Against Newspapers in 2017/18 ............................................................... 422.11 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................... 432.12 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 43

CHAPTER THREE ......................................................................................................... 47Current Trends in the Radio and TV Broadcasting ....................................................... 473.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 473.1 Current Situation of Radio Broadcasting in Tanzania. ............................................... 473.1.1 Number of Licensed Radio Stations in Tanzania ........................................................ 473.1.2 Radio Plurality and Ownership ..................................................................................... 493.1.3 Radio Proliferation .......................................................................................................... 493.1.4 Radio Development Trend: Community Radios as an Area to Watch ..................... 493. 2. Situation of TV in Tanzania ........................................................................................... 503.2.1 Number of Licensed TV Stations in Tanzania ............................................................. 503.2.2 Television Plurality, Ownership and Diversity. ............................................................ 513.3 Radio/TV Sustainability Issues ...................................................................................... 513.3.1 Financial Constraints ...................................................................................................... 523.3.2 Manpower Challenges ..................................................................................................... 523.3.3 Technical Equipment ..................................................................................................... 533.3.4 Security Challenges ......................................................................................................... 533.3.5 Legal Challenges .............................................................................................................. 533.4 Status of Closure or Hefty Fines in Tanzania Mainland media ................................. 533.5 Highlights of Incidents of Violence, Threats and Intimidation to Broadcasting Jour-

nalists ................................................................................................................................. 563.6 Digital Broadcasting in Tanzania .................................................................................. 573.6.1 Current Situation of Digital Broadcasting in Tanzania .............................................. 583.7 Online TV and Radio Stations in Tanzania ................................................................. 593.8 Ethical Issues in the Broadcasting Industry ................................................................. 613.9 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................... 613.10 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 62

CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................ 65Current Trends in the New Media .................................................................................. 654.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 654.1 With Tense Political Atmosphere Online Media Strive to Survive ........................... 654.2 Government Uses Restrictive as Mechanisms to Control Online Space .................. 664.3 Online Content Regulations; a Heavy Nail on the Coffin .......................................... 68

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4.3.1 Stakeholders` Response to Online Regulations Online regulations send bloggers pack-ing ...................................................................................................................................... 69

4.4 The Notorious 2015 Cybercrimes Act Continued to Play Significant Role. ............ 724.5 Incidents of People Punished Under Online Laws ...................................................... 734.6 Shrinking Public Space Alarms Local, International Rights Groups ........................ 744.7 With the Tense Political Situation, What is the Future of Online Media? ............... 764.8 Strategies to Promote Good Use of Online Media ...................................................... 774.9 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................... 784.10 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 79

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................. 81Media Support in Tanzania Mainland ............................................................................ 815.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 815.1 Organisations Supporting Media in Tanzania ............................................................. 815.2 Internews .......................................................................................................................... 815.3 Tanzania Media Women’s Association .......................................................................... 835.6 FES TANZANIA .............................................................................................................. 855.7 Misa-Tan ........................................................................................................................... 865.8 Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) .......................................... 885.9 Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) ........................................ 915.10 Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF) ............................................................................. 925.11 UNESCO and Other Supporters ................................................................................... 945.12 Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) ............................................................................... 945.13 Media Stakeholders Perception ..................................................................................... 985.14 Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................... 995.15 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 99

PART II ......................................................................................................................................... 101ZANZIBARThe State of Media Report in Zanzibar in 2017/18 ................................................................. 101

CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................ 103Political Context/Legal and Regulatory Framework .................................................... 1031.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1031.1 Key Political Events in 2017/18 and Their Implications to Press Freedom and Journal-

ism ................................................................................................................................... 1031.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1091.5 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 110

CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................... 111Current Trends in the Print Media in Zanzibar ........................................................... 1112.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1112.1 Registration of Newspapers .......................................................................................... 111

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2.2 Sustainability Issues ....................................................................................................... 1122.2.1 Financial Muscles of Newspapers ................................................................................ 1122.2.2 Production ...................................................................................................................... 1132.2.3 Distribution .................................................................................................................... 1132.2.4 Newspaper’s Contents ................................................................................................... 1132.2.5 Maintenance of Labour Force ...................................................................................... 1142.3 Mushrooming of Online Newspapers ......................................................................... 1142.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1142.5 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 114

CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................... 117Current Trend in Radio and TV Broadcasting in Zanzibar ......................................... 1173.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1173.1 Registration of New Radio and TV Stations ............................................................. 1173.1.2 Introduction of Decoders and its Implications on Radio and TV .......................... 1183.2 Threats and Intimidation to Journalists ...................................................................... 1183.3 Sustainability Issues ....................................................................................................... 1193.4 Current Status in Digital Broadcasting ....................................................................... 1203.5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1203.6 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 120

CHAPTER FOUR.......................................................................................................... 121Current Trends in the New Media ................................................................................ 1214.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1214.1 Registration of New Media ........................................................................................... 1214.2 Current Status of New Media and its Implication on Journalism Practices .......... 1224.3 New Media and its Impact on Traditional Media in Zanzibar ................................ 1224.4 Comparison of Ownership, Press Freedom Violations and Advertising Aspects . 1234.5 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1244.6 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 124

CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................... 125Media Development Support ........................................................................................ 1255.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1255.1 Grants/Fellowships and Scholarships ......................................................................... 1255.2 Promotion and Protection of Journalists Rights and Welfare ................................. 1265.3 Promotion of Specialised Training in Journalism ..................................................... 1275.4 Provisions of Institutional Support to Media Institutions ........................................ 1275.5 Availability of Research Fund ...................................................................................... 1285.6 Other Development Support ........................................................................................ 1285.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1285.8 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 129

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CHAPTER SIX .............................................................................................................. 131Professionalism in the Media and Trends in Journalism Training Institutions .......... 1316.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1316.1 Key Ethical Events in 2017/18 ...................................................................................... 1316.2 Media Current Ethical Debates .................................................................................... 1326.2.1 The Right to Reply ......................................................................................................... 1326.2.2. Balance of Information ................................................................................................. 1326.3 The trend in Journalism Training Institution ............................................................ 1326.4 Tertiary Institutions and Quality of Education/Curriculum ................................... 1336.5 Research Status/Consultancies and Community Services ....................................... 1336.6 Sustainability of Journalism Training Institutions .................................................... 1336.7 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 1346.8 Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 134

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.0 Introduction The‘StateoftheMediaReport’isaflagshipoftheMediaCouncilof

Tanzania(MCT)publishedannuallysince2001.Issueshighlightedinthesereportshavehelpedshedlightoncriticalaspectsoftheindustry which need intervention.

1.1 Objective of the Report Theobjectiveofthisreportistotrack,highlightanddocument

trends,notabledevelopments,challengesaswellasemergingissuesrelatedtolaws,policiesandmediaenvironment,whichprevailedbetween2017/18.Thegoalistoshedlightonpositivedevelopmentswhichneedtobesustained.Italsoaimsatgettinganunderstandingoncriticalissueswhichneedinterventionandgiverecommendationsonhowtomoveforward.

1.2 Organisation of the Report Thisyear’sreportcombineseventsandissuesthatprevailedinthe

mediasectorfortheperiodof2017/18andisdividedintotwoparts.ThefirstparthighlightsthemediasituationinMainlandTanzania,while the second part focuses on Zanzibar. The report covers the followingareas:

*Legalandregulatoryframework; *Trendsintheprintmedia; *TrendsintheradioandTVbroadcasting *TrendsinthenewmediaandmediasupportinTanzania. Furthermore,theZanzibarReporthasachapteron‘Professionalism

intheMediaandTrendsinJournalismTrainingInstitutions’.

2.0 Methodology Inpreparingthisreport,theconsultancyteamemployedamixed-

methodsapproachtocollectdata,bothprimaryandsecondary.Secondarydatawascollectedfromvariousreportsrelatingtomedia,lawsandregulations,policiesaswellasnewspaperarticles.Incollectingprimarydatatocomplementthedesk-workreview,interviews were conducted with selected respondents. Respondents

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werepickedfrommediapractitioners,professionalassociations,mediaandcommunicationanalysts,civilsocietyorganisations,legalpractitionersandindividualsfromhigherlearninginstitutions.Respondents were purposively selected based on their wealth of knowledgeonthesubject.

3.0 Key Findings for Tanzania Mainland

Legal and regulatory framework Oneofthemajordevelopmentsinlegalframeworkwasthepassing

ofregulationstocompletelegislationprocessesoftherecentlyenactedlaws.Theexercisescuttledstakeholders`expectations,sincesuchchangesdidnotaddressmanycontentiousissuesinthelaws.

Aspectssuchasaccreditationofjournalists,licensingofnewspapers,leavingthepowertosuspendorevencancelnewspaperlicensesinthehandsoftheDirectorofInformationServicesDepartment,aresomeoftheareaswhich,instakeholders`view,continuetothreatenthefreedomofindividualjournalists,mediaoutletsandtheindustryasawhole.AmendmentsoftheStatisticsAct,2015,madethelawmoredraconianandabighurdleincollectionanddisseminationofstatisticalinformation.

The period also witnessed a new trend of politicization of developmentagenda,wherejournalistsandotherswhoraisedvoicesagainstwrongdoingsbyGovernmentauthoritieswereconsidered enemies andpersonswhowere againstnationaldevelopment.

Current Trends in the Print Media Printmediacomesoutasastrugglingindustrywhichthroughout

2017/18sufferedmassivesetbacksincludingoperatingundera tensepoliticalenvironmentdominatedbyrepressive laws.Decliningreadershipandadvertisingcontinuedtohaunttheindustry,hencederailingitsdevelopmentandsustainability.

Thelandscapealsocontinuedtobedominatedbyafewproprietors,somethingwhichcontradictsthewholeconceptofmediapluralismanditsbenefitstodemocraticprocesses.Government`sdirectivetore-registerallnewspapersandmagazinesshockedproprietors,leavingthemwithonlyonechoice:toeitherre-registerorclose

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down business. The trendof suspendingorbanningnewspapers accusedof

notcomplyingwiththelaw,plusintimidation,prosecutionandharassmentofjournalists,wereothercriticalaspectswitnessed.Violationsweremany,buttheworstofallwasthedisappearanceofaMwananchiCommunicationLimited(MCL)journalist,AzoryGwanda,whosewhereaboutsisunknowntothisday.

Theunfavourable environment inwhich themedia operate,contributedtothedropofTanzania’spositionintheWorldFreedomIndex(whichis?&comparedtopreviousnr).

Current Trends in Radio and TV Broadcasting Radioandtelevisionstationscontinuedtooperateunderalegal

frameworkwhichwasneitherfriendlynorsupportivetotheirdevelopment.Certainlawsandregulationsguidingbroadcastingindustry were used by authorities for personal purposes and punishingjournalistswhoareviewedasGovernment’scritics.

Punitivemeasureslikeclosureofstationsandfinesweretakenagainstsomemediaestablishmentsonanumberofoccasionsundercircumstanceswhichlegalobserversconsideredunjust.IncidentsofviolenceandthreatstobroadcastingjournalistswereontheriseandtheworstincidentwastheinvasionofCloudsTVbyDar-es-SalaamRegionalCommissioner(RC),PaulMakonda.TheRCstormedthestationwitharmedpolice,reportedlytopressurethestafftoairavideounderminingapopularlocalpastorthatiscriticaloftheCommissioner.

AslightincreaseinthenumberofradioandTVstations,officialopeningofdoorsforonlineradioandtelevisionandalittleprogressondigitalbroadcasting,werenoteworthydevelopmentsintheindustry.

Current Trends in the New Media Onlinemediacontinuedtosurviveunderahostileenvironment

withatensepoliticalatmosphere,resultinginviolationoffreedomofexpressionandshrinkingcivicspace.EnforcementofthenotoriousCybercrimesActandotherrestrictivelawsandregulationscontinuedtoplayasignificantroleinsuppressingvoicesconsideredcriticaltothecurrentGovernmentanditspolicies.

The‘OnlineContentRegulations,2017’wasamajorblowtoonline

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communicationinTanzania.Areasofgreatconcernincludedthe prohibitive fees that operators are required to pay, threats to anonymityandseverepenaltiesforthosecontraveningtheseterms.

Despitethesesetbacks,onlinemediacontinuestoprogresswiththenumberofcitizensaccessingtheInternetandotherdigitaldevicesincreasing.TheGovernmentcontinuestoputinplacemechanismstocontrolmisuseofsocialmediaincludingpostingofindecentcontentontheseplatforms.

Media Support in Tanzania Mainland Anumberoforganisationshavebeensupportingthemediain

Tanzaniainthepastdecade.Areasmostlysupportedincludetraining,continuouslearning,mentorshipandfellowships.

Otherareasare: advocacyon issues related toprotectionofmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression,improvingworkingenvironmentofjournalists,challengingdraconianlaws,monitoringandreportingonhumanrightsabusesagainstjournalistsandresearchonpressfreedomviolationsinthecountryforthepurposeofcompilingreportstobeusedinadvocacywork.

Provisionoflegalaidtojournalistswhohavebeenattackedorprosecutedinthecourseoftheirwork,protectionofmediaworkersaswellasprovidingshorttimerelocationtosomejournalistsreceivingthreatsfromunknownpeople,wereamongactivitiesthat received support.

4.0 Key Findings for Tanzania Zanzibar The‘StateofMediainZanzibar’reportdepictsamixtureofpositive

andnegativedevelopments.Theassessmentinthispublicationshows that someeventswere legalandpolicy-relatedwhileotherstoucheddirectlyonthemediasector.The‘StateofMediainZanzibar’coversthefollowingchapters:

Political/Legal and Regulatory Framework SomemedialawsincludingsectionsofthenewElectionsActof

2018remainachallengetomediaoperationsservingthemasses.

Current Trends in the Print Media in Zanzibar TheprintmediainZanzibarisstilllimping.Foreignandlocal

investorshaveputlessattentioninthisindustry.Lackofexperience

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inrunningnewspaperbusinessinthemodernworldisanotherproblem.

Current Trend in Radio and TV Broadcasting in Zanzibar Thereisapositivedevelopmentintheelectronicmedia.Online

televisionstationshavestartedtosprout,whichisanimportantelementindisseminationofinformationtothepublic.

Trends in the New Media Ownership, press freedom violations and advertising have

affectedtheperformanceofthemedia.Newsjudgmentforpublicconsumptionisusuallypremisedontheinterestsofmediaowners.

Media Development Support Journalists are not sure of their survival and welfare. Matters of

protection,promotionofjournalists’rightsandresearchactivitiesdidnotattractmuchattention.

Professionalism in the Media and Trends in Journalism Training Institutions

Thegapofprofessionalismandviolationofmediaethicsisstillanissueforconsideration.However,thereishopeforjournalismtraininginstitutions,especiallythoseownedbytheGovernment,to continue to survive.

5.0 Conclusion ThesituationofthemediainTanzaniain2017/18,particularlyinthe

Mainland,wasnotpromising.Themedia,beitprint,broadcastingoronline,sufferedmassivesetbacksincludingoperatingundera tensepolitical environmentdominatedby repressive laws.Punitivemeasuressuchassuspensionorbanningofnewspapers,closureofbroadcastingstationsundercircumstancesconsideredunjust,plusviolence,intimidation,prosecutionandharassmentofjournalists,weresomeoftheviolationswitnessedinthetwoyears.TheunfavourableenvironmentinwhichthemediaoperatedwasoneofthefactorsthatexplainwhyTanzania’spositioninPressFreedomIndexdropped.Asonemediaguruputsit:``Thedoorsmaybeshut,buttheyarenotlocked.Lookforalternativestylesandwaysofsendingthesamemessagewithoutangeringrulerswhohavenotbeentolerant.Takeadvantageofopportunitiescreated

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bysocialmedia.Whiletheymaynotbeapanaceatoshrinkingcivicspace,theyare,indeed,abreathingspaceasfarasfreedomofexpressionisconcerned,’’

6.0 Recommendations * Media,civilsocietyandhumanrightssupportersmust

continuetocampaigntoensuredraconianandmediaunfriendlylawandregulationsarereformed;

* Challengetheenforcementoflawsandregulationsthatviolateonlinerights;

* Prepareethicalguidelinesforonlinecommunicationand * Push for media training programmes which make

journalistsandmediainstitutionsmoreindependentand sustainable.

About Authors

Dr Joyce BaziraDrBaziraisamediatrainer,researcherandmentor.SheholdsaDoctorofPhilosophy(PhD)degreeinMassCommunicationfromSt.AugustineUniversityofTanzaniaandaMaster’sdegreeinthesameareaandfromthesameuniversity.ShehastaughtinvariousuniversitiesinTanzaniaatbothundergraduateandgraduatelevels.As a researcher,Dr Bazira has participated in a number ofcommunicationsresearchprojectsundertakeninandoutsideTanzaniawhileherexperienceasamentorhasseenherundertaketrainingassignmentswithorganisationssuchasWorldAssociationofNewspapersandNewsPublishers(WAN-IFRA)forWomeninNewsProgramme;TanzaniaMediaFoundation(TMF),MediaCouncilofTanzania(MCT)andUNWomen,Tanzania.Beforeshiftingintotheacademia,sheworkedasasenioreditorfortheGuardianLimited,aprivatelyownedmediacompany.

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Henry Muhanika HenryMuhanikaisaveteranjournalistwithabackgroundinlibrarianship. He was the Chief Editor with the Tanzania News Agencyinthe1980s.OnleavingGovernmentservice,MuhanikabecamethefirstTanzaniaBureauChiefof‘TheEastAfrican’,aNairobi-basedregionalnewspaper.HelateronlaunchedthePRCommunicationsLtd,apublicrelationsandmediaconsultancycompany.ForthelasteightyearsMuhanikahasbeenservingasExecutiveSecretary of Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), combininghisdutieswithparttimelecturingatMuslimUniversityofMorogoro(MassCommunicationDept).HehasalsobeenacolumnistforsomelocalEnglishnewspapersandhasauthoredanumberofbooksincluding‘UtenziwaVitavyaKagera’,‘NjiaPanda’and‘KillerDrink’.

Dr Ali UKiDrUki is a lecturer at theZanzibarUniversity andHeadofDepartmentofCommonLaw.HeholdsanLLBfromtheZanzibarUniversity,anLLMfromtheTorinoUniversity,Italy,andaPhDfromtheZanzibarUniversity.HismainareasofinterestareHumanRights,IntellectualPropertyLawandConstitutionalLaw.DrUkihas published over twelve articles in scholarly journals in Tanzania andoutsideTanzania.Heworkedasjournalistfor17yearsfrom1990.DrUkiisamemberofanumberofboardofdirectorsandboardoftrusteesinTanzania.HewasacommissioneroftheLawReviewofZanzibarforsixyearsfrom2012.

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PART I

TANZANIA

STATE OF THE MEDIA TANZANIA MAINLAND 2017-2018

AUTHORS

Dr. Joyce Bazira

Henry Muhanika

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ABREVIATIONS ACHPR AfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples’

Rights AFEX AfricanFreedomofExpressionExchange AMB AfricaMediaBarometer CoRI CommitteeaswellastheCoalitiononthe

RighttoInformationCommittee EATV East Africa Television ECOPA ElectronicandPostalCommunicationAct FTA Free-to-Air FES FriedrichEbertStiftung FOE FreedomofExpression FGM FemaleGenitalMutilation GBV Gender-BasedViolence ICT InformationandCommunication

Technology ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and

PoliticalRights IJ InvestigativeJournalism ISD InformationServicesDepartment ITU InternationalTelecommunicationsUnion ITV Independent Television JET JournalistsEnvironmentalAssociationof

Tanzania LHRC LegalandHumanRightsCentre Maelezo TanzaniaInformationServices MCT Media Council of Tanzania MISA Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA-TAN Media Institute of Southern Africa-Tanzania

Chapter MOAT Media Owners Association of Tanzania MS Media Services NSS NationalStatisticalSystem RFA Radio Free Africa

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SIDA SwedishInternationalDevelopmentAgency TAMWA TanzaniaAssociationofMediaWomen TASWA Tanzania Sports Association TBC TanzaniaBroadcastingCorporation TCRA TanzaniaCommunicationRegulationAuthority TEF TanzaniaEditorsForum THRDC TanzaniaHumanRightsDefendersCoalition TMF Tanzania Media Foundation TSN Tanzania Standard Newspapers UNESCO UnitedNationsEducational,Scientificand

CulturalOrganisation URT UnitedRepublicofTanzania UTPC UnionofTanzaniaPressClubs UDHR UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights RFA Radio Free Africa

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Chapter One

Developments in Legal/ Regulatory Framework

1.0 Introduction The chapter looks at major political, legal and regulatory

developments,whichtookplacein2017and2018,payingspecialattentiontotheirimpactonpressfreedom,journalismpracticesandthemediaindustry.Thechapteralsoexplorespoliticaleventsandissuesthattranspiredinthepasttwoyearsandtheirimplications.Itendswithconcludingremarksandrecommendations.

1.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework: Key Issues in 2017 and 2018

Passing of regulations for recently enacted laws ThepassingofregulationsfortherecentlyenactedLawsand

ActamendmentswerethemajordevelopmentsinthelegalandregulatoryframeworkinTanzaniaforthe2017and2018period.TheseincludedMediaServicesAct,2016,AccesstoInformationAct,2016,andElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2018,andtheStatisticsAct,2015,Cap315,2018,whichwasamended.Thelaws,whoseimpacttomediaactivitiesandfreedomofexpressionremainsignificant,wereenactedduringthe2015/16period.

1.1.1 Media Service Act, 2016 Regulations, 2017 Media ServicesAct, 2016 regulationswere published in the

GovernmentGazetteinthefirstweekofFebruary2017.Whileaddressingapress conferenceon thisdevelopment, the thenMinisterforInformation,Culture,ArtsandSports,NapeNnauye,pointedoutthatthemovemarkedtheendofenactingcontroversiallaws.

MediastakeholdershadallalongexpressedreservationsaboutthelawonthegroundsthatitcontradictedArticle18oftheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniaConstitution,1977,whichprovidesfreedom

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ofexpressionasafundamentalcivilright.UnderthisConstitution,everypersonhastherighttoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasthroughanymediaregardlessoffrontiers(URT,1977).Mediastakeholdershadlookedforwardtoseeingmatterssomehowimprovedthroughtheregulations.Whenthecurtainwasraised,newcomplicationssurfaced.

Underthenewregulations,therearestillanumberofissueswhich are considered contentious. These include accreditation of journalists,mediaownership,newspaperlicensingfees,handlingofGovernmentadvertisementsandthecloutoftheInformationServicesDepartmentdirector.

Onaccreditationofjournalists,theregulationsspecifyadiplomainmediastudiesasaminimumrequirementforajournalisttobeaccreditedinTanzania.Agraceperiodoffiveyears,witheffectfrom1stJanuary,2017,isgiventojournalistswithoutthisbasicqualificationtopursueit.It,however,leavesthequestionswhetherornoteditorsshouldbeuniversitygraduates,andsaysmediaownersshoulddecide(URT2017).

AnothernotableaspectoftheregulationsisonthepoweritgrantstotheDirectoroftheInformationServicesDepartment(ISD),whoisresponsibleforregistrationofprintmediapublicationsinthecountry.Underthelaw,hecanrejectanapplicationwhichdoesnotcomplywiththeprescribedrequirementsforlicensing,andsuspendorcancelalicencewherealicenceefailstocomplywiththeprescribedconditionsofalicence(URT2017).

TheregulationsfurtherstipulatethattheISDdirectorwillbetheGovernmentAdvertisingAgent.ThisrequiresGovernmentministries,departments,agencies,LocalGovernmentAuthoritiesaswellasprojectswithover50percentGovernmentfundingtochanneltheiradvertisementsthroughtheDirectorofInformationServicesDepartmentforsynchronisationbeforebeingpublished(URT2017).

Undertheregulations,theinitiallicensingfeeofanewspaperissetath.Sh1million,renewableannuallyforthesameamount,anditgivestheISDdirectorpowerstoimposeaSh100millionbondtoanyprivateindividualseekingtoestablishaprintinghouseinthecountry(URT2017).

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Implications of the Media Services Act, 2016 Regulations Thereanumberofimplicationsoftheseregulationstojournalists,

journalismpracticeandmediainvestors. Media stakeholders interviewed were of the opinion that the

regulationshavenothelpedtominimisethenegativeimpactoftheMediaServicesAct,2016,asfarasmediafreedomisconcerned.They,forexample,notedthatthepowersoftheISDdirectortosuspendorevencancelanewspaperlicencewithoutreferringadisputetothecourtoflaw,isanobviousthreattomediafreedom.ItisforthisreasonthatsomestakeholdersdecidedtochallengeboththeMediaServicesAct,2016anditsregulationsincourt,whensomeclauseswereusedtosuspendandbansomenewspapersin2017(MCT, 2017).

Thisreport’sfindingsalsoshowthatmediainvestorsarenotcomfortablewiththeideaofdesignatingtheIDSdirectortoserveasGovernmentadvertisingagent,contendingthatthepracticemaybeusedasaweapontopunishmediahousesperceivednottotoethelineofpower-that-bewithregardtocoverageofpoliticalissues.

RespondentsalsonotedthatthepracticeofstateownedmediagettingfirstpriorityinsecuringGovernmentadvertisementshasalwaysbeenacontentiousissue,addingthattheprivatemediaislikelytobeatadisadvantage,asthemalpracticeisnoweffectivelylegalisedunderthenewregulations.

Regardingaccreditation,journalistsinterviewednotedthatthisminimumqualificationhadeasedthetensionwhichexistedwhentheideaofhavingauniversitydegreeasthebasicqualificationfeaturedinthedraftregulations.However,theyfeelthatthisaspectremainsabarrierinjournalismpractice,andthepossibilitythatmany“unqualified”journalistsmightnotmeetthedeadlinestillhauntmany,especiallythosewhohappentobeinthefieldwithoutevenabasiccertificateinjournalism.

1.1.2 Access to Information Act Regulations, 2017 RegulationstoenforceAccesstoInformationActweremadeunder

Section20oftheAccesstoInformationAct,werepublishedintheGovernmentGazetteNo.507of2017on29thDecember2017.(MCT,2018).

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LegalanalystssaidtheseregulationshaveaddressedsomeofthegapsintheAccesstoInformationAct,thusmakinganattempttoincreaseaccesstoandfreeflowofinformation.Howtheytendtoplaythispositiveroleishighlightedintheirperceivedimplicationsbelow.

Journalistsandlegalanalystsinterviewedsaidtheregulationshaveimprovedonsomeprovisionsofthelawbyexpandingthescopeoftheinformationtobeaccessedandtheobligationsofinformationholdersandotheraspectsasfollows:

Areasthathavebeenimprovedincludearegulationwhichprohibitsaninformationholderorofficerfromdemandingthepersonrequestingaccesstoinformationtogivereasonsforsucharequest.ThishasbeentakencareofbyRegulation6andisconsideredabigimprovementontheparentlawwhichdidnotaddresstheissue.

Another area of interest to journalists is the one that requires an informationholderwhoisapublicauthoritytoorganiseapressconferenceonamonthlybasisanddiscloseinformationofpublicinterest.Stakeholdersthoughtthatthroughthisprocedure,outlinedinRegulation10,thepublicwillhaveanopportunitytobeupdatedonvitalinformationonamonthlybasis.

Implications of Access to Information Act Regulations, 2017

Muchassomelawyersandmediastakeholders interviewedcommendtheregulationsforpromotingaccesstoinformation,theystillcriticizedthesameforbeingsilentonfeeswhichtheinformationholdermaychargeaninformationseekertocoveroperationalcosts,anissuewhichmaybeasetbacktoaccessinginformation,especiallyifthechargesareonthehighside.

Anotherissueraisedbysomelawyersisthatsincetheregulationsareinferiortotheparentlaw,someclausesofthelattermaystillbeusedtodefeatthegoodintentionsoftheformer.

InordertoinvestigatehowtheATIlawanditsregulationsareapplicable in practice, in October, 2017, the MCT decided to test theefficacyofthelawbyliningupateamofinformationseekersandsendingitinthefieldtogetinformationfromsomepublicofficesinDaresSalaamaswellasupcountry.AnMCTdocumentreviewedshowthateachinformationseekerintheteamwasgiven

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aquestiontoaskbutwasfreetodesignhis/herlettertobesubmittedtotherelevantmunicipalofficeforforwardingtothetargetedpublicoffice.Theinformationseekersweregivenamaximumof30daystowaitforresponse.Attheendoftheexercise,itwasdiscoveredthatoutof35questionsgiventoDaresSalaaminformationseekers,13werenotsubmitted,implyingthatonly22publicofficeswereaskedforinformation.Andoutof22questionssubmitted,only2gotaresponse.Asforupcountrymunicipal/districtoffices,only4outof10questionssubmittedwererespondedto.

Theconclusionoftheexercisewasthatpublicofficesarestillhesitanttoreleaseinformationtothepublic.Somepublicinformationholderswerequotedassayingthatinformationissupposedtobegiventoinstitutions and not individuals.

The media ownership monitoring case study Anotherincidentshowingaccesstoinformationisstillaproblem

occurredin2018andinvolvedmediaownerswhodeniedordelayedissuinginformationtoateamofresearcherswhowereinvolvedinthe Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) project in Tanzania. MOM wasjointlyimplementedbyMCTandReportersWithoutBorders(RSF),andfundedbytheGermanFederalMinistryofEconomicDevelopmentandCooperation(BMZ)

While undertaking media ownership research in Tanzania,researchers approached targetedmediahouses, gave themaquestionnairetofillandprovideinformationonmediaownership.However,onlythreecompaniesoutofthe21thatwereapproachedrespondedtothequestionnaireintime,whiletherestrespondedafterconstantfollow-upsbyphoneandknockingontheirdoors.

Oneoftheresearchers,DrSamwiluMwaffisi,toldstakeholderswhogatheredtobrainstormonthefindingsthatsomeofthecompanieswhich reluctantly responded to the questionnaire did not answer allthequestionswhileothersleftunnecessarygaps,showingthattheirseriousnessaboutthewholeexerciseleftmuchtobedesired.

MediastakeholdersinterviewedabouttheincidentcategoricallystatedthatthecultureofsecrecyisstillentrenchedinthemindsetofmanyTanzaniansandhastobefoughtfortheAccesstoInformationinitiative to work.

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1.1.3 Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2018.

TheseregulationspublishedbytheGovernmentinMarch,2018,mainlyfocusonregulatingactivitiesundertakenbybloggers,onlineforums,onlinevideoandaudioproducers,aswellassocialmedia.Theregulationshaveattractedpublicdebate,giventhatthey are as controversial as the law itself and perceived to be a threattofreedomofexpression.Theregulationsoutlineanumberofrequirementswhichonlineserviceprovidersmustfulfill.

Theregulationsprohibitonlinecontentserviceprovidersfrompublishingabusivewordscalculatedtooffendanindividualorgrouporfalsecontentwhichislikelytomisleadthepublic.Theyarealsorequiredtousemoderationtoolstofilterprohibitedcontentandaresupposedtohaveinplacemechanismstoidentifysourcesofcontentandensureprohibitedcontentisremoved12hoursuponbeingnotified(UTR,2018). Internetcafésorbusinesscentresarerequiredtoputmechanismsinplacetopreventaccesstoprohibitedcontentandtoinstallsurveillancecamerastorecordand archive activities inside the cafes. They are also directed to haveauserregisterandensureeverypersonusingtheInternetserviceisregistereduponshowingarecognisedidentitycard.Imagesrecordedbysurveillancecamerasandregistersofusersaresupposedtobekeptforperiodoftwelvemonths(URT2018).

Implications of Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2018

Regardingmisleadinginformation,stakeholdersinterviewedwereoftheviewthattheregulationdoesnottakeintoaccounttheintentionofthecontent,whichiswhetheroneintendedtomisleadornotandmayendupprohibitinglegitimatecriticismanddebate.On prohibition of unsuitable contend, they contended that not all serviceproviderscanaffordtobuytheseprotectiveequipment,andmanywillmostlikelyabandonthebusiness.

Highfeesforblogs,websitesandotheronlineserviceproviderswerealsoasourceofconcernformanystakeholders.Undertheregulations,theapplicationfeesforonlineservicesprovisionisSh100,000andtheinitiallicencefeeisSh1million.Stakeholdersthoughtthatsinceblogandwebsiteownerswererequiredto

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2017-2018 REPORT

register(andpaytheprescribedfees),thiswouldhaveabignegativeimpactononlinedebateasmostoftheblogswhichwouldn’taffordthisfinancialburdenwouldbeforcedtocloseupshop.

The aspect of offences and penalties was considered a noose on the licenceholders’necks.Itisstipulatedintheregulationsthatapersonwhocontravenestheprovisionsoftheregulationscommitsanoffenceandshall,uponconviction,beliabletoafineofnotlessthanSh5millionorimprisonmentforatermofnotlessthan12monthsorboth(URT2018).Lawyerssaidthesepenaltiesareunlimitedandexcessive,addingthatatleastamaximumfineandimprisonmenttermshouldbeprovided.Coupledwiththelackofclarityinkeytermsandthelackofprotectionsforunintentionalbreaches,theseregulationsgiveauthoritieshugepowerstoclosedownonlinespaceforfreedomofexpression(MCT2018).

1.1.4 Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting) Regulations, 2018

Theregulationsareessentiallyabouthowradioandtelevisionbroadcastersshouldoperate,andtheygototheextentofaddressingbroadcastingprofessionalethics.Besidesspecifyingobligationsofpublic,commercialandcommunitybroadcasters,theregulationsalsofocusontherequirementsofcontentprovisionsandguidelinesonissueslikeprotectionofchildren,servicestodisabled,coverageofcourtproceedings,parliamentarysessions,electionsandincidentsof violence are provided.

Undertheregulations,therearealsoguidelinesonhowtohandleadvertisementsandprogrammes.Punishmentforbreachoftheaspectsoftheregulationsisspeltout(URT2018).

Implications of Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio and Television Broadcasting) Regulations, 2018

Somebroadcasterswhowereinterviewedpointedoutthatsomeaspectsoftheregulationscanhelptopromoteprofessionalethics,buttheyhadreservationsonthebreachclausewhichcategoricallystates that a licencee who contravenes any provision of the regulationscommitanoffenceandshall,uponconviction,payafinenotexceedingSh5million.

Aveteranbroadcastercommentedthatlackoflegalself-defenceand

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appealmechanismfortheaccusedisaseriousshortcomingwhichcanleadtovictimisationandcurtailmentofmediafreedom.

Regardingtheconceptsofpublicbroadcasterandcommunitybroadcasterbeinggiventhesamedefinitionsasstipulatedintheregulations,analystsnotedthisconfusioncreateasituationwhereabroadcasterfundedbytheStatecancompetewithtax-payingprivateoperatorsforGovernmentandotheradvertisements.Somerespondents said this is not only unfair, but is a blow to private operatorsanddoesnotencouragegrowthoffreemedia.

OnebroadcastersaidtheregulationshavenotcausedmuchpublicexcitementbecausetheyareanimprovementontheBroadcastingServicesRegulations(2005)whichhavebeenoperationalallalong,addingthatthenewonesaremoreorlessoldwineinanewbottle.

1.2 Amendments of the Statistics Act, 2015 (Cap 351, 2018)

Amendment of the Statistics Act, 2015, was another development in the legal and regulatory framework.

In2018,theGovernmentinitiatedamendmentstotheStatisticsAct,2015whichrespondentsfelthavemadethelawmoredraconianandabighurdleincollectionanddisseminationofstatisticalinformation.Intheamendments“officialstatistics”aredefinedasstatisticsproduced,validated,compiledordisseminatedbyor under the authority of the Tanzania Bureau of Statistics (TBS). ItisstipulatedthattheChiefGovernmentStatisticianshallhavethepowertocommence,varyordiscontinuethecollectionofofficialstatisticsconductedthroughsurveysorcensus,andaperson,GovernmentinstitutionoragencyshallnotauthorisethecommencementofthecollectionofofficialstatisticsthroughsurveysorcensusesexceptwiththeapprovaloftheChiefGovernmentStatistician(URT2018).

UnderSection37oftheamendedlaw,anypersonwhopublishesorcausetobepublishedorcommunicatesanyofficialstatisticsorstatisticalinformationcontrarytotheprovisionsthisActcommitsanoffenceandisliable,onconviction,toafineofnotlessthanSh10millionortonotlessthanthree-yearimprisonmentorboth.Infact,evenapersonauthorisedbytheBureautoprocessanyofficial

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statisticsisnotallowedtopublishorcommunicatesuchinformationtothepublicwithoutauthorisationfromthisagency.Itisalsoanoffencetodisseminateorcommunicatetothepublicanystatisticalinformationwhichisintendedtoinvalidate,distortordiscreditofficialstatistics(URT,2018).

ImplicationsoftheStatisticsAct,2015(Cap351,2018)Amendments Undertheregulations,useofstatisticsinmediareportshasbecome

riskyasoutsourcingthemwronglyormakingmistakesinfiguresisnowcriminal.Alsoitisnolongerpossibletogeneratestoriesfromin-houseoranyothersurveysandopinionpollsexceptthosesanctionedbytheChiefGovernmentStatistician

JournalistsworkingoninvestigativereportswillhaveadifficulttimeinaccessingstatisticaldataasanyofthesameobtainedinthefieldhastobeverifiedbytheChiefGovernmentStatistician.Also,interpretationofGovernmentgeneratedstatisticshasbeenmaderisky,whichisacurtailmentofmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression.

Itwasnotedthatthenegativeimpactofthelawisalreadybeingfelt.OnNovember15,2018,MCTandReportersWithoutBordersannouncedfindingsoftheirjointresearchonMediaOwnershipMonitorinTanzania,inDar-es-Salaam,butgaveacautiontomediastakeholderswhoattendedtheevent.ThecautionwasnothingotherthantellingthejournalistsandwhoeverwantedtosharetheinformationwithothersthatanystatisticalfiguresinthereportshouldnotbedisseminatedbecausetheywerenotyetdeclaredofficialbytheNationalBureauofStatistics(NBS).Hence,journalistshadtoreportthestoryingeneralitiesbyavoidingstatisticscompletely.

Theimplicationofthis,accordingtojournalistsinterviewed,isthatthepublicwillprobablygetdetailedinformationaboutthemediaownershipmonitorprojectafterseveralmonths.SimeonIleta,oneoftherespondentssaidthisamountstogetting“outdatednews”andisunfairtoprofessionalsandmembersofthepublic.

1.3 Political developments and their Implications to press freedom

The5thPhaseGovernmentcametopowerafterthe2015General

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Electionandrightfromthebeginning,PresidentJohnMagufulipronouncedanagendaontakingfastmeasurestobringchangesinvariouspolitical,economic,socialandculturalareas.Sincethen,manysignificantpoliticaldevelopmentshavetakenplaceinthecountry.Someofthesedevelopmentshadsignificantimpactonmediafreedom,rightsandjournalismpractices.Thefollowingarethemostoutstandingoneswhichoccurredin2017/18

1.4 Development as the Agenda of the Media InsomeofthemajorpronouncementsmadebyPresidentMagufuli

duringhisfirstyearinofficeandafter,washisstandthatinapoorcountrylikeTanzania,developmentactivitiesshouldbegivenfirstpriority.Itisforthisreasonthatdebateondevelopment,attractedpublic attention since 2016 and is still in the air to date.

Whilethemediapromotingdevelopmentagendawasandstillissomethingpositive,somepeopleinterviewedclaimedthattheenforcementofthatvisionhadturnedintoanightmare.Intheiropinion,theGovernment,insteadofcomingupwithbeststrategiestocollaboratewiththemediasothattheycanpromotesuchimportantagenda,itusesforce,threats,intimidationandothertacticstoinstillfearwithinthemedia.

TheysaiddevelopmentagendahadbeenpoliticisedtotheextentthatwhoeverraisesavoiceagainstwrongdoingbytheGovernmentincludingthePresidenthimself,isconsideredanenemyofthepeoplewhoisagainstthewellbeingofthenation.Someofmorecriticalmembersoftheoppositionpartiesandsomemediaoutletswhichgivethemaplatformtoairtheirviewsaregroupedinthatcategory.

VictorJoseph,acommunicationanalyst,whoclaimedtohavebeenfollowingcloselyTanzanianpoliticssaidtherearevariousincidentsshowinghowGovernmentinterferewithmediaeditorialautonomyinthenameofdevelopment.HesaidtheincidentwhichoccurredinMarch2017,whenthePresidentpubliclylamentedthatthestoryofWorldBankPresidentYongKim’svisitinTanzaniahadbeenovershadowedbywidereportageonthesackedMinisterofInformation,Culture,ArtsandSports,NapeNnauye,contendingthatthisdemonstratedlackofmediafocusondevelopmentissues,wasamongsuchincidents.

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AnotherincidentoccurredduringtheoccasionofswearinginthenewInformationMinister,afewdaysaftersackingthepreviousone,wherethePresidentpubliclywarnedjournalistsandmediaownersthat they would face dire consequences if they continued to report seditiousinformation.

ExperiencedjournalistsinterviewedpointedoutthatthecommentsbythePresidentweremoreorlessinstructionstotheMinistryofInformationofficialstokeepaclosewatchonthemediaandusethemediaunfriendlylawsinplace,liketheMediaServicesAct,2016todisciplinemediaplatformsinthecountry.

Politicisation of Laws, Regulations and Policies Politicisationoflaws,regulationsandpolicieswasanothermajor

issuethatwaswitnessedinthepasttwoyears.Viewsfrompeopleinterviewed—whopreferredtoremainanonymous—indicatedthatenforcementofsomelawsespeciallythoseenactedrecently,hadbeenpoliticisedforcertainquarters’politicalgain.

TheyelaboratethatlawssuchastheCybercrimeAct,MediaServiceActandtheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,allhaveprovisionswhicharevagueandpronetomanipulationandthatauthoritiesstrategicallymanipulatesomeclausestoharass,threatenevenprosecutepeoplecriticisingtheGovernmentanditspolicies.

TheycitedCybercrimeActsayingsinceitcameintooperations,hadbeenusedasatooltocrackdownonpeopletryingtoexposewrongdoingsofGovernmentauthoritiesandtargetedmembersofoppositionparties,humanrightsactivistsandjournalistswhoquestionGovernmentconductandpolicies.

In their view, frequent arrest of opposition leaders, critical journalists andhumanrightsactivists,banningofpoliticalrallies,unwarrantedclosureofmediaoutlets,judicialpersecutionandharassmentofindependent journalists and restrictions on peaceful protests are someoftheconsequencesofpoliticisationstotheselawsandregulations.TheysaidthesamepoliticalgameisusedundertheMediaServiceAct2016andsomeofitsconsequenceshadbeenabusesagainstjournalistsandtheirmediaoutlets.

SomeprovisionsintheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,anewlegislationwhichrequires

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allbloggersandpersonsoperatingonlineradioandtelevisionstreamingservicestosecurealicence,arealsosaidtobeusedasamechanismtohindercriticaldebateandpindownthoseusingtheseplatformstoairtheirviews.

Itshouldbenotedthatinrecentyears,socialmediaassumedgreaterimportanceinthecreationanddisseminationofnewsandinformationandtheirpopularityincreasedduetotheirpowerofsharinginformationrapidlywithalargenumbersofpeople.

Socialmediaplatforms’reachandpowertoinfluencearesaidtohaveworriedauthoritiesandinordertosilencethem,leadersofpopularplatformshadalwaysbeenthreatenedandprosecutedundertheCybercrimeAct.However,analystshadalwaysarguedthatsuchthreatsandaccusationshadnolegalfoundationandthatthey were fuelled by political interests.

IndependentmediaanalystBettyMasanjasaidsomepoliticaleventshadnegativeimpactstoindividualjournalists,mediahousesas well as to the industry. She said due to such incidents, violations ofhumanrightsandpressfreedomhaveincreased,makinglivesdifficultforcitizensandjournalists.

TanzaniaHumanRightsReport,2018,indicatedthatin2017(LHRC,2017),thesituationofhumanrightsinTanzaniadeterioratedcomparedtotheyear2016situation,andthatcivilandpoliticalrightsinparticularsufferedmost,withviolationsorrestrictionsofrighttolife,freedomofexpression,freedomofassemblyandrighttolibertyandpersonalsecurityincreasing.

1.5 Press Freedom Violations TheMCT,whichmonitorspressfreedomviolationshasaPress

FreedomViolationsRegisterwherereportedincidentsarereceived,verifiedandrecorded.In2017,83caseswererecorded.Thiswasabadyearasfaraspressfreedomviolationsandfreedomofexpressionisconcerned.Majorviolationswereondenialofaccesstoinformation(18cases)arrestanddetentionofjournalistsbypolice(21cases),harassmentofjournalists(15)andassaultofjournalists (9).

By June2018,MCThad received30 casesofpress freedomviolations,someofwhichhavebeenverifiedandrecorded,while

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otherswerestillunderverification.Theyalsoincludedenialofaccesstoinformation,kidnappings,threatstojournalists,confiscationofequipmentandarrests.

Casesofpressfreedomviolationinbroadcastingmediaarereviewedandcommentedoninthechapteronbroadcastingissueswhilethoserelatedtoprintmediaarealsoaddressedintherelevantchapter.

1.6 Concluding Remarks Thechapterrevisitedmajordevelopmentsinthelegalframework

andpoliticalareainTanzaniaMainland,duringthe2017-2018period,focusingontheirimpacttomediafreedomandfreedomofexpression.Thechapterlookedathowregulationspassedtocompletetheprocessoflegislationsenactedin2015and2016,aswellasamendmentsintheStatisticsAct,2015,curtailedfreedomofexpression.

1.7 Recommendations

This chapter makes the following recommendation: Journalists and Editors should: · Use themedia toraisepublicawarenessaboutpress

freedomissuespubliciseincidentswhichinfringepressfreedomand

· Educatethemselvesonmediarelatedlawsforthepurposeofbeingawareoftheirrightsandresponsibilities

Civilsocietyshould: · Networkonpressfreedomadvocacy; · LobbyParliamentandGovernmenttoamendlawswhich

curtailpressfreedomand · Challengesomeofthebadmedialawsincourt. Mediaownersshould: · Facilitatein-housetrainingonmediarelatedlaws; · Challengesomeof lawsandpress freedomviolation

incidents in court and · Takemeasurestoprotectjournalistsinthecourseoftheir

work. TheGovernmentShould: · Opendoorstoreceivecomplaintsaboutcontroversial

26


medialawsandmakeamendmentswherenecessaryand. · Takemeasurestorestrainpoliceandothersecurityofficers

who,insomecases,harassjournalistsandhumanrightsdefenders.

References LHRC(2017)TanzaniaHumanRightsReport,LegalandHuman

RightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania LHRC(2018)TanzaniaHumanaRightsReport(Jan–June2018),

LegalandHumanRightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania MCT(2018)AnalysisofAccesstoinformationAct2016,Regulations

(2017)DaresSalaam.Tanzania MCT(2018)AnalysisofElectronicandPostalCommunications

(OnlineContent)Regulations,DaresSalaam,Tanzania MCT(2018)LegalOpiniononFiveTVStationsFinedbyTCRA,

DaresSalaam,Tanzania MCT(2017)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport,Dares

Salaam,Tanzania MCT(2018)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport(Jan–June

2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania RSF (2018) Media Ownership Monitor (Tanzania) Report, Media

CouncilofTanzaniaandReporterswithoutBorders,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

URT(1977)ConstitutionoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniaof1977,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

URT(2018)ElectronicandPostalCommunications(RadioandTelevisionBroadcastingContent)Regulations,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

URT(2017)MediaServicesAct,2016Regulations(2017)DaresSalaam,Tanzania

URT(2018)AmendmentsoftheStatisticsAct2015,Cap.351,2018,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

URT (2018)ElectronicsandPostalCommunications (OnlineContent)Regulations(2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania

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Chapter Two

Current Trends in the Print Media

2.0 Introduction This chapter looked at the trend of printmedia industry in

TanzaniaMainlandin2017/18.Printmediaincludesnewspapers,journals,magazines,newslettersandanyotherrelatedpublicationsintendedformassconsumption.However,thechapterfocusedonlyonnewspapersandmagazines.Itspecificallylookedatkeyissues which transpired in the industry in 2017 and 2018 such as deregistrationofnewspapers,theirpenetration,ownershipaswellas issues that raised sustainability concerns in the industry. The chapteralsolookedatthelegalframeworkguidingtheindustrybeforehighlightingincidentsofviolence,threatsandintimidationtoprintmediajournalistsandnewspaperoutlets.Thechapterendswithaconclusionandrecommendations.

2.2 Current Status of Print Media in Tanzania In thepast twoyears, theprintmedia inTanzaniaMainland

progressedincertainareas,butlostgroundinothers.Therewerenotabledevelopmentsinthesectorthatareworthnoting.Thesectorwhich was reported to have been shaken up in the previous years,continuedtorebuilditselfinanefforttoregainitspositionasthecomprehensiveandmosttrustedcommunicationchannel.Whilestrivingtorejuvenate,theindustryfacedalotofchallengesincludingoperatingunderaverytensepoliticalatmospherewithrestrictive laws.

2.3 Newspapers Ordered to Re-register, No Licence, No Permission to Operate

Governmentdirectivetore-registerallnewspapersandmagazinesoperatinginthecountrywasoneoftheexercisesstartledproprietors.Theywereleftwithonlytwochoices:toeitherfulfillGovernmentre-registrationsrequirementsorclosedownbusiness.RegistrationprocesswasdoneincompliancewiththeMediaServiceAct,2016,anditsregulations.In2017,Governmentintroducedregulations

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implementingtheactthatrevisedtherequirementsforregisteringprintmedia.Accordingtotheregulation,allnewspapers,journals,newslettersandmagazinesthatareproducedinthecountrywereregistered.Undertheregulation,allprintmediaproductswererequiredtoregisterbyOctober15,2017.(URT,2017)

Re-registrationannouncementwasmadeonAugust23,2017andmediaorganisationsweregivenuntilOctober15,2017tocompletetheprocessofre-registration.However,thedeadlinewasextendedtoOctober31,2017inanefforttoenablemorepublisherstocomply.

DirectorGeneralofTanzaniaInformationServices(Maelezo)andChiefGovernmentspokesperson,DrHassanAbbas,wasquotedbythemedia(Kolumbia,2017)assayingthat,beyondthedeadline,anypublicationthatwouldnothavefinalisedtheprocedureswouldnotbeallowedtooperate.UntilOctober31,2017,adatesetasadeadlineforregistration,atotalnumberof109newspapershadbeenregisteredand85outofthe109,werere-licencedtocontinuewithoperationswhiletheother24werenewlylicensed.

ThefirstlicensingphasetargetednewspapersthatpossessedlicencesbeforeenforcementoftheMediaServiceslaw(ParliamentaryActNumber12of2016)andrespectiveregulations,buttheGovernmentcontinuedtoregisternewpublications.

DrAbbasfurthersaidthataftercompletingthefirstphaseofregistrationandlicensingofnewspapers,unlicensedinstitutionswereprohibitedtoissuepublicationsuntiltheycomplied.Hewarnedthatanyonepublishinganewspaper, journaloranyotherpublicationwithoutalicenceorspecialpermissiontodoso,commitsacriminaloffence.

AccordingtoSection50(2)(a)oftheMediaServicesAct(2016),apersonfoundguiltyofthesaidoffenceisliabletoapecuniaryfineofbetweenSh5millionandSh10million,a3to5-yearjailsentence—orboth(URT,2016).

The2017registrationshake-upwasnotthefirstintherecenthistoryoftheprintmediainTanzania.In2016,theGovernmentdecidedtocancelregistrationofmorethan400newspapersandmagazines,thereby,reducingthenumberofpublicationsoperatinglegallyinthecountry’smarket,byover50percent.Bazira&Uki,(2017)

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The Shake-up Which Stripped away registrations of 473 publications was carried out in June 2016.

According to the Government Notice No.195 published inGovernmentGazettedatedJune10,2016,SupplementNo.23,thecancellationwascarriedoutincompliancewiththeprovisionsofSection23(1)oftheNewspapersAct,1976,aprovisionwhichindicated clearly that itwas against the law for a registerednewspaper/magazinenottopublishforthreeconsecutiveyears.TheActstipulatesthatwhenapublicationisderegistered,itcannotbepublishedordistributedthroughhardcopyorelectronicallyuntiltheownersubmitsafreshapplicationforregistrationandgetalicence.(URT,1976)

2.4 Just Few Proprietors Still Dominate Newspaper Landscape

Just like in the previous years, in 2017/18, newspapers landscape continuedtobediversewithnumerouspublicationshittingthenewsstandsondaily,weeklyandmonthly(forjustafew)basis.Ownersincludedindividuals,privatecompanies,Governmentandpolitical parties, with control concentrated in the hands of a few proprietors.

Threemonthsinvestigativeresearch,titled,’’TheMediaOwnershipMonitor (MOM)’’ jointly carried out by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), indicated that the printmediamarket in Tanzaniawas dominated byMwananchiCommunicationsLimited(MCL),asubsidiaryoftheNationMediaGroup(NMG).MCLisbyfarthemostdominantmarketplayerintermsofreadership.NMG,apubliclistedcompanywhosemajorityshareholderistheAgaKhanDevelopmentFund,has its headquarters in Nairobi.

Otherproprietorsare;theIPPMedia,aprivateenterpriseownedbyabusinessman,Dr.ReginaldMengi,NewHabari(2006)Ltd,associatedwiththepoliticianandbusinessmanRostamAzizandthestate-runTanzaniaStandardNewspapers–TSN(RSF,2018).

SomepublicationssuchasUhuruandTanzaniaDaimaareownedbypoliticalparties.According(RSF,2018),UhuruisownedbytherulingpartyCCMandrunbyUhuruMediaGroup,whileTanzaniaDaimaisassociatedwiththechairmanofTanzania’s

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leadingoppositionparty,Chadema,FreemanMbowe,throughhiswife,whoisthemajorityshareholderofFreeMediaLimited.KiongoziandTumainiLetunewspapersareownedbyreligiousorganisations.

Someveteranjournalistsandmediaanalystsinterviewedontheimplicationsofthiskindofownershipexpressedtheviewthatsuchasituationwasunhealthyintermsofcontentdiversityandthatitcontradictedthewholeconceptofmediapluralismanditsbenefitstodemocraticprocesses.

BettyMasanja,amediaanalyst,saidthatmediacrossownershipgivesaroomformediaownerswiththeirpersonalagendaincludingpoliticalrelatedtomanipulatethecontentoftheiroutletstosuittheirowninterests,somethingwhichisdangerousfornationalsecurityandstability.ThisviewwassupportedbyIbrahimKisinja,anindependentresearcherworkingwiththeIntegrityWatch.

InMasanja`sview,whoeverownsthemediahaspowerandcontrolofthecontentproduced,therefore,byhavingonlyafewpeopledominatingthenewspapermarketmeansallowingopinionsofTanzania’spopulationofmorethan54milliontocontinuebeinginfluencedbyafewpeople.

However,anothermediaanalyst,RamadhaniKabale,wasnotagainstmediacrossownership,althoughhesuggestedthatthereshouldbeamechanismtoensuresuchownersusetheirmediaoutlets for the purpose stipulated in editorial policies.

Hewasalsooftheviewthatstrictmeasuresshouldbeputinplacetoensuresuchownersdonotinterfereormanipulateeditorialworkto suit their personal interests. This view was also shared by Alpha Nuhu, a veteran journalist at the Daily News who thinks editorial workshouldbeleftinhandsofprofessionalsandproprietorsmustnot interfere.

In2017/18,newspaperspublishedinKiswahili,thelanguagewidelyspokenandunderstoodbymostTanzanians,continuedtodominate themarket.Kiswahilinewspapers comprisedawiderrangeoftitlesforreaderstochoosewhileEnglishlanguagepublicationswereseenastargetingtheeliteclass.

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2.5 Newspapers Sustainability Issues

2.5.1 Newspapers in Progress to Re-conquer the Market, Regain Position

In2017/18,therewerenotabledevelopmentsintheprintsectorwhichareworthnoting.Thefirstdevelopmentwasthat,thesectorwhich was reported to have been shaken up in the previous years followingdeclineinreadershipandadvertisingrevenue,inthetwoyears,continuedtorebuilditselfinanefforttoregainitspositionasthecomprehensiveandmosttrustedcommunicationchannel.

Variousnewspaperoutletscontinuedtomoveoutofthetraditionalnewsgathering and dissemination styles by adopting onlineapproaches.Thisshiftwasaresponsetoconsumers`newwayofnewsconsumptionwhichcausestheneedforpublisherstocreatecontentinawaythatmakesitusableacrossdifferentplatforms.

Somejournalistsandcommunicationstakeholdersinterviewedmentionedintegrationoftheirnewsroomstoconformtodigitalrequirements,comingupwithonlineversionofthenewspapersandlaunchingappstargetingdifferentmarketstoensureprovisionsofwhatconsumersare lookingfor,assteps takenduringthetransformationprocess.

SomejournalistswhocommentedonthisincludedPeterNyanje,NewsEditor for Financial Times, SalomeKitomary, a seniorjournalistforNipashe,GodfreyIsmaely,editorforMajiranewspaperandNancymonaIjumba,aCommunicationlectureratSt.AugustineUniversityofTanzania.

RamadhaniKabale,aseasonedjournalistwithTanzaniaBroadcastingCorporation(TBC),narratedseriouschallengestheprintmediahasbeenfacinginrecentyears,andconcludedthat,theindustryisnotoffthehookyetandifurgentmeasuresarenottaken,manypublications would be out of business in not a distant future.

2.5.2 Restrictive Laws an Obstacle to Newspapers Sustainability

Besidestheabovedevelopment,in2017/18,printmediainTanzaniacontinuedtofaceanumberofchallengesjustasithadbeenthecasein2016/17.Thesechallengesincludedshrinkinginadvertisementsrevenue,poordistribution,thegrowinguseofsocialnetworking

32


platformsascommunicationchannelsaswellasunfriendlylawsandregulations,achallengewhichwasperhapsthemajorobstacleforprintmedia`ssustainabilityinTanzaniainthetwoyears.

The Government trend of banning newspapers accused ofnotcomplyingwith the lawplus intimidationof journalists,prosecutionandharassment,weresomeoftheaspectswitnessedin the two years which raised sustainability concern to journalists, newspapers proprietors as well as to those who aspired to venture into the business.

Thefollowingsectionhighlightsincidentsofdisappearance/kidnapping,violence, threats, intimidation, interferencewitheditorialfreedomanddenialofaccesstoinformationtoprintjournalists in the last two years.

2.6 Journalists Abused, Clamp Down on Outlets…the List is Long

2.6.1 Incidents of Abuses against Print Journalists Several incidents of abuses were reported across Tanzania and

documentedinvariousreportsincluding(MCT,2017;MCT,2018;LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;HumanRightsWatch,2017,HumanRightsWatch,2018,AmnestyInternational,2017,FreedomHouse,2018)

OnMarch25,2017duringtheswearinginceremonyofnewMinisterof Information,Culture,ArtandSports,PresidentMagufuliexpressedhisdispleasurewiththewaymediaoutletsaccordedweighttostorieshesaidwerenotimportant.ThePresidentwarnedthemediaownersagainstthinkingthattheywerefreetopublishanythingtheywished.Hewasquotedsaying,``Youarenotthatfree.Watchit!’’Hedirectedtheministertoensurethattheneedfulisdonetoreigninnewsoutlets.Thiswasintimidationandamovetointerferewitheditorialfreedom.

Fourprintjournalists;ZephaniaUbwani(TheCitizen),FilbertRweyemamu (Mwananchi), JanethMushi (Mtanzania) andElihurumaYohane(TanzaniaDaima)werearbitrarilyarrestedbypoliceandlaterreleasedwhencoveringastoryaboutthetragicaccidentinvolvingpupilsofSt.LuckyVincentPrimarySchoolinArusha

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InMarch2017,itwasreportedthatArushaDistrictCommissioner,AlexanderMnyeti,threatenedthosewhowerecoveringaDistrictCouncilmeetingbytellingthemthathewouldorderthepolicetobeatthemup.

OnApril22,2017,journalistsandtheirnewspapersinbrackets;MaryGeoffrey(Nipashe),AshaBahi(Mtanzania),MariamMziwanda(Uhuru),KalundeJamal(Mwananchi)andHenryMwang`onde(TheGuardian)wereambushedbyagroupofpeoplewearingmasksandarmedwithmachetesduringameetingorganisedbyoppositionparty,CivicUnitedFront(CUF).Somejournalistswereinjuredwhiletheirworkingequipmentincludingcameras,gotdamaged.

Mtanzanianewspaperreporter,RamadhaniHassan,wasarrestedandtakentoDodomaCentralPoliceStationforquestioningafterhetookpicturesofcontroversialsceneinvolvingtrafficpoliceofficers.He was detained for three hours and all the pictures he took of the incident were forcibly deleted.

Ajournalistworkingforthesportandentertainmenttabloid,Champion,MusaMateja,waspreventedfromusinghiscamerawhile coveringaConfederationCup footballmatchbetweenSegradaEsperancaandYoungAfricans.ThereporterwhowastheonlyjournalistthathadtravelledwithYoungAfricanTeamtocoverthematchwasdeniedaccesstothefootballgroundbytheleadersof Esperance

OnJuly3,2017IbrahimYamola(TanzaniaDaima)andAzizaMasoud(Mtanzania)wereinterrogatedbypoliceondetailsofapressconferencetheyhadattended.Theconferencewasorganisedbytopleadersofanoppositionparty,Chadema

TanzaniaDaimajournalist,SittaTuma,wasbeatenaftertakingphotographsatapoliticalrallyinMaraRegion

OnNovember21,2017EdithaEdward(HabariLeo),RehemaMatowo (Mwananchi) were assaulted, harassed and threatened by policeaftercoveringriotsataschoolwherepolicewereaccusedofgivingahandtoteacherswhowereallegedlyassaultingstudents.

AreporterfromMwananchiwasapproachedbypeoplewhoclaimedtocomefromDisasterManagementDepartmentandtookawayhisequipmentashewasinterviewingfamilymembersof11peoplewhohadreportedlydiedaftereatingpoisonousmushrooms

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inKilindiDistrict,TangaRegion TheeditorofMawionewspaperreceivedphonecallsthreatening

himafteranarticle linking two formerpresidentsBenjaminMkapaandJakayaKikwetetocontroversialminingcontracts,waspublished by the newspaper. Mkapa was a Third Phase President whileKikwetetookafterhim)

Ajournalistfromaweeklytabloid,SautiHuru,BollenPeterNgettiwaschargedincourtunderCyberCrimesAct,2015forpublishingallegedlyseditiousinformation“whichcouldbringthePresidentintocontempt”.

AnotheralarmingincidenttookplaceinNovember2017whenaMCLjournalist,AzoryGwanda,wasreportedmissingbyhisfamilyinKibitiDistrict,CoastRegion.Hehasnotbeenseensince,deadoralive.Beforehisdisappearance,GwandahadinvestigatedaseriesofmurderstargetingpoliceandlocalofficialsintheCoastRegion.

OnJanuary16,2018,PendoFundisha,ajournalistworkingforMtanzanianewspaperwasdeniedtherighttoperformherdutiesbypoliceofficerswho,aftersnoopingintowhatshewaswritingusingacomputeratthePostOfficeInternetcaféinMbeya,orderedhernottofilethestory.

OnJanuary17,2018,15journalistswhowerehostingadinnerforvisitinginformationofficersfromtheUSEmbassywereambushedbypoliceonthegroundsthatthey(police)hadreceivedintelligencereportsallegingthatoneofjournalistswasdesigningflyersforacertain opposition party

SharonSauwa,ajournalistworkingforMwananchiCommunicationsLtd,wasonFebruary22,2018interrogatedbypoliceforallegedcybercrimes.Ithasyettobeknownwhatshewasbeingaccusedof but police seized her phones.

OnJune4,2018,journalistofMtanzanianewspaper,DerickMiltonwasthrownoutofMeatuDistrictCourtwhenmakingafollow-upofacaseinvolvingasecondaryschoolteacherwhowasaccusedofsexualmolestationofhisstudent

OnAugust8,2018,ajournalistwithTanzaniaDaimawasbrutallyharassedbypoliceofficersinTurwaWard,TarimeDistrictinMaraRegion,afterhewasarrestedwhilecoveringacampaignrally.Hestayedincustodyuntilthefollowingday.

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OnOctober9,2018,FridaySimbayawhoworksforTheGuardianwasarrestedbyTCRAofficersduetoreasonsthatarenotyetclear.HewasarrestedinIringaandtransferredtoDaresSalaamwhereafileonhimwasopened.

SuleimanAbeid fromMajiranewspaperwas thrownout byShinyanga Regional Police Commander SimonHaulewhencollectinginformationaboutwaterproblemsfromShuwasa,aGovernmentagencythatisinchargeofwatersupplyandsanitationintheregion.

Besidesincidentsagainstindividualjournalists,in2017/18,severalcasesofnewspaperbanning,suspensionandbeingthreatswerereportedacrossTanzaniaanddocumentedinvariousreports.Thefollowingsectionhighlightssuchcases.

2.7 Incidents of Newspaper Suspensions and Banning SeveralincidentswerereportedacrossTanzaniaanddocumented

invariousreports,including(MCT,2017;MCT,2018;LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;HumanRightsWatch,2017,HumanRightsWatch,2018,AmnestyInternational,2017,FreedomHouse,2018)

On15June,theInformation,SportsandCultureMinisterbannedMawionewspaperfortwoyearsoverarticlesitpublishedlinkingtwoformerpresidentswithallegedimproprietiesinminingdealssignedinthe1990sandearly2000s.

On19September,theInformationServicesDepartment(ISD)slappedatwo-yearbanonMwanaHalisinewspaperitaccusingof insulting the President and publishing unethical stories“endangeringnationalsecurity”foranarticlecallingforprayersforTunduLissu,anoppositionpartymember.Thiswasthesecondtimethenewspaperhadbeensuspendedinthreemonths.

InSeptember,theDirectorforInformationServices,announcedabanofanothernewspaper,RaiaMwema,whichwasbeingaccusedofpublishinganarticletitled,`UraisutamshindaRaisMagufuli’(Kiswahilifor‘Magufulipresidencywaslikelytofail’)containing“misquotations”ofthePresident.Thebanlasted90days.

On22October2017,TanzaniaDaimawasbannedfor90daysforwhatwasdescribedbytheDirectorofInformationServicesasacontinuouspublicationoffalseinformation.AccordingtotheletterfromGovernment,thesuspensionwasimposedbecauseofthe

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newspaper`strendtopublishunethical,falseandseditiousnewsandfeatureswhichbroughtfearandhatredamongstmembersofthe public

InOctober,authoritiesbannedRaiaMwema,aweeklynewspaper,for 90days forpublishinganarticle alleged tobedeceitful,seditiousandendangeringnationalsecurityanddeemedcriticalofMagufuli’spresidency.

InMarch2017,theHighCourtofTanzaniadeliveredajudgmentinfavourofthenewspapersfollowingapermanentbanissuedinJanuary2016,whichleadthenewspapertofileapetitioninMarch2016

Theaboveincidents,whichtoalargeextentwerefacilitatedbymedialawsandregulations,areatestimonyofthenegativeimpacttheyhadtoindividualjournalists,printmediaorganisationsandtothegeneralpublic.

Thefollowingsectionwillhighlighttheimplicationsoftheselaws,especially on how they contributed to the current status of self-censorship,whichultimatelyheldbackeffectiveandopenpublicdebate,aspectswhicharecentraltodemocraticdevelopment.

2.8 Status of Self-censorship and Chill in Coverage of Some Stories

2.8.1 Restrictive Laws Trigger Fear, Journalists Opt for Self-censorship

EnforcementoftherecentenactedlawssuchastheCyberCrimeAct,2015,MediaServiceAct,2016,StatisticsAct,2015andtherecentpiecesoflegislation,ElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations2018,justlikeitwasexpectedbymediastakeholdersandhumanrightsdefenders,hadchilleffectsonjournalists,theentireindustryaswellastothegeneralpublic.

Reportsreviewed(LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;HumanRightsWatch,2017,HumanRightsWatch,2018,AmnestyInternational,2017,FreedomHouse,2018)andopinionsfromrespondents,indicateclearlyhowin2017/18,unfriendlylegalframeworktogetherwithatensepoliticalatmosphereunderFifthPhaseGovernment,managedtosilencemanyjournalistsandtheirsourceswho,duetofearofprosecutionorheavyfines,optedforself-censorship.

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It was revealed that self-censorship was practiced by journalists andeditorsinbothprivateandpublicmediawhencoveringstoriesconcerningGovernmentleadersandpolicies.Forthatreason,thetrendofself-censorshipwasonasharprisetotheextentofalarmingmediastakeholdersandhumanrightsdefendersfrominandoutsideof Tanzania. (ibid).

BettyMasanja,amediaanalystwhoisalsoalawyer,said“Someprovisions under the Media Service Act, had always been manipulatedbyauthoritiesandusedtopunishorsilencejournalists“makingnoises”orthosecriticaltotheGovernment.”

Suchprovisionsincludethosegivingtheministerresponsibleforinformationthediscretionalpowertoprohibitimportationofpublications,punishjournalistsandmediaoutlets,controlovercontentandSection16oftheCyberCrimeActwhichpenalisesanyperson who intentionally and unlawfully receives unauthorised information,

OnepartofthelawblamedbymanycriticsisSection16,whichsaysthatpublishingfalseormisleadinginformationwaspunishablebyatleastsixmonthsinprisonasindicatedbelow:

“Anypersonwhopublishesinformation,dataorfactspresentedinapicture,text,symboloranyotherforminacomputersystemwheresuchinformation,dataorfactisfalse,deceptive,misleadingorinaccuratecommitsanoffence,andshallonconvictionbeliabletoafinenotlessthanthreemillionshillingsortoimprisonmentforatermnotlessthansixmonthsortoboth.“(TheCybercrimeAct(16),2015)

Commentingontheclampingdownofcriticalnewspapers,SalomeKitomary,chairpersonfortheMediaInstituteinSouthernAfrica,Tanzania Chapter (Misa-Tan), said in 2017/18, this trend worsened thesituationtotheextentthatsomenewspaperoutletowners,tosavetheirpublicationsfrombeingsuspendedorbanned,decidedtoplayitsafebyfocusingonneutralstoriesratherthanarticlescriticaloftheGovernmentanditspolicies.

``Somemediaoutletshavebeeneatenupbythe``angrylaw;”andothershavegonequieter–puttingasidestoriestheyperceiveunpleasanttoGovernmentorgoingfullyintofrivolityunlikelytoraisetempers,’’commentedNdimaraTegambwagwe,oneofmediagurusinTanzania.Headdedthat,duetothesamereason,

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newpractitionersarefearfulofcommittingerrorswhilesomeoldjournalistsareheardsaying“Ihaveafamily,whyrisk?”

2.8.2 Tough Laws Fuelled Self -Censorship, Ethical Violations

EnforcementofStatisticsAct,2015,thelawwhichmakesanoffencethepublicationofstatisticalinformationpriortoapprovalbytheNationalBureauofStatistics(NBS),wasalsoblamedforcontributingtothecurrentstatusofcensorshipintheprintmediain Tanzania.

AccordingtoSection37(5)oftheAct,anyagencyorpersonwhopublishesorcommunicatesofficialstatisticalinformationwhichmayresultinthedisinformationoffacts,commitsanoffenceandthisispunishablebyafineorimprisonmentoflessthanthreeyearsorboth(URT,2018).

Tegambwagwe,who isalsoamedia trainer in InvestigativeJournalismsaidstatisticslawdoesnotexpresslybarjournalistsoranyonefromcollectingorgeneratingstatisticalinformation,butitisthe National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) only, which is entitled to set standards for the collection, analysis and publication of statistics to ensureuniformityinquality,adequacyofcoverageandreliabilityofstatisticalinformation.

Explainingwhythislawscaresjournalists,Tegambwagwesaid:``Investigationbymediaisbyitself,research,andcouldgeneratestatisticalinformationthroughthesameordifferentmethodsandmaybewithdifferentresultsandfordifferentpurpose.Theresults,however,donotconstituteofficialstatistics.Herenon-officialstatisticsmaynotnecessarilytallywithofficialstatistics;andifyourstorywasaimedatfact-checkingorchallengingofficialstatisticsorstatisticalinformation,thenyouwillbeinforit.”

Putinsimplewords,itmeansthatifjournalistsfindingsdonottallywithofficialstatistics,ajournalistsconcernedwouldbeintroubleforbreachingthelaw.

Commentingonthat,Kitomary,whoisalsoaninvestigativejournalist,said,thecurrenttrendisthreateningthequalityreportinginthecountrybecausemanyjournalistsarescaredofwritingindepthstoriessupportedbyfigures.Shesaiddatajournalismisthemostaffectedareasinceitsapproachheavilydependsonfigures

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and statistics to tell a story. ``Whetherjournalistsarescaredbecausetheylackenoughknowledge

ontheActorareduetostrictmeasuresstipulatedinthelaw,whatisclearisthat,manyjournalistshavegonebacktothecoverageofstorieswithmanyopinionswithoutfigurestocomplementtheirfacts,’’concludedKitomary,addingthat,thelawhadalsoelicitedfearonsourcesofinformation,whoarealsoreluctanttoprovidefiguresduetothesamereason.

SomecriticswhorequestedtoremainanonymousfeltthattoprohibitpeoplefromqueryingordiscussingstatisticalinformationthatiscontradictoryisnothingshortofcensorshipandpartofabroaderGovernmentcrackdownondissentandcriticismofitspoliticalandeconomicrecord.

Amajorquestionraisedis:“WhyshouldpeoplebeprohibitedfromdiscussingorcastdoubtonstatisticalinformationtheGovernmentoranyofitsassociatedorganisationspublish,ifitisgenuinewithwhatitpublishesanditsstatisticsarefactual?”

Intheirview,thereisanagendabehind,otherwise,itwouldhavewelcomedindependentstatisticiansandresearchers,whosefindings,helptheGovernmentinitsdevelopmentstrategicplanning.

InresponsetocriticismagainsttheStatisticsAct,theGovernmentinsists that the Act was enacted in order to establish and coordinate theNationalStatisticalSystem(NSS)inTanzaniaandwasamendedforthepurposeofcoordinationofdisseminationofstatisticalinformationinordertoavoidconflictingstatisticswithinnationalstatisticalsystem.ItalsodeniedthereisanyprohibitionofpublicdebateofpolicyanditsoutcomesorinterferencewitharticlesoftheConstitutionsuchasfreedomofexpression.

Anotherlawwhoseenforcementcontributedtothecurrentstatusofself-censorshipwastheAccesstoInformationAct(ATI)of2016.RespondentsclaimedthatthislawwhichcameintoforceinJuly,2017,encouragedcensorshipespeciallyforsourcesofinformation.

A study carried out by Misa-Tan, in collaboration with CIPESA, cameupwiththefindingthattherewasaprevailingcultureofsecrecyamongpublicofficialsatbothcentralandlocalGovernmentlevels.

ThesurveywhichassessedtheresponsivenessofLocalGovernment

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Authorities(LGAs)andCentralGovernmentofficesinTanzaniatocitizens’informationrequestsrevealedthat,thisculturehindersjournalists from accessing information necessary formediareportingtowardsincreasedcivilparticipation,transparencyandaccountabilityingovernance.Thestudycoveredsevenregions,withatotalof28informationrequestsfiledto14institutionsduringMarch and April 2017.

AccesstoInformation(ATI)stakeholders,inoneoftheforumsexpressedtheirconcernabouttheprevailingsituation.Theysaid,thisbehaviourultimatelyaffectedthegeneralpublicthatcomprisestheconsumersofmediacontent.

In their view, the law also increased the culture of secrecy. They saidsomesourcesespeciallypublicofficials,deliberatelyorduetoignoranceofthelaw,furtherdisplayedthetendencyofconcealingsomeinformationfromjournalistsondifferentgrounds,andthat,thisautomaticallyaffectedtheworkofjournalistsinTanzania.

Inthesameforum,theGovernmentthroughtheDirectorGeneralof Tanzania Information Services (Maelezo) and the ChiefGovernmentspokesperson,DrHassanAbbas,admittedthattherewaswidespreadlaxityamongofficialsinhandlingandprocessinginformationrequests,poorcustomercare,lackofknowledgeoftheAccesstoInformationLawandreluctanceofStateofficialstosharepublicinformation.

ExperiencessharedduringtheforumbyvariousjournalistsandATIstakeholdersindicatedthattheacthadcomplicatedtheirworkwhenitcametogettinginformationfromGovernmentsources.

``Oneofthecriteriaofaqualitynewsarticleistohavediversesourcesfromdifferentcategoriesincludingpublicauthorities;however,thesedaysitisverydifficulttogetauthoritiestocommentevenwhenthechapterisstraightforward,’’notedonejournalist.

GaudenciaMngumi,whowasonaTanzaniaMediaFoundation(TMF)fellowshipin2018,explainedhowhermanyattemptstoreachsomeofficialsindifferentpublicinstitutionstocommentonher analytical story failed.

Citinganexample,shesaid,afterattemptingseveraltimestogetsomeoneinapositionofauthoritytocommentonherarticle,andtheeditorthreateningnottopublishituntilGovernmentauthoritysourcesgavetheirsideofthestory,sheendedupquotingdocument

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sources. Mngumi’sfrustrationsweresharedbyanumberofjournalists

interviewed,whoexplainedhowinthepasttwoyears,publicauthoritysourceshadbeenverydifficulttoreach.

Somerespondentsgenerally think that the tendency todenyjournalistsinformation,besidesunderminingmedia`scredibilityandencouragingunethicalconductamongmediaprofessionals,italsohinderedpeople`srighttoreceiveinformationrelevanttotheirlives.

2.9 Introduction of Fees for Online Newspapers

2.9.1 High Fees Forced Existing Online Outlets Close Down Therecentpiecesoflegislation,ElectronicandPostalCommunications

(OnlineContent)Regulations2018,alsoaffectedtheprintmediaorganisationsandjournalists.ThisregulationwhichwaspassedbytheNationalAssemblyinSeptember,2017,andsignedintolawinMarch2018,hadmanyareasofcontention,butthemajoronesincludeditsdemandforallonlinecontentserviceproviderstoregisterandpayoverUS$900,whichismorethanSh2millionperyear, to publish online content.

Theintroductionfees,besidescreatingbarriersforpotentialnewmarketplayers,forcedexistingonlineoutletsoutofbusinessasmostofthemcouldnotmeettherequirementoftheregulationandpay the fees.

OthergroupsaffectedbyenforcementofElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations2018weresomeprintjournalistsowningorcontributingarticlesorothermaterialstoonlineforums.

Somejournalistsadmittedthatduetorestrictivesituation,traditionalnewspapers operate in, they either established their own online forumsorcontributeanalyticalarticlestoonlineplatformsusingpseudonyms,andthatthedirectivetoregisterandpayacertainamountofmoneywasablowtothem.

Theyalsoexplainedhowonlineplatformsenabledforumsownedbywritersandindependentjournaliststobecomepowerfulintermsof reach and readership.

GodfreyIsmaelyisoneofthejournalistswhowereaffectedby

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registrationofonlinemediadirective.Hesaidthatduetothehighfeesimposed,hewasunabletoregisterhisblogwhichwaswellestablishedandalreadypopulardueitsinsightfulcoverageofsocial,politicalandeconomicissues

Generally,stakeholdersfeelstronglythatenforcementoftheserestrictivelawshadcontinuedtojeopardisefreedomofexpressionandrightsofpeopletoaccessinformationandexpresstheirviews,somethingwhichhadautomaticallyledtotheshrinkingofcivilspace witnessed today.

ThissituationalarmedrightsdefendersfrominandoutsidethecountryandthereiswidelydocumentedevidenceshowingsuchincidentshadtarnishedtheimageofTanzaniaasfarasrespectandpromotionofhumanrightswereconcerned.

Asaresultoftheserightsviolations,inthepasttwoyears,TanzaniadroppedintheWorldFreedomIndex2017.AccordingtotheWorldFreedomIndexReport,in2016,Tanzaniaranked71butdroppedto83in2017and93in2018.Factorsattributedtothebigfallincludedsuspensionandclosureofmediaoutlets,threatstomediahousesandattacksagainstjournalists(FreedomHouse,2018;LHRC,2017).ThePressFreedomIndexisanannualrankingofcountriescompiledandpublishedbyReportersWithoutBordersbasedupontheorganisation`sassessmentofcountries’pressfreedomrecordsin the previous year.

Therehadbeenmanyeffortsfromdifferentmediastakeholdersandrightsdefenderstointerveneandputincheckhumanrightsabusesandviolations.Sucheffortshadincludedgoingtocourtto challenge some provisions, condemning press violationsincidents,urgingGovernmentstoreviewrestrictivesectionsaswellaspublishingviolationsincidentsinlocalandinternationalpublications.However,theGovernmenthadconsistentlydefendedits position.

2.10 Complaints Against Newspapers in 2017/18 ReportsfromMediaCouncilofTanzania(MCT)indicatethat,

in2017/18,eightcomplaintsagainstnewspapers,werebroughtbeforeMCT`sEthicsCommitteeformediationandarbitration.In2017,accusednewspapers,wereUhuru,MwanaHalisi,Mawio,Tanzanite,DailyNews,MtanzaniaandJamhuriwhilein2018,

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complaintswereagainstRaiaMwemaandJamvilaHabari(2018). AccordingtoMCT,somecasesreachedamediationandnewspapers

apologised.Onecasewasclosedafterthecomplainantdecidedtoseekotheralternatives.AnothercomplaintwasnotvalidwhileinthecaseinvolvingMwanahalisinewspaper,theCouncilcouldnotcontinuewiththecomplaintafterthenewspaperwasbannedfrompublishingfortwoyears.

2.11 Concluding Remarks Inthisarticletheprintmediacomesoutasastrugglingindustry

thatneedsaconduciveenvironmenttoregainground.Itsuffersmassivesetbackswhiletryingtorejuvenateinatensepoliticalenvironment,dominatedbyrepressiveandrestrictivelaws.Thechapterindicatedhowvariouslawsandregulationshavebeenmanipulatedby authoritiesdespite efforts byboth local andinternationalhumanrightsbodiestourgetheGovernmentrescinditsposition.Itpresentedalistofindividualjournalistsandmediahouses abused under such laws.

ThechapteralsoindicatedhowunfavourableenvironmentinwhichtheprintmediaoperateshascontributedtoTanzania’spositionintheWorldFreedomIndexdeclining.Despitesuchsetbacks,thechapterhasindicatedanumberofdevelopmentsinthesector.

2.12 Recommendations Basedontheabovefindingsandconclusion,thisreportmakesthe

followingrecommendations… Journalistsshould: · Challenge the enforcement of laws and regulations

suppressingfreedomofexpression · Have specialisations so as to develop journalists’

professionalcapacityofbecomingexpertsinparticularareasContinueExposingWrongdoingofSomeAuthorities

Printmediaorganisationsshould: Carryoutresearchonaudiencebehaviouralpatternsandmarketing

tohelpthemunderstandhowtoadjusttheirbusinessmodelsinaccordancewithaudienceandadvertising`demands.

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Academicians Gatherevidenceofthenegativeeffectsandconsequencesoflaws

andregulationsviolatingfreedomofexpressionandpushforlawreformstoabolishthosewhichviolatecitizenrights.

FortheGovernment . Reviewlawsandregulationsviolatingpeople’sfreedom

ofexpression · Amendall restrictiveprovisions in theCybercrimes

Act,theElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)RegulationsandtheMediaServicesandreplacethembyprogressivesectionsthatwillguaranteefreedomofexpression

· StopthreateningjournalistsandhumanrightsdefenderswhentheyexposewrongdoingofsomeGovernmentleaders.

References AmnestyInternationalReport(2016-2017) Bazira,JandUki,A(2017)StateoftheMediaReport,MediaCouncil

ofTanzania,DaresSalaam FreedomHouse(2018)TanzaniaCountryReportontheFreedom

of the Press, HumanRightsWatch(2017,2018) Kolumbia,L(2017)Governmentlicenses109newspapersbythe

setOctober31deadline,retrievedfromhttps://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Govt-issues-licences-to-109-newspapers/1840340-4171670-f2vn3iz/index.html

LHRC(2017)TanzaniaHumanRightsReport,LegalandHumanRightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

LHRC(2018)TanzaniaHumanRightsReport(Jan–June2018),LegalandHumanRightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

MCT(2017)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

MCT(2018)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport(Jan–June2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

URT(2017)MediaServicesAct,2016Regulations(2017)Dares

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Salaam,Tanzania RSF (2018) Media Ownership Monitor (Tanzania) Report, Media

CouncilofTanzaniaandReporterswithoutBorders,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

URT(2015).TheCybercrimeAct,2015,DaresSalaam,Tanzania. URT(2018)AmendmentsoftheStatisticsAct2015,Cap.351,2018,

DaresSalaam, URT(2018)ElectronicsandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)

Regulations(2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania. URT(1976).TheNewspaperAct,1976,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

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Chapter Three

Current Trends in the Radio and TV Broadcasting

3.0 Introduction Thischapterslooksatwhattranspiredinthebroadcastingindustry

inTanzaniaMainlandin2017/18.ItmainlyfocusesonradioandTVstationsoperatinglegallyinthecountry,especiallyonthenumberofsuchoutlets,theirpenetration,plurality,ownershipaswell as issues that raised sustainability concerns to the industry. Thechapteralsolooksatthelegalframeworkguidingtheindustrybeforehighlightingincidentsofviolence,threatsandintimidationtobroadcastingjournalistsandtheirstations.Likewise,thechapterlooksatthecurrentsituationofdigitalbroadcasting,itsopportunitiesandchallengesandmajorethicalissuesfacingtheindustry.Thechapterendswithaconclusionandrecommendations.

3.1 Current Situation of Radio Broadcasting in Tanzania. Radiobroadcastingindustrycontinuedtothriveinthepasttwo

years.Apartfromthemainstreamortraditionalradiostations,in2018,doorswereofficiallyopenedforonlineradiothroughlicensingthem,thuswideningtheradiobroadcastingscopeinthecountry.

3.1.1 Number of Licensed Radio Stations in Tanzania AccordingtoTanzaniaCommunicationsRegulatoryAuthority

(TCRA)thecurrentnumberofradiostationsoperatinglegallyinTanzaniais158,aslightincreasefrom156thatweretherein2017.Abigrise,however,wasnotedin2016,whenthenumberincreasedto148from106in2015.Thetrendofradioregistrationinthecountryiscommendablesincetherehadbeenagradualincreaseyearafteryear.In2012thenumberofradioswere86butitshootto156in2017(TCRA, 2017).

Thetremendousincreaseinnumberofradiostationsoperatingthecountryisamajordevelopmentthattheindustryhasrecorded.Itshouldbenotedthatatindependence,in1961,Tanganyika,nowTanzaniaMainland,inheritedacolonialGovernment-controlledRadioTanzania,Dar-es-Salaam(RTD).Theradiostationdominated

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thecountry’sairwavesformanypost-independenceyearsasanational broadcaster before being incorporated in TanzaniaBroadcastingCorporation(TBC).However,thesituationbegantochangeintheearly1990s,followingpoliticalandeconomicliberalisation, which witnessed Tanzania opening doors toestablishmentofprivatelyownedmedia.

TanzaniaRegulatoryAuthority(TCRA)statisticsindicatethatthe158licensedstationshavecoveragevaryingfromnational,regional,districtandcommunity.AccordingtoTCRAcategorisation,stationswithnationalcoveragecoveralmostalltheregions;thosewithregionalcoveragehavepresenceinatleast10regionswhiledistrictstationsoperateinonepointofoneregionandcommunityradiostationsservesmallspecificcommunities.

AcloselookatthelistshowthatwhilemostoftheradiostationsoperatingnationallyarebasedinDaresSalaam,withtheMwanza-basedRadioFreeAfrica(RFA)beinganexception.Thereisasignificantnumberofstationsoperatingatregionallevel.TCRA, 2017).

Itwasnotedthat,inthepasttwoyears,thegeographicalspreadofradiostationscontinuedtoimprove,inasensethattheywerenolongerconcentratedinDar-es-Salaamandotherurbancentres.Ruralareastooweresignificantlyenjoyingthefruitsoftheradiostationsspread.

Justlikeintheprecedingyears,in2017and2018,languagesusedinbroadcastingwereKiswahili,whichisnationallypredominant,andEnglish,usedbyafewradiostationslikeEastAfricaRadio(IPPMedia)ChoiceFM(CloudsMediaGroup)andKissFM(SaharaCommunications).ItisworthnotingthattheTanzaniaBroadcastingServicesAct(Section15)andtheElectronicandPostalCommunications(RadioandTelevisionBroadcastingContent)Regulations,2018,specify,underRegulation29(a),directsthatlanguagestobeusedinbroadcastingareKiswahiliandEnglish,exceptwherespecialauthorisationisgivenduetospecificreasons(URT,2018).

Regardingtherequirementthataradiostationmusthaveadequatelocalcontentintheirprogrammestothetuneof60%,industryprofessionals and stakeholders said, in the two years there were effortsweremadetoachievethat,althoughavailabilityofquality

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andappealinglocalprogrammesremainedasetback.Theyattributethattolackofskilledmanpowerandmodernequipmentfacingprivatecompaniesandindividualswhoventureintolocalradioprogrammesproductionbusiness.

3.1.2 Radio Plurality and Ownership Intermsownership,theTCRAlistoflicensedradiooperatorsshows

thatmoststationswereownedbybusinesspersons,politicians,faithorganisationsandnon-Governmentalorganisations.Itwasnotedthatnewevangelicalchurches,werealsoventuringintoestablishingFM radio stations.

Anotherimportantaspectnotedthroughdocumentreviewswasthefactthattherewerefewcompanieswhich,apartfromowningradio stations, also ran TV stations and even newspapers.

ThoseconversantwithmediadevelopmentinthecountrysaidtheseverycompaniesarefoundermembersoftheMediaOwnersAssociation of Tanzania (MOAT). They include IPP Media which ownsRadioOneandseveralotherstationsincludingITV,EastAfricaTelevisionandCapitalTV.Furthermore,thegroupalsoboastsseveralKiswahiliandEnglishnewspapers.

Andthen,SaharaCommunicationsLimitedownsStarTelevision,RadioFreeAfricaandKissFMwhileCloudsMediaGroupisaproprietor of Clouds FM, Choice FM and Clouds TV.

3.1.3 Radio Proliferation AccordingtoTCRArecords,byNovember2018thenumberof

radiostationsinthecountrywas158comparedto156in2017.Theincrease of two radio stations was the lowest annual increase since 2012astheTablebelowshows:

Table:No.ofRadioStations(2012-2018)Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018Numberofradios 86 93 98 106 148 156 158

Source: TCRA

3.1.4 Radio Development Trend: Community Radios as an Area to Watch

As licensing records indicated, an increase in thenumberofradio stations in Tanzania in recent years was partly due to the

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establishmentofmoreFMradiostationsindistrictsandspecificcommunities. Broadcasters and media experts interviewedconsideredthisasagoodthing,withmanyadvantagesincludingdemocratisingthecommunicationprocessinsocietyandusingtheradiomediaasadevelopmentcatalyst.

ProsperKwigize,ChairmanofTADIO,anetworkofcommunitycontent-basedradiostationsinTanzania,mentionedprovisionofciviceducation,creatingawarenessonhealthissues,promotingpeaceandharmonyincommunitiesandofferingplatformsforpeopletoairtheirviewsassomeofthebenefitofthesestations.

3. 2. Situation of TV in Tanzania Justlikereportedinpreviousyears,thegrowthoftelevisionsector

inTanzaniahadnotmatchedthatofradio,duetoanumberoffactors,includinghighcostofentry.However,inthepasttwoyears,thereweresomedevelopmentsintermsoftelevisionaccessibilitynotedinsomepartsofthecountryespeciallyinruralareas.ThissuccesswasattributedpartlytoruralelectrificationprogrammelaunchedbytheGovernmentafewyearsago,whoserollouttoregionsisinphases,hascontributedtotheincreaseinTVuseacrossthe country since lack of power in rural areas had been partially addressed.

3.2.1 Number of Licensed TV Stations in Tanzania TCRArecordsshowthatthenumberofTVstationsinthecountry

increasedfrom46in2016to48in2017.However,in2018,thenumberdropped.TCRArecordsshow,asperNovember2018,licensedTVstationswere34.

AbreakdownofthetypesofTVstationsoperatinglegallyshowsthenumberoffree-to-air(FTA)TVstationswas27in2017comparedto25in2016.TherestoftheTVstations;werecableTV(15in2016and2017respectively),satelliteTV(3inboth2016and2017)andpayDTT(3inboth2016and2017).

SinceTVstations, just like radio,aregovernedby thesamebroadcastinglawsandregulations,thelanguagepolicyisthesame.Hence,TVstationsuseKiswahiliandEnglishintheirprogrammes,althoughKiswahiliispredominantandmorepopular,asthisisthenationallanguageanditisunderstoodbythemajorityof

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Tanzanians.CapitalTVandEATVhaveseveralEnglishlanguageprogrammestargetingforeigners.

AccordingtoTCRA,thereareTVstationswithnationalcoverage,which include TBC1, ITV, Channel 10 and East Africa Television (EATV),whichareDar-es-Salaam-based.TheMwanza-basedStarTVtoohasnationalcoverage.AnumberofotherTVstationshaveregionalcoverageinthesensethattheycovermorethan10regions,asperTCRAdefinition.ItisworthnotingthatsomeTVstationsoperateatdistrictlevel,inthesensethattheycoveroneregiononly(http//www.tcra.go.tz).

3.2.2 Television Plurality, Ownership and Diversity. TCRA records show that the State, private companies, non-

Governmentalorganisations,politiciansandbusinessmenownTVstations.LeadingTVstationsbelongtosamecompanieswhichhaveinterestsinradioandnewspapers.Forexample,ITVandEATV are part of the IPP Media, Start TV is part of the Sahara Communications,CloudsTVbelongstoCloudsMediaGroup.

SomeTVstationsestablishedbylocalGovernmentsinthedistrictshavehelpedtobringTVservicesclosertothepeople,althoughthegeographicalspreadofTVstationsdoesnotmatchthatofradiostationswhichhavepresenceeveninsmallRSF(2018)communities.

3.2.3TelevisionProliferation Regardingthetrendoftelevisionstationsintermsincreasingor

decliningnumbers,observationshowsthatduringthepastsevenyears,thatis,from2012-2017,thenumberremainedmoreorlessconstantwithoutmuchannualvariation.Thetablebelowtellsthewhole story.

Table2:NumberofTVStations(2012-toNov2018)Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018NumberofTVstations 46 44 46 46 46 48 34

Source:TCRA:

3.3 Radio/TV Sustainability Issues Whilethereareanumberofdevelopmentsnotedinthebroadcasting

industryinTanzania,includingthefactthatthenumberofradioandTVstationsinthecountryhadbeengrowing,themediahasinthepasttwoyearscontinuedtofacerestraintsinfiveparticular

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areas:finances,manpower,technicalknow-how,legalandsecurityconstraints.

3.3.1 Financial Constraints Interviewswithdifferentbroadcastingstakeholdersshowthat

financiallimitationsareamajorchallengefacingthesectorandtheyattributeittoanumberoffactors,including,measurestakenbythe5thPhaseGovernmentthatareaimedatfightingcorruptionandenforcefinancialdisciplineinGovernmentexpenditure.

Accordingtothestakeholders,thismovebroughtaboutfinancialshockandtightmonetaryliquidity,asituationthataffectedbusinessinmanysectors,includingthatofthemedia.Inrelationtothat,bigcompanieshavetrimmedtheiradvertisingbudgets.

StevenDiallo,thetechnicalmanagerofoneoftheleadingradiostationsinthecountrybasedinMwanzaandDar-es-Salaam,saidinordertocope,hiscompanyhastakenvariousmeasuresincludingimprovingqualityofprogrammes,undertakingregularmonitoringofthestation’sperformanceaswellasdesigningdifferentmarketingstrategiesincludinglearninghowbesttheycanuseonlineplatformstoreachabiggeraudience.

``MostradioandTVstationsarenowusingsocialmediaplatformslike Facebook, twitter, YouTube and others to reach part of the audience that have diverted to these outlets, as well as capture alargerlocalandinternationalaudience…thishashelpedthemtogarnermorepopularityand economicgains,’’notedonecommunicationexpert.

3.3.2 Manpower Challenges Broadcasters and other stakeholders interviewed observed two

majorissuesrelatedtomanpowerchallengesinthebroadcastingsector,namely,ashortageoftrainedbroadcastjournalistsaswellastechnicianstohandlethetechnicalmatterscompetently,andthetendencyofprivatestationsownersnotbeingkeenontrainingtheirstaff,eitherthroughin-houseorexternalarrangements.

Theypointedoutthatthissituationhasfuelledthemalpracticeofusinguntrainedbroadcasters,partlyduetothemisconceptionthatwhoeverisblessedwithagoodvoicecanmakeagoodbroadcaster,evenwithouthavingundergonebasictraininginjournalism.

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2017-2018 REPORT

NarratingchallengesfacingcommunityradioinTanzania,ProsperKwigize,chairmanofTADIO,anetworkofcommunitycontent-basedradiostationsinTanzania,mentionedlimitedresourcesintermsofpersonnelandequipmentandhightaxesassomeoftheencumbrancesthreateningtheirsurvival.

3.3.3 Technical Equipment Broadcasting,especiallyintheareaoftelevision,requireswell

equipped studios which broadcasters interviewed said are costly toputinplace.OurfindingsrevealedthatwiththeexceptionofbigmediahousesbasedinDar-es-SalaamandMwanza,othersoperate with unprofessional equipment. The argument thatmanybroadcastingstationslackreliablestudioequipmentwassupportedbyamajorityofbroadcastersandradiomanagersthatwereinterviewed.TADIOchairmansaidthesituationisworseincommunityradiostations.

3.3.4 Security Challenges Anotheraspectwhichraisedsustainabilityconcernoverbroadcasting

industrywasrelatedtosecurity.Findingsindicatedthatinthepasttwoyears,therewereanumberofincidentswhichputlivesofbroadcasterindanger.Whilepopularityandtrustpeoplehaveinbroadcastingmediamighthavebeenthereasontheirpersonnelbecametargets,viewsfromdifferentpeopleshowtheywereunderconstantwatchbytheauthoritiesduetotheimmenseinfluencetheyhave over their audiences.

3.3.5 Legal Challenges In the past two years, radio and television stations continued

tooperateunderalegalframeworkwhichwasneitherfriendlynor supportive to theirdevelopment.Broadcastersandotherstakeholdersinterviewedpointedoutthatsomelawsandregulationsguidingbroadcastingindustrywerestilloppressiveandthatinsomecases, were used by authorities for personal or political purposes.

3.4 Status of Closure or Hefty Fines in Tanzania Mainland media

Theynotedwithmuchconcernthatsomesectionsofthecontroversiallawsandregulationspassedinrecentyearsincludingthenew

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BroadcastingRegulations,2018,whichempowerstheTCRA,tofineradioandtelevisionstations(URT,2018),affecttheirday-to-dayfunctionsandintimidatethem.

Communication and legal experts also noted that for thoseengagedinonlinetelevisionandradiooperations,thestronghandoftheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2018,islikelytosqueezethem.UnderRegulation15,theauthorityhastherighttocancelthecontentservicelicence,wherethetermsandconditionsarebreached(URT,2018)

Punitivemeasureslikeclosureofstationsandfineswastakenagainstsomeradioandtelevisionstationsonanumberofoccasions,undercircumstanceswhichlegalobserversconsideredunjust,especiallywhentheaffectedwerenotgiventheopportunitytofreelydefendthemselves.

InFebruary2017,tworadiostations,namelyTimesFMandRadioFreeAfricawerefinedatotalofSh6millionforallegedlyviolatingregulationsgoverningbroadcastinginthecountry.TheywereorderedbyTCRAtopaySh3millioneachandastrongwarningwasissuedagainstthem(MCT2017)

Another incident which raised public debate took place on January 2,2018,whentheTCRAContentCommitteefinedfivemajortelevisionstationsforwhatittermedas“airingseditiouscontent”and contravening the rulesunder theBroadcastingServices(Content)Regulations;2005.ThefiveTVstationswereStarTV,whichwasfinedSh7.5million,AzamTwoTV(Sh7.5million),EastAfricaTV(Sh15million),Channel10(Sh15million)andITV(Sh15million).ThecombinedfinestotaledSh60million.

Reaction to theheftyfineswas instant.Media stakeholdersquestionedthecircumstancesunderwhichaccusationarose.ThetelevisionstationsairedintheirnewsbulletincontentfromapressstatementissuedbytheLegalandHumanRightsCentre(LHRC)onNovember30,2017.

Thepressstatementwasonhumanrightsviolationsobservedduringthecivicby-elections,wheretheorganisationobservedrightsviolationsintheformofphysicalassaults,abuse,detention,andintimationofvoters(MCT2017).

LegalanalystswonderedwhytheTVstationswereaccusedofairing“seditious’’contentwhentheorganisationwhichissued

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thestatementwasnotaccusedofanything.Theyfurtherpointedoutthatacaseinvolving“sedition’’wastooserioustobehandledbyanentityliketheTCRAContentCommittee.Accordingtosomeobservers,theheftyfinescreatedanimpressionthatthemoveagainstthestationswasnothingmorethanawayofraisingmoneyfortheGovernment.

Inanycase,theincident,whichtemptedoneoftheTVaffectedstationstotakethemattertocourt,demonstratedthatthelegalframeworkhasseriousimplicationsonthebroadcastingsector.

Pay TV Saga Raise Public Debate ThethreattorevokelicencesofsomepayTVwasanothermatter

whichlitfireinthesector.InAugust2018,TCRAthreatenedtorevokelicencesofsomepayTVcompanieswhichcontinuedtoinclude free-to-air (FTA) content channels in their subscription packages.TheseincludedAzamLtd,MultichoiceTanzaniaLimited(tradingasDSTV)andSimbanetTanzaniaLimited(tradingasZUKU)

InastatementissuedduringthefirstweekofAugust,TCRADirectorGeneralJamesKilabasaidMultichoiceandSimbanethadbeencautionedseveraltimesbytheauthorityagainstincludingfree-to air channels in their subscription packs contrary to licence requirements,buttheyremaineddefiant.

ReactingtoTCRAnotice,MultichoiceissuedashortstatementsayingthecompanywasawareofthenoticebutnotedthatitcamewhenthematterwasstillbeforetheFairTradeCompetitionTribunal.

Toavoidhavingtheirlicencesrevoked,DSTVandZUKUremovedFTA channels from their subscriptionpackages, thus raisingcomplaints fromusersof theirdecoderswhowereobviouslyinconvenienced.

Thedevelopmentenhancedpublicdebateinthemedia,withsomeobserverswonderingwhyTCRAdecidedtotakeactiononamatterwaitingforahearingbytheFairTradeCompetitionTribunal,whileotherswereoftheopinionthatlicenceobligationsshouldbeobservedtoprovidealevelplayingfieldtooperatorsintheindustry.

WithseveralnationalTVstationsstillprovidingfree-to-aircontent,theGovernmentisnotlikelytobackdownonitsstand,muchassomemembersorthepublicusingdecodersofaffectedcompanies

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mayfeelinconvenienced. Inthepastfewyears,someoftheTVstationsandindividualshad

started to introduce online television operations in order to capture moreviewers,butthesituationchangeddramaticallywhentheGovernmentgazettedtheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2018andmadethemoperationalinMarch2018.Operatorsinthebroadcastingindustryaswellaspotentialoneswaitinginthewingsseemtohaveseenthenewdevelopmentasablessing,fortheytooknotimetoseriouslygeton board.

RadioandtelevisionstationswerealsoaffectedbytheenforcementoftheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2018.Underthislegislation,onlineplatformsincludingonlineradioandTVstationsweredirectedtore-registerbypayingthemandatorySh2millionfeetocontinuetransmissionorshutdown.Itshouldbenotedthatsomeofthestationsintroducedonlinetelevisionoperationsinordertocapturemoreviewers.

3.5 Highlights of Incidents of Violence, Threats and Intimidation to Broadcasting Journalists

Some of the incidents of harassment and insecurity in thebroadcastingmediaduring2017and2018,whichwerereportedtoMCTandinvestigated,arehighlightedbelow:

InvasionofCloudsTVbyDar-es-salaamRegionalCommissioner,PauloMakonda,wasthemostglaringincidentwhichhitnewsheadlinesin2017.TheRCstormedtheTVstationbelongingtoCloudsMediaGroup,whichisbasedatMikocheni,Dar-es-Salaam,witharmedpoliceofficers.Ateamwhichwasformedtoinvestigatethe incident found out that the RC proceeded to one of the studios airingapopularTVshowtoenquirewhyaninterviewrecordedearlier had not been aired.

Itwasreportedthatwhenthepresenterstoldhimtheeditorshadnotapproveditforethicalreasons,hethreatenedtotakemeasuresagainstthem,includingputtingthemonthelistofdrugdealers,amovewhichcouldeasilyleadthemtojail.Theincidentwasuniqueinthehistoryofpost-independenceTanzaniaandgeneratedmuchdebateaswellascondemnationfrommediastakeholdersandmembersofthepublic.

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InMay2017,fourbroadcastingjournalistswereamongthosearrestedinArushabythepoliceforallegedlyattendingunauthorisedmeeting.TheyhadgonetocoveraneventwheretheAssociationofOwnersandManagersofNon-GovernmentalSchoolsandCollegeswasgivingadonationtothefamiliesofthechildrenofLuckyVincentNurseryandPrimarySchool,whohaddiedinatragicroadaccident.TheharassedbroadcastingjournalistswerefromAyoTV,AzamTV,ITVandTripleARadio.Theywerelaterfreedandpoliceclaimedtheyhadbeengivena“lift”totown.

OnFebruary7,2017,twojournalistsincludingareporterworkingfor the Arusha-based Sunrise Radio were arrested, by the police, for notreportingtolocalauthoritiesinthecourseofcoveringastoryinArumeruDistrictofArusha.Thereportershadgonetowitnesswhatwastakingplaceinaquarryoperatedbyaprivatecompany,wherethelocalpeoplehadgrievancesemanatingfromblastingactivitiesinthearea.Theywerelaterreleasedafterquestioning.

OnNovember21,2017,fourjournalistsincludingtwofromthebroadcastingmediawereharassedandassaultedbypoliceandteacherswhentheywenttocoverastudentriotinGeita.ThebroadcastingjournalistsinvolvedwerefromCloudsTVandAzamTV.Itwasreportedthatthepoliceandteacherswerebeatingupstudents and did not like the incident covered.

OnJune7,2018,threebroadcastingjournalistswerethreatenedandforcedtoleavetheareawheretheyhadgonetocoveranevent.TheincidenttookplaceatMtaviraVillageinSingidaRegionwheretwojournalistsfromTBCandanotheronefromStandardRadioweremakingafollow-uponastoryofapastoralistwhowassupposedtopaySh30millionfineforallowinghiscattletograzeintheForestReserve Area.

OnAugust8,2018ajournalistfromWapoRadiowaspubliclybeatenupbypoliceofficersattheNationalStadiuminDar-es-Salaam.Thevictimpleadedformercyasheattemptedtoshowthemhispresscard.Membersofthepubliccouldnotcomprehendwhatwasgoingonasthejournalistgotpunishedlikeapettythief.

3.6 Digital Broadcasting in Tanzania Oneviewwhichmostofthecommunicationexpertsandbroadcasters

interviewedtendtoagreewithisthatthefearanddoubtsthatkey

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stakeholdersinthebroadcastingsectorhadaboutmigratingfromanaloguetodigitalbroadcastinghaveprovedunfoundedastimepasses.

TanzaniatookafirststepinthemigrationprocessbyswitchingoffitsanaloguetelevisionsignalsonDecember31,2012,thussettinganexampletoothercountriesinsub-SaharanAfrica(TCRA,2013)

Someorganisationsandmembersofthepublicwereskepticalaboutthemove,butthemostvocalwereownersofmajorDar-es-Salaam-basedmajorTVstations,whoadvocatedmigratingataslowerpaceandbeingguidedbytheInternationalTelecommunicationUnion(ITU)setdeadlineof2015.

Atthattime,broadcastersinsistedthattheywereunpreparedtoundertakethecostlyexercisewithinashortperiodoftime,claimingthathurriedchangeswouldinconveniencemembersofthe public, especially owners of TV sets who would be required to buydecoders.Availabledocumentsshowthatbroadcastersalsoarguedthatthesupplyofdecodersatshortnoticecouldnotbeguaranteed,andpriceswerelikelytobebeyondthepurchasingpowerofmostTanzanians,whoseincomesweregenerallylow.

TCRAdataonthenumberofdecoderssoldinthecountrybetween2011and2017supporttheobservationsmadebytheconsultant.Theregulator’srecordsshowthenumberofdecoderspurchasedincreasedfrom422,384in2012to2,236,577in2017(TCRA2017)

3.6.1 Current Situation of Digital Broadcasting in Tanzania Interviewsanddocumentsreviewedshowthatdigitalbroadcasting

inTanzaniaisasuccessstory,asmostTVstationshavemigratedand in 2017 and 2018 the preoccupation of operators in the industry hasbeenonhowtoexploitadvantagesofthenewsystemtothemaximum.

HamzaKasongo,aseniorbroadcasterinoneoftheprivateTVstationswhichventuredintomigrationassoonasthedoorswereopened,saiditwasnowpossibletohavemanychannels,thankstodigitaloperations.HepointedoutthatnewcomersinthebroadcastingsectorwhowanttolaunchTVstationsdon’thavetoworryaboutinstallingtowersaswasthecaseinthepast,giventhatthisworkistakencareofbylicensedmultiplexoperators,underthe new set-up.

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Findingsand interviewsalso show that there ismoremediaconvergencewhereTVandradiostationsarelinkingwithonline-basedmediabroadcastingandnon-broadcastingplatformstoreachmoreviewersandlisteners,bothinTanzaniaandabroad,thankstodigitaloperations.Thisisachievedbyinstallingspecialequipment.

Opportunities in Digital Broadcasting Giventhegrowingpacethatdigitalbroadcastinghastakeninthe

pasttwoyears,stakeholdersareoftheviewthat,thesectorhashighpotentialasfarasprovidingopportunitiestobroadcastingmediahouses and journalists is concerned.

Narratingsomeoftheaspectsachievedasadigitaluse,atechnicaldirectorinoneofthemajortelevisioncompaniesincountrynotedthatdigitalbroadcastinghasenabledTVandradiomediahousestohavemorechannels.Consequentlytheyoffermoreservicesontheonehand,whileontheother,theyhavehelpedintheimprovementofqualityofbroadcastingservicesincludingclarityofsignals,picturesandcommercials.Reducedoperationcostsandincreasingaudiencereacharesomeoftheattributedtodigitalbroadcasting.

Somejournalistsareoptimisticthatthereareopportunitiesofself-employmentbyventuringintosomedigitalbroadcastingplatformswhichco-existwithexpandedtraditionalonesthroughconvergence.

Digitalbroadcastingis,however,facinganumberofchallenges,includingtechnical,business,ethicalandlegalissues.

Regardingthetechnicalside,somebroadcasterssaidgenerally,theequipmentusedindigitalbroadcastingissophisticated,expensiveandrequirehightechnicalskillstohandle,thecapacitywhichmanypotential investors lack.

Competitioninthesectorresultingfrommanypeopleventuringinto the industry, ethical concerns and lack of skilled personnel were otherchallengesthatwerepointedout.

Allthatnotwithstanding,manystakeholderssay,thereareanumberofdevelopmentstobecelebrated,andthatoneofthemistheentryofonlineTVandradiowithunprecedentedmomentum.

3.7 Online TV and Radio Stations in Tanzania ThepastfewyearshaveseensomeTVstationsandindividuals

introducing online television operations in order to capture

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moreviewers,butthesituationchangeddramaticallywhentheGovernmentgazettedtheElectronicandPostalCommunications(Onlinecontent)Regulations,2018andmadethemoperationalinMarch2018.Operatorsinthebroadcastingindustryaswellaspotentialoneswaitinginthewingsseemtohaveseenthenewdevelopmentasablessing,fortheytooknotimetogetonboard.

TCRA records of online content services licences issued by October 16,2018,showonlineTVoperatorswere90,animpressivefigureattainedinonly6months.

Six operators obtained online content service (simulcastingtelevision)licenceswhichallowthemtooperatemorethanonecommunicationplatforms.Inthisgroup,establishedcompaniesthat own traditional TV stations have opted to launch online televisions as well. These include ITV, Capital TV, East Africa TV, Star TV and Clouds TV (TCRA 2018).

ApartfromoperatorslicensedtorunbothtraditionalandonlineTVs,thereisalonglistof84operatorslicensedthatprovideonlinetelevisionservicesonly.Ownersofonlinetelevisionplatformsareaninterestingmix,astheyincludeindividuals,newspapercompanies,Governmentagencies,faithministriesandbroadcasters.

Newspapercompanieswhichhaveventuredintoonlinetelevisionbusiness includeUhuruMediaGroup.,NewHabari (2016)Ltd.,TanganyikaStandardNewspapers(TSN)andMwananchiCommunicationsLtd.Observersareoftheopinionthatmorenewspapers will join the pack as they look for opportunities to makesomemoneytocushiontheirdwindlingbusinessfortunes.

JenifferSummi,oneofthebroadcastersinterviewed,madeanobservation in relation to the unprecedented drive by individuals andcompaniestoventureintoonlinetelevisionoperations.Shewonderswhetherthisaffordabilitymightbeoneofthereasonsthenumberoftraditionaltelevisionstationsisnotgrowingattheexpectedpace.

Asfortheonlineradiocategory,therearealsooperatorswhohave opted to run both traditional radio stations and online radio services(undersimulcastingradiocontent)licence.AsofOctober,2018,thelistcarried25stations.TheseincludedestablishedstationslikeCloudsRadio,RadioFreeAfrica,KissFM,CapitalRadio,JRSRadioKwizeraandSibukaMediaLimited.Sixentrantsobtained

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online content (radio) licences. Communicationexpertspredictthatwhathappenedafterafew

monthsofopeningthedoorforonlineTVandradiolicensingmightbeabeginningoftheratracetoestablishtheseplatforms,whoseimpactonthebroadcastingindustryinTanzaniawillbesignificant.

3.8 Ethical Issues in the Broadcasting Industry Ethicalconcernsresultingfromdigitalincludetheemergence

ofpeoplecallingthemselvescitizenjournalistswho,duetotheflexibilityfacilitatedbydigitaldevices,areabletoshareinformation.Thisgroupissaidtohavecausedsocialinconvenienceduetounprofessional and unethical practices involved in free-for-all informationsharing.

Lackofskilledpersonnelisanotherchallengethreateningdigitalworld.Themajorconcernrelatedtothis,are:Howdooneguaranteethatthoseinarushtoestablishonlinetelevisionandradioplatforms,willsticktoethicalandprofessionalconduct?Whatwouldbethekeyethicalprinciplesguidingthem?

“Thereremainsalotneededtobedoneasfarasethicsofonlinemediaisconcerned…legallytherearesomeeffortstoimposecontrolalthoughIthink,theselawsandregulationsareoverlytoughtotheextentofmakingithardforthesectortoflourishandinvestorstobenefit,notedonecommunicationexpert,MsSummi

Besidesthat,increasingself-censorshipamongradioandtelevisionjournalists was another aspect which raised concern in the past twoyears.Asexplainedinthisarticle,journalistsoptedtofilterofinformationduetofearinthewakeofharshlawsandregulationsaswellashostilepoliticalenvironment.

3.9 Concluding Remarks It is clear that in the past two years, broadcasting industry

in Tanzania continued to progress in terms of numbers andpenetration.Andwhilestrivingtocopewithfinancial,technical,manpowerandsecuritychallengesinthetwoyears,theindustrywitnessedjournalistsandtheirstationsoperatingunderlawsandregulationswhichareunfriendly,regulationsthatdon’tprovideroomforbroadcastingmediatogrow.Asaresultofsuchlaws,thetwoyearswitnessedjournalists/broadcastersbeingpunished

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orfacingthreats,intimidationandvariousformsofharassment.WhilemuchpotentialofbroadcastingindustryinTanzaniawasnoted,especiallyondigitalbroadcasting,muchneedstobedone,moresointheareaofresourcesandmanpower.

3.10 Recommendations Thisarticlerecommendsthefollowing: BroadcastingMediaHousesShould: · Acquiremoderndigitalequipmentinordertocopewith

emergingdemands; · Investinbuildingcapacityoftheirpersonnelespecially

indigitalaspects · Improveprogrammestoattractmoreadvertisers,sponsors

and audience · Restructureorganisationalandnewsroomset-upsto

accommodatemulti-mediaplatforms. RadioandTVJournalistsShould: · Specialiseinspecificareasofbroadcastingtobemore

competent; · Lookfortrainingopportunitiesinmulti-mediareporting · Exploit self-employment opportunities in digital

broadcasting. GovernmentandMediaSupportingOrganisations: · Revisitmedialawswhichareathreattooperatorsinthe

broadcastingsector · Workwithotherstakeholderstoprovidemoretraining

tojournalistsinthebroadcastingsector.

References AfricaMediaBarometerReport,2015FriedrichEbertStiftung,

Windhoek,Namibia. MCT/RSF (2018) Media Ownership Monitor in Tanzania Report,

DaresSalaam,Tanzania. TCRA,LicensedOnlineContentServiceProviders.Retrievedfrom

www.tcra.go.tz/images/headlines/licensed online content service providers, accessed on 16th October,2018.

TCRA,LicensedContentServiceProviders.Retrievedfromwww.

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tcra.go.tz/index.phd/licensing/licensed-operators/2-tcra/46-radio,accessedonMarch31st2017.

TCRA,LicensedContentServiceProviders.Retrievedfromwww.tcra.go.tz/index.phd/licensing/licensed-operators/2-tcra/47-television,accessedon31stMarch,2017

URT(2018)TheElectronicandPostalCommunications(RadioandTelevisionContent)Regulations,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

URT(2003)TanzaniaCommunicationRegulatoryAuthorityAct,2003,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

URT(1993)TheBroadcastingServicesAct,1993,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

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Chapter Four

Current Trends in the New Media

4.0 Introduction ThischapterlooksatthetrendofnewmediainTanzaniaduringthe

2017/18period.Inthischapter,newmediastandsforinteractiveplatformbywhichindividualsandcommunitiescometogethertodiscusscontentthroughexchangingmessagesandcomments.ThechapterstartsbyexploringprogressintheareaincludinganincreaseinpeopleaccessingInternetandotherdigitaldevicesandbenefitsexpectedfromsuchdevelopments.Italsolooksathowonlinemediacontinuedtosurviveunderahostileandtensepoliticalatmosphere,resultingintodeteriorationinfreedomofexpressionandshrinkingofcivicspace.ThechaptergivesaclearpictureofhowthenotoriousCybercrimesActandotherrestrictivelawsandregulationsplayedahugeroleinsuppressingvoicesconsideredtobecriticaltothecurrentGovernmentanditspolicies.

Implicationsoftheenforcementofsuchlawsandhowlocalandinternationalhumanrightsdefendershavereactedtothesituationarealsoexplored.Thechapterendswithconcludingremarksandrecommendations.

4.1 With Tense Political Atmosphere Online Media Strive to Survive

In 2017 and 2018, Tanzania Mainland continued to record a gradualincreaseincitizens’accesstoInformationCommunicationTechnology,(ICT).TheInternetlandscapecontinuedtoexpandalongsideincreasedaccessibilitytomobilebroadbanddevices,smartphones and other Internet enabled handsets.

Theserecordeddevelopments,wereexpectedtoincreasefreedomofexpression(FOE),accesstoinformationandinnovationforsocio-economicgrowth.Instead,theoppositehadbeenthecaseforthelasttwoyearsaswillbeexplainedlaterinthischapter.

AccordingtotheStateofInternetFreedominAfrica2018Report,therewereabout23millionInternetusers(theexactnumberofthe

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populationusingInternetwere22,995,109),translatinginto45%penetrationduringtheyear.Thisisanincreasecomparedto20millionpeopleand40%penetrationin2016.(TCRA,2017,CIPETA,2018)

Table1:TheTrendofInternetPenetrationforthePastSixYears

Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Penetration 8 9 14 17 20 23

Percentage 17 21 29 34 40 45

In2017/18,thenumberofpeoplewithaccesstomobilephonesalsoincreased.AsperSeptember2018,subscriberswere42,961,449.AccordingtoTCRA,forthepastthreeyears(2015to2018),mobiletelephone subscriptions grew from 39,808,419 SIM cards inDecember2015to42,961,449inSeptember2018,whichisanequivalentof8%growth.

Inthelasttwoyears,companiesprovidingtelecommunicationservicesinTanzaniawereseven—areasonablenumberwhencompared to the situation in other countries inAfrica. ThecompaniesarelistedasAirtel,Smart,Halotel,Vodacom,Tigo,Zantel, and TTCL (TCRA, 2018).

An increase in peoples’ access to ICT has always been a crucial elementintheportrayalofacountry`sdevelopment.ThepromotionofICTincreasescitizen`srightstofreedomofexpressionorfreedomofeverypersontoholdopinionsaswellasfreedomtoreceiveandimpartinformationandideas,eitherorally,inwritingorinprint.Inaddition,Internetaccessfacilitatestherightofaccesstoinformationandisindeedcriticalfortheexpansionoffreespeech.

Therefore,thesedevelopmentsrecordedinthepasttwoyears,wereexpectedtoincreasefreedomofexpression(FOE),accesstoinformationandinnovationforsocio-economicgrowth.Instead,the opposite had been the case for the last two years as will be explainedinthefollowingsection.

4.2 Government Uses Restrictive as Mechanisms to Control Online Space

Primaryandsecondarydataindicatethatthepasttwoyearswere

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worstonmattersrelatedtoInternetandonlinecommunicationinTanzaniaMainland.Pressfreedom,righttoinformationandfreedomofspeechoropinionwhichconstitutefreedomofexpression,werecurtailed. (LHRC, 2017, LHRC, 2018)

Characterisedbyaverytensepolitical tension, the5thPhaseGovernmentcontinuedtoimposedifferentmechanismstocontrolonlinespace.Mechanismsusedincludedenforcementofrecentrestrictivelawsandpassingofnewregulationswithprovisionspronetoabusesandmanipulation(ibid).

Accordingtodocumentsreviewed(LHRC,2017);LHRC,2018),inthelasttwoyears,thesituationwithregardtohumanrightsinTanzaniadeterioratedcomparedtothatof2016.Besidesothercivilandpoliticalrights,freedomofexpressionwasamongthemostviolatedhumanrightsinTanzaniaowingtoattacks,threatstojournalists,banofmediahousesandapplicationoflawsthatarbitrarily,restrictfreedomofexpression,suchastheMediaServiceActandtheCybercrimeAct.

LHRC(2018)paintsagloomypictureofhumanrightssituationinTanzaniaMainlandshowingdegenerationandgrossviolationofhumanrightswithJanuary–June2018asworstrecordedcomparedtothesameperiodin2017,themajorcontributingfactorsbeingcontinuedviolationsofcivicandpoliticalrightsaswellasrestrictionsonfreedomofexpressions.

Twaweza,thecivilsocietyorganisation,whichhasbeenintheforefrontasfarasfreedomofexpressionisconcerned,pointedoutthat2017wasnotahappyyearforTanzaniansasfreeexpressionintheircountrycontinuedtocomeunderattackwiththerestrictivelawswhichresulted intoprivatecitizensbeing threatenedorpunishedforexpressingtheiropinionsonsocialmedia(Twaweza,2017)

Despite stakeholders urgingGovernment officials to refrainfrominterferingwithfreedomofexpressionwithoutreasonablegrounds, incidentsofthreats,harassmentandlegal penaltiesfacilitatedbytherecentlyenactedlawsandregulations,continuedresultingintojournalists,onlineoperatorsanduserstoworkinfearofconsequencesincludingheavyfinesandimprisonment.StakeholderswhohaveconsistentlyurgedtheGovernmentnottointerferewithfreedomofexpressionincludehumanrights

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organisationssuchasTanzaniaLegalandHumanRightsCentre(LHRC);professionalmediaassociationssuchasEditorsForum;mediaregulatorybodiesincludingtheMCTaswellasregionalprofessionalorganisationssuchasMediaInstituteofSouthernAfrica, Tanzania Chapter (Misa-Tan).

Reportspublishedorstatementsissuedbytheseorganisationsplusinterviewswiththeirofficials,confirmwidespreadconcernaboutTanzaniansituationwithregardtofreedomofexpression.Theareasofconcernwillbeexplainedindetaillaterinthischapter.

Asaresultofrightsviolation,inthepasttwoyears,TanzaniadroppedintheWorldFreedomIndex2017.AccordingtotheWorldFreedomIndexReport,in2016,Tanzaniaranked71,butdroppedto83in2017and93in2018.Factorsattributedtothisbigfallincludedsuspensionandclosureofmediaoutlets,threatstomediahousesandattackonmediapractitioners(FreedomHouse,2018;HumanRightreport,2017).ThePressFreedomIndexisanannualrankingofcountriescompiledandpublishedbyReportersWithoutBordersbasedupontheorganisation’sassessmentofthesurveyedcountries’pressfreedomrecordsinthepreviousyear(RSF,2018)

4.3 Online Content Regulations; a Heavy Nail on the Coffin

ThepassingintolawoftheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2017,dealtamajorblowtoonlinecommunication.ThisregulationswaspassedbytheTanzaniaNationalAssemblyinSeptember,2017andsignedintolawinMarch2018,despiteseveralcallsbymembersofthecivilsocietyandinternationalbodiesthaturgedtheGovernmenttoreviseorwithdrawportionsoftheseregulations.Theseregulationsapplytoonlinecontentpublishers—includingbloggers,Internetcafes,onlinecontenthosts,onlineforumsandonlineradio,television,socialmediaandanyotherrelatedcommunication.

Althoughtheregulationissaidtohavemanyshortcomings,stakeholderswereveryconcernedaboutsomeaspectsincludingthehighfeesoperatorswererequiredtopay,threatstoanonymity,liabilityissuesandseverepenaltiesforthosecontraveningtheseterms,equivocalphrasesintheregulationsandtheextensivepowers granted to the TCRA to control online freedom of

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expression. Underthenewlaw,bloggersaswellasonlineradioandTVwebsites

are required to be licensed by the TCRA and pay a prerequisite fee ofmorethanUS$900whichismorethanSh2millionperyearforthemtooperate.(URT,2018)

Regardingthreatstoanonymity,thelawrequiresInternetcafestofilteraccesstoprohibitedcontentandinstallsurveillancecamerastorecordandmonitoractivitiesinsidethecafé.Thecafesarerequiredtoputinplacemechanismstofacilitatethesecontrols(URT,2018).

Onliabilityissues,underthelaw,socialmediausersareresponsibleandaccountablefortheinformationtheypublish.Furthermore,bloggersandInternetforumsareaccountableforallcontentontheirwebsite. In other words, content providers are required to have in placemechanismstoidentifysourcesofcontent,andtocooperatewith the authorities to know the user’s identity when the need arises.

Tomakemattersworse,theregulationsetseverepenaltiestothosecontraveningthesetermswherethefineisnotlessthanSh5millionorimprisonmentfornotlessthantwelvemonths,orboth.

4.3.1 Stakeholders` Response to Online Regulations Online regulations send bloggers packing

Aspartoftheenforcementofthenewregulations,inJune2018,allwebsites,blogsandonlinecontentprovidersincludingJamiiForumwerebannedbyTCRAfrompostinganyadditionalcontentuntiltheycompliedwiththenewlaw.

Thismove,causedpanicamongthemwithmanyofthemgettingconfused,notknowinghowtheyweregoingtoraisesuchahugeamountofmoneyrequiredbeforeresumingoperations.

Jailtermandfineforfailingtocomplywiththelaw,sawsomebloggers,onlineradioandtelevisionoutfitspaythemandatorySh2millionfeeforregistrationtocontinuetransmission,whilethosewhocouldnotaffordcloseddown.AccordingtoTCRA,duringtheperiodstartingfromMarchwhenthenewregulationbecameintoforcetoOctober,2018,atotalnumberof211onlinecontentserviceprovidershadbeenlicensed.Amongthem,88wereblogs,2onlineforums,21onlineradiostationsand90onlinetelevisionstations.(TCRA, 2018)

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TheTCRA,initsquarterlyreportofSeptember,2018,saidthenewregulationsandlicensing,minimisedthemisuseofonlinemedia.However,variousjournalists,civilsociety,communicationstakeholdersandhumanrightgroupsfrominandoutsidethecountry,haddifferentopinionsregardingthemove.Theystronglybelievedthatthislawhadmanynegativeconsequencesnotonlytoonlinecontentprovidersbutalsotothegeneralpublicthatbenefitsfromdiversityofinformationsharedthroughtheseplatforms(ibid).

Theysaidthefeewastoohigh,whichautomaticallyforcedsmalleroutlets to close down as they couldn’t afford it and this eventually thwartedpluralism.

SalomeKitomary,ChairpersonforMediaInstituteinSouthernAfrica,TanzaniaChapter(Misa-Tan),said,regulationsrequirementsincludingtheUS$900registrationfee,wasshatteringnewsformanypeopleespeciallyyounggraduateswhohadstartedtheirownmultimediaplatformsforthepurposeofearningalivingandutilisingtheirknowledge.

Shesaidbesidesthefeebeingtoohigh,therearemanyrequirementswhicharehardtofulfill,hinderingmanypeoplefromventuringinto online business.

GeodfreyIsmaely,editorforMajiranewspaperandRamadhaniKabalewhoisamediaanalyst,contendedthatthefeewastoohighandduetothat,manybloggershadtoshutdowntheirplatforms.Concernaboutthehighfeeswasalsoraisedbyvariousorganisationsintheirreports(LHRC,2018;CIPETA,2018).

Accordingtorespondents,liabilityissuesandseverepenaltiesprovidedintheregulationsencourageself-censorshipamongonlineusers,somethingwhichcontributetoashrinkingpublicspace.

Regarding equivocal phrases in the regulations presumedsubjective,toowordy,vagueandambiguous,theywereconcernedthatsuchtypeofframingwasadeliberateattemptbythepowers-that-be,tostemdissentandcriticism.

Theywerealsoconcernedaboutwhattheytermedtheextensivepowers the Electronic and Postal Communications (OnlineContent)RegulationgrantstotheTCRAtocontrolonlinefreedomofexpression.

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TheysaidthatthepartwhichallowsTCRAtokeeparegisterofbloggers,onlineforums,onlineradioandonlinetelevisionandtheoneempoweringthecommunicationsregulatortoorderremovalofprohibitedcontentmaybemisusedbyauthoritiesfortheirowninterests.

TheirmainfearwasthattheseprovisionscouldbeamechanismbytheGovernmenttohaveadatabaseofonlineusers,somethingwhich can also be used as a tool to harass and persecute users who arecriticaloftheGovernmentaswellasallowtheregulatorybodytofilterandidentifythesourcesofinformationpostedonline.

Commentingontheaboveconditions,PeterNyanje,NewsEditorforFinancialTimesnewspaper,saidimposingregulationswithsomanyrequirementswasnotasolutiontoflawsandgapssurroundingsocialmediauseinthecountry,andthattheGovernmentwassupposedtocomeupwithanothermechanismofpreventingorcontrollingsocialmediaflawswithoutaffectingpeoples’righttoonlinecommunication.

Inhisview,theGovernmentdecisiondidnotonlyaffectthosewhomisusesocialmediaplatforms—italsoaffectedresponsiblecitizenswhowereusingtheminamaturewaytoshareinformation.

Kitomarysaysthatbycomingupwithmeasurestocontrolonlinecommunication,theGovernmenttookapositivestepbutthen,sheargues,themeasurecouldhavebeencarriedoutwithoutaffectingpeoples`freedomintheuseofonlinecommunication.

Dinah Chahali, an editor with Channel Ten, is of the conviction thatwiththeongoingethicalviolationsassociatedwithdigitaluse,itwashightimeGovernmentimposedsomecontrolalthough,sheadmits,someoftheprovisionsaretoughtotheextentofmakingithardthesectortoflourishandbenefitpeople.

Generally,viewsfromdocumentsreviewedplusrespondentsinterviewed,showthatthesenewregulationswereconvenienttoolsandpartofawiderGovernmentschemeaimedatlimitingfreedomsandlibertiesofspeechandparticipatorymultipartypoliticsinTanzania.

Besideschallengescausedbythe2017OnlineContentRegulations,in2017/18,theenforcementofexistinglawsincludingthenotorious2015CybercrimesAct,whichhasbeennamedamongthelawsseverelyrestrictingfreedomofexpression,continuedtoplaya

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significantroleinsuppressingpeople’sfreedomtoexpresstheirviewsandopinions.Thefollowingsectionlooksatthefar-reachingimplicationsofimplementationsofsuchlaws.

4.4 The Notorious 2015 Cybercrimes Act Continued to Play Significant Role.

Cybercrime Act 2015, in September 2018 marked its 3rd year of existence, having been enacted in 2015.

Thislaw,whichwasenactedforagoodcourse,issaidtohavebeenmisappliedtostiflecriticalandalternativethinkingforpoliticalexpediency.DespiteGovernment’sjustificationthattheActwasestablishedtodetercrimesuchascyberfraud,childpornography,hatespeech,andterrorismthatweresaidtobemajorsecuritythreats,criticsclaimthatforthepastthreeyears,theenforcementofthelawhadbeentargetingGovernmentcritics.

However,authoritieshavefromtimetotime,defendedtheAct,arguingthat lawssuchasthispreventmoraldecadenceandpromotenationalsecurityandcohesion.Rightsactivists,however,saytheGovernment’sintentionsweren’tthatclear.

Reports fromvarious institutions show that in the last twoyears,onlinecommunicationuserscontinuedtofacetheriskofprosecutionunderthe2015CybercrimesActandotherlawsforoffensessuchasinsultingthePresidentandGovernmentofficials(LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;CIPETA,2018).

Duetothat,theActissaidtohavebeenusedextensivelytoreigninvoicescriticalofPresidentMagufuli’sGovernmentanditspolicies.

These reports indicate that, there were instances where law enforcementagenciesfloatedexistinglegislationinwaysthatunderminedprivacy.Furthermore,securityagenciesonseveralinstancesdemandedaccessdetailsofindividualswhohadpostedcontentonline(CIPETA,2018;LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018).TheseactionsweregivenmorecloutbySection32oftheCybercrimesAct2015,whichauthorisesthepolicetodemanddisclosureofdatasourcesforpurposesofcriminalinvestigations.(URT,2015)

Intheperiodunderinvestigation,therewasalsoanemergingtrendinTanzaniawherebylawenforcementagenciesseizedphonesandpersonalcomputersfromindividualsandheldthemforseveral

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daysonthegroundsthattheywereconductinginvestigation(CIPETA, 2018).

It was also observed that not only did Tanzania put in place laws andregulationstoenablecensorshipandsurveillanceaselaboratedin the earlier sections, but authorities continued to threaten online content service providers and users with arbitrary arrests and prosecutions (ibid)

4.5 Incidents of People Punished Under Online Laws Several incidents of people punished under online laws were

reportedacrossTanzaniaanddocumented invariousreportsincluding (MCT,2017;MCT,2018;LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;HumanRightsWatch,2017,HumanRightsWatch,2018,AmnestyInternational,2017,FreedomHouse,2018).

Thefollowingaresomeoftheincidentsthatoccurredin2017/18: · On21September,ZittoKabwe,oppositionleaderfor

theAllianceforChangeandTransparencyparty,wasarrestedfollowingcommentshemadeonsocialmedia.TheseconcernedtheHouseSpeaker’shandlingofreportsbytwoparliamentarycommitteesformedtoinvestigatetanzaniteanddiamondminingbeforetheyweredebatedinParliament.

· OnOctober 31, ZittoKabwewas again detained bypoliceforallegedlyissuingfalsestatisticsonthenationaleconomicgrowthfigures.HewasaccusedofviolatingtheStatistics Act, 2017.

. OutspokenoppositionMPsTunduLissuandHalimaMdeewere in February and July 2017 arrested and detained for whatwasclaimedasabusingPresidentMagufuli,seditionandincitement.Thevideosoftheirpurportedoffenceswere circulated online.

· AnotheroppositionMP,GodblessLema,wasdetainedforfourmonthsandchargedwithseditionbywayofutteringwhatwasclaimedtobeinsultsagainstPresidentMagufuliinvideoandaudioclipswidelysharedonsocialmedia.

· InMarch2017,Tanzanianmusician,EmmanuelElibariki,famouslyknownasNaywaMitego,wasarrestedanddetainedforadayinrelationtothelyricsofthesongtitled;

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‘Wapo’whichweredeemedabusivetotheGovernmentandPresidentMagufuli.Thesongwaswidelysharedonsocialmediaplatforms.

· In2017,thecaseagainstthecofoundersofthepopulardiscussionsite,JamiiForums,MaxenceMeloandMickeWilliam, continued with proceedings. Their arresthappened inDecember2016.Theywereaccusedofrefusingtoidentifyanonymoususersoftheirplatformwho had written about corruption and other sensitive topics.

· ChisKika,ajournalistworkingwithDar24wasarrestedbytheDaresSalaampoliceafterwritinganarticleonLudewaDistrictCommissioner,AndreaTsere,refutinginformationthatwasviralonsocialmedia.

· OnOctober9,2018,MohabfromOnlineMedia,wasarrestedbyTCRAofficersduetoreasonsthatwerenotdivulged.HewasarrestedinIringaandtransferredtoDaresSalaamwhereafileagainsthimwasopened.

4.6 Shrinking Public Space Alarms Local, International Rights Groups

Criticalreviewofvariousdocumentsincluding(LHRC,2017;LHRC,2018;HumanRightsWatch,2017,HumanRightsWatch,2018,AmnestyInternational,2017,FreedomHouse,2018),revealthatthefastshrinkingpublicspaceinthelasttwoyears,alarmedthemedia,civilsociety,communicationstakeholdersaswellashumanrightsgroupsinandoutsideTanzania.

Documentsindicatedthat,theselawsandregulationswerenotonlyunfriendlytofree,openandsecureonlinecommunication,buttheyalsounderminedcitizens’rightstofreeexpression,privacyandaccesstoinformation.

SuchlawswerealsocondemnedforcontradictingandcontraveninginternationalaswellasregionalinstrumentstowhichTanzaniasubscribedassignatory.TheseincludetheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR),InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR)andAfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples’Rights(ACHPR)thatguaranteefreedomofexpression,righttoprivacy,andtherighttoinformation.

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TheLHRCwentfurtherbyrequestingtheMinisterforLegalandConstitutionalAffairstoinitiateaprocessofrevisitingorreviewingfreedomofexpressionasprovidedinpiecesoflegislations,suchastheMediaServiceActandtheCybercrimesAct,withtheviewofremovingormendingproblematicprovisionsincludingambiguousandvagueprovisions(LHRC,2017).

OnepartoftheActwhichisblamedbymanycriticsisSection16,whichsaysthatpublishingfalseormisleadinginformationwaspunishablebyatleastsixmonthsinprison.

InAugust2018,MediaInstituteofSouthernAfricaTanzaniaChapter(Misa-Tan)condemnedSection6implications.Inapublicationentitled,‘SothisisDemocracy?’MISA-Tanexpressedconcernoverviolationsofmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression,callingitanonslaughtagainstthemediainTanzania(MISA,2018)

InJanuary2017,mediastakeholderstookthemattertotheEastAfricanCourtofJustice,challengingtheSectionofthenewlawthatrestrictedmediafreedom.AmongthestakeholdersweretheMediaCouncilofTanzania(MCT),LHRCandTanzaniaHumanRightsDefenders Coalition (THRDC), (LHRC, 2018)

InMarch2018,humanrightsactivistsobtainedaninjunctionbattlingtheapplicationoftheregulationscitingthelawasanaffront to free speech. The injunction was overturned in May 2018 andimplementationofregulationshaltedtheoperationsofsomebloggersincludingJamiiForumwhichceasedforsometimeinorderto avoid the severity of punitive law (LHRC, 2018)

Concerned with this situation, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Tanzanian authorities to repeal sections of the law which barred forumssuchas Jamii frompostinganyreportsbeforeregistration,(RFS,2018)

TheAfricanFreedomofExpressionExchange(AFEX)expresseditsdisappointmentwiththeGovernmentofTanzaniaforpassinginto law the Electronic and Postal Communications (OnlineContent),theregulationsofwhichcontainedclearprovisionsthatcouldfurthertightenthecountry’salreadyrestrictivefreedomofexpressionenvironmentbothonlineandoffline.AFEXappealedtotheGovernmenttotakeintoaccounttheconcernraisedbylocalandinternationalrightsgroupsandrevisetheportionsofthelawthat were an affront to free speech (AFEX, 2018).

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TheAfricanCommissiononHumanandPeoples’Rights(theCommission),alsoissuedastatementexpressingconcernonthegrowingtrendofStatesinEastAfricaadoptingstringentregulationsthatputincheckInternetandonlineplatforms.

ThestatementsaidtheadoptionoftheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations2018inTanzaniawhich introduced licensing requirements for bloggers,maynegativelyimpacttheabilityofuserstogainaffordableaccesstotheInternet,somethingwhichgoesagainststates’commitmenttoprotecttherightofeveryindividualtoreceiveinformation,aswellastherighttoexpressanddisseminateone’sopinionwithinthelawprovidedunderArticle9oftheAfricanCharteronHumanandPeoples’Rights,(APC,2018)

4.7 With the Tense Political Situation, What is the Future of Online Media?

Despitelegalrelatedchallenges,in2017/18,onlinemediainTanzaniacontinuedtosurvivebutofcourse,notwiththesamemomentumwitnessedinpreviousyears.

Various journalists and other stakeholders interviewed spoke of howsocialmediaincludingblogshaveexpandedthepublicspherebyfacilitatingcommunicationtoTanzanianswhopreviouslylackedaccesstotraditionmedia.ItshouldbenotedthatwiththetypeofmediaownershipTanzaniahave,itisobviousthatjournalistsandeditorsworkingfortraditionalmediaarealwayscontrolledbyinvisible hand of owners and their associates, especially politicians andotherinfluentialpeople.

Commentingonsocialmediabenefits,Tegambwagesaid:“Theirinteractivenaturemakesthemimportantinbothfreeandrestrictivecircumstances,anywhereintheworld.Youhavepeoplebeinginformedfast.Youhavepeopletalkingtofriendsbeyondborders.Youhavepeoplepouringtheirheartsonlineforeveryonetoseeorhear.Youhavetheworldtalkingunfettered.’’

Expressing his conviction of the relevance of socialmedia,Tegambwage,said:“Whiletheymaynotbeapanaceatoshrinkingcivicspace–theyare,indeed,abreathingspaceinasfarasfreedomofexpressionisconcerned,’’

Takingthisfurther,PeterNyanje,saidthatsuchplatformshave

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continuedtoofferwritersandindependentjournalistsaforumtoexpressviewsandreportnewsthatmightnototherwiseappearinmainstreammedia.

Inhisview,theseplatformshavealsoopeneduppossibilitiesforindividualstoestablishprivatenewsoutletsthatproveimmenselypowerfulintermsofreachandreadership.Analysts,BettyMasanjaandRamadhaniKabalesharesimilarviewontherelevanceofsocialmedia.SalomeKitomary,whoisalsoaseniorjournalistforNipashenewspaper,said,theseplatformsaresourcesofincometoyounggraduateswhohadstartedtheirownmultimediaplatformsforthepurposeofearningalivingandutilisingtheirknowledge.

Generally,manyrespondentsadmittedthatinthepasttwoyears,socialmediawerethemajorchannelforpoliticiansespeciallymembersoftheoppositionpartiestoreachouttheirsupportersaftertheGovernmentputabanonpublicrallies.Sincethepresidentialelectionsin2015,Tanzania’sOppositionhasbeenrestrictedbyabanonoppositionralliesandsanctions,intimidation,andpunishmentofcitizensforcriticizingPresidentJohnMagufulioftherulingChamacha Mapinduzi (CCM). Since his election, the President has taken toughmeasuresagainstcorruptionandimprovedgovernanceinthecountry.However,heishighlycriticisedforhisintolerancetocriticism,asituationleadingtonumerousprosecutionsofhiscriticsandsocialmediausers.

However,aftertheonlineregulationswereadopted,theseplatformsarenolongerfreeenoughtoprovideindependentandin-depthanalysis as they used to before the disruptions.

4.8 Strategies to Promote Good Use of Online Media Inthepasttwoyears,theGovernmentcontinuedtakingserious

measuresandlegalactionagainstpeoplepostingindecentcontentonsocialmedia.

Senior leaders, including,made itclear that theGovernmentwouldcontinuetosafeguardthecountry’scultureforpresentandfuturegenerationsandthatitwouldnotallowanyonetopromoteimmoralityonsocialmedia.Italsotooksternlegalactionagainstthoseaccusedofmisusingonlinemedia.Amongthosewhohavetested thesweeterbitterofonlineacts include the following:MusicianNassibAbdul(DiamondPlatnumz),FaustineCharles

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(Nandy)MissTanzania,WemaSepetu,HamisaMobeto,GiftStanford(GigyMoney),SusanMichael,JaneIkunda(Sanchoka),RutyfiaAbubakary(AmberRutty)andSaidBakari(JamesDerious).SomeoftheseartistesweretakentocourtorsummonedbyBasatawheretheywereaskedtoissueapublicapologyandissuedwithdifferentformsofpenaltiesincludingbanning.TheGovernmentthroughtheMinistryofInformation,Culture,SportsandArts,continuedtoworkcloselywithBasataandtheTCRAtoregulatetheTanzaniancreativesectorafterPresidentJohnMagufuliorderedtheTCRAinDecembertotakelegalactionagainstartisteswhoentertain nudity in their videos.

Regardingpublicawareness,inthepasttwoyears,TCRAcontinuedtoimplementfocusedinformationandawarenesscampaignstoeducateconsumersandthegeneralpublicontheirrightsandobligationsandhowtoavoidmobileandInternetfraud.Theeducationalsoaddressedthelegalrequirementsfortheregistrationof SIM cards.

TheTCRAalsolaunchedcampaignsforresponsibleuseofsocialmediawithmessagesagainst the initiatingand transmittingor forwardingofoffensivecontentonline.BetweenJulyandSeptember2018,TCRAcoordinatedtheproductionof24messagesaddressingresponsibleandethicaluseofcommunicationservicesand application (TCRA, 2018)

4.9 Concluding Remarks Fromwhathasbeensaidinthischapter,itisclearthatinlast

twoyears,TanzaniaMainlandcontinuedtomakeprogressintermsofthenumberofcitizensaccessingInternetandotherdigitaldevices.However,thechaptershows,thisprogressdidnotpromotefreedomofexpression(FOE)andaccesstoinformationasexpected.Thechapterdiscussedvariousdrawbackshinderedthegrowthandprogressofonlinemediawhichrangefrompoliticalsituationexecratedaswellasrestrictivelawsandregulations.

The chapter further showed how authorities used restrictive laws asmechanismstocontrolonlinemediaaswellandpunishcertainindividualswhoareperceivedasathreatbytheGovernment.Italsoraisedconcernastohowfaronlinemediawillgogiventhepolitical tension in the country.

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4.10 Recommendations Thisarticlemakesthefollowingrecommendations: FortheMedia: · Inform, educate andmobilise the public to demand

Internetfreedomaswellasreportincidentsofonlinerightsviolations;

· Challengetheenforcementoflawsandregulationsthatviolateonlinerightsandsuppressfreedomofexpressionand

· Sensitizepeopleonconstructiveuseofdigital. For Civil Society · Beonalerttodigitalviolationsandgatherevidenceof

theirnegativeeffectsandconsequenceswhichwouldbeusedinpressuringtheGovernmenttoabolishpracticesthatviolatetherightsofcitizensand

. ContinuemonitoringandpayinggreaterattentiontoviolationsoftherighttoaccessInternet.

Academicians . Gatherevidenceofthenegativeeffectsandconsequences

oflawsandregulationsthatviolatefreedomofexpressionsandpushforlawreformstoabolishthosewhichviolatecitizenrights.

FortheGovernment . Reviewlawsandregulationsthatviolatepeople’srights

toonlinecommunication; · Amend all restrictive provisions in theCybercrimes

Act,theElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)RegulationsandtheMediaServicesandreplacethembyprogressivesectionsthatwillguaranteefreedomofexpressionandthemediainlinewithinternationalhumanrightsstandards;

· StopopenthreatsagainstjournalistsandhumanrightsdefenderswhoexposewrongdoingofsomeGovernmentleaders and

· Workwithmediaandotherstakeholders tosensitise

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peopleonconstructiveuseofonlinemedia.

References AmnestyInternationalReport(2016-2017) FreedomHouse(2018).TanzaniaCountryReportontheFreedom

ofthePressretrievedfromhttps://freedomhouse.org/ HumanRightsWatch(2017,2018) LHRC(2017)TanzaniaHumanRightsReport,LegalandHuman

RightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania. LHRC(2018)TanzaniaHumanRightsReport(Jan–June2018),

LegalandHumanRightsCentre,DaresSalaam,Tanzania. MCT(2017)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport,Dares

Salaam,Tanzania MCT(2018)PressFreedomViolationsRegisterReport(Jan–June

2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania. RSF (2018) Media Ownership Monitor (Tanzania) Report, Media

CouncilofTanzaniaandReporterswithoutBorders,DaresSalaam,Tanzania.

TCRA,(2017)CommunicationStatisticsReportofDecember,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

TCRA,(2018)CommunicationStatisticsReportofSeptember,DaresSalaam,Tanzania

StateofInternetFreedominAfrica2017,CIPETA,www.cipeta.org StateofInternetFreedominAfrica2018,CIPETA,www.cipeta.org URT(2015).TheCybercrimeAct,2015,DaresSalaam,Tanzania. URT(2018)AmendmentsoftheStatisticsAct2015,Cap.351,2018,

DaresSalaam,Tanzania. URT (2018)ElectronicsandPostalCommunications (Online

Content)Regulations(2018),DaresSalaam,Tanzania. (https://rsf.org/en/news/tanzanias-most-popular-site-banned-

posting-new-content) (https://www.apc.org/en/news/concern-growing-trend-

stringent-regulation-Internet-east-african-states) (http://www.africafex.org/country-highlights/tanzanias-

newly-adopted-electronic-and-postal-communication-code-is-retrogressive-and-an-affront-to-free-speech-afex)

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Chapter Five

Media Support in Tanzania Mainland

5.0 Introduction Thischapterfocusesontheroleplayedbyvariousorganisations

insupportingthemediainTanzaniain2017and2018.Someoftheaspectsexploredincludeactivitiesundertakenbysupporters,jointinitiatives,viewsofmediasupportersonhowtoimprovemediadevelopmentsupportandtheperceptionofbeneficiarieson provided support. The chapter ends with a conclusion and recommendations.

5.1 Organisations Supporting Media in Tanzania OrganisationswhichhavebeensupportingthemediainTanzania

inthepastdecadearemoreorlessthesame.AnotablenewcomerisInternews,whichisperceivedbyjournalistsashavingmadeanimpactwithinashorttime.Theseinclude;theMediaCouncilofTanzania, (MCT), Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), Journalists EnvironmentalAssociationofTanzania(JET),TanzaniaMediaWomenAssociation (TAMWA),UnitedNationalEducationalScientificandCulturalOrganisation(Unesco),MediaInstituteofSouthernAfrica,TanzaniaChapter(Misa-Tan),UnionofTanzaniaPressClubs(UTPC),TanzaniaEditorsForum(TEF)andFriedrichEbert Stiftung (FES). These institutions support the mediasignificantly,especiallyintheareaoftraining,whichtheyhaveallalongpaidmuchattentionto.

5.2 Internews Internewsisaninternationalnon-profitorganisationwhichworks

toensureaccesstotrustedqualityinformationthatempowerspeople to have a voice in their future and live a healthy, secure and rewardinglife.

Theorganisationsupports journalistsinTanzaniaindifferentways includingoffering trainingandothercapacitybuildingopportunities.

WenceslausMushi,theInternewsDirectorofInformationand

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Communicationmention`BoreshaHabari’,afive-yearprojectasoneoftheactivitybenefitingmediaimmensely.Theprojectaimsatimprovingmedianewsqualityandstrengthenthecapacityofcivilorganisationstoengagethemediasothat,people-orientedactivitiesoftheformercanbepublicisedforthebenefitofsociety.

Internews,throughtheBoreshaHabariproject,hassofarprovidedcapacitybuildingtrainingtojournaliststoproducehighqualitylocalnewscoverage,wherein2018,atotalof876journalistsfromTanzania Mainland and Zanzibar were trained on various topics, thepurposebeingtoimprovejournalismandqualityofnewsproduced.

Italsoprovidedcapacitybuildingto20communityradiostationsthroughtraining,coachingandmentorship,trainedyouthandwomenoncommunityradiodevelopmentandprogrammingwherefortheyear2018,atotalof442youthandadultwomenfromTanzaniaMainlandandZanzibarbenefitted.

Othergroupswhichbenefittedfromthetrainingwere58non-statenewsoutletswhosetrainingcoveredvarioustopicsincludingjournalism,newmedialawsinTanzaniaandtheirrequirements.

Journalistsand theirorganisationshavealsobenefited fromprofessional forumsorganisedbytheorganisation includingroundtableworkshops,meetings,awarenesscampaigns,andmarketingforums.Besidesthat,Internews,supportedmedia-sectorCSOsandinstitutionsthatservetostrengthentheindependentmediaorjournalists.

Key Players Working with Internews Inprovidingmediasupport,Internewsisworkingcloselywith

severalorganisationsincludingtheMCT;TanzaniaBoraInitiative,ayouthorganisationwhichmotivatesyoungmenandwomentobeenterprisingandliberatethemselvessociallyandeconomically;JamiiMedia;Geopoll,anorganisationengagedinelectronicmediamonitoringandconductingsurveys;theLegalandHumanRightsCentre;aswellasthreeUniversities,namelyZanzibarJournalismandMassCommunicationCollege,St.AugustineUniversityofTanzania,aswellasUniversityofDaresSalaam’sSchoolofJournalismandMassCommunication.

OnInternewsperceptionoftheimpactofitsactivitiestojournalists

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andmediahouses,Mushisaidhisorganisationisputtingemphasison practical training and hope this approach helps both thejournalistsandmediahousestobemoreprofessional.

RegardinggapsinmediasupportinTanzania,Mushisaidtheyhavenotedthatmentoringyoungjournalistsisyettobetakenseriously,andthereisalackofbasiccontentcollectionequipment,especiallyinbroadcasting.

As for thebestway to supportmediaactivities inTanzania,Mushisuggestedthatitisimportanttogivesupportinequipmentprovision,initiatemoreprojectstomentoryoungjournalistsandhelpthosewhoopttospecialiseinspecificjournalisticareas.

5.3 Tanzania Media Women’s Association TanzaniaMediaWomen’sAssociation(Tamwa)isanorganisation

whosemissionistoadvocatewomenandchildren’srightsbyconducting awareness raising activities to advocate cultural,policyandlegalchangesandtransformsocietythroughtheuseofthemedia.Itpowerswomeninthemediatoensuretheyplayasignificantroleinthisadvocacymissionbyusingdifferentmediaplatforms(TAMWA.

AccordingtoTamwaExecutiveDirectorEddaSanga,theorganisationhasbeensupportingthemediainTanzaniaindifferentways.Thefollowingaresomeofthesupportashighlightedbythedirector:

Tamwasupportsthemediainvariousactivitiesincludingtheareaoftrainingwherein2017itprovidedareportingtrainingto30journalists under a special project jointly sponsored by the French EmbassyandTanzaniaPrivateSectorFoundation,and19journalistsonroadsafetyreportingundertheRoadSafetyProject.

Inthepasttwoyears,theorganisationalsosponsoredtwojournaliststoundertakeonline trainingwhile oneof itsmembersgot ascholarshiptotraininCopenhagen,thankstothesupportofDanishInternationalDevelopmentAgency.

Tamwa’sroleintheRoadSafetyCampaigncontinuedin2018whereabatchof45editorsfromDaresSalaam,CoastandMorogororegionsweretrainedonRoadSafetyreporting.Atotalof43journalistsfromDaresSalaamandMorogororegionsalsogotasimilartraininginApril and July 2018.

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Theassociation’srecordsshowthatatotalof147journalistsandeditorsbenefittedfromseveraltrainingprogrammesin2017-2018.Outofthese,75weremaleand72werefemale,anindicationthatTamwaissensitivetogenderequality.

In2018,Tamwaofferedfellowshipstosevenyoungjournaliststoparticipateintheon-the-jobtrainingandgotoruralareastowritenewsstoriesaswellasnewspaperfeaturearticlesongenderbasedviolence(GBV).RuralareasearmarkedforpracticalworkincludedKisarawe,Mvomero,LindiRural,NewalaandRuangwa.MakumbushoinDaresSalaam’sKinondoniDistrictaswellasKivuleandKitundainDaresSalaam’sIlalaDistrictwerealsotargetedforpracticalwork.MediaoutletswhichbenefittedfromthisprojectincludedMajira,HabariLeo,DailyNews,JamvilaHabari,NipasheandMtanzanianewspapers,aswellasJamiiForumsocialnetwork.

AtthesametimeTamwalinkedsomecommunityradiostoGBVcommitteesintheareasnamedabove,toensuretheygotenoughmediacoverageandcommunitymembersplayaroleintheexchangeofideasongender-basedviolence,ascommunityradiosencourageparticipationofcommunityresidentsinprogrammepreparationandbroadcasting.

BesidesDanida,whichhadbeentheassociation`smainsponsor,Sangasaid,theassociationnetworkswithanumberoforganisationsincludingMCTandmembersoftheCoalitiononNationalRoadSafetyCampaign,incarryingoutitsmediarelatedactivities.

CommentingontheimpactofTamwa’ssupportactivitiestomediahousesandjournalists,SangaobservedthatjournalistswhogettrainingonreportingissueslikeGBVandfemalegenitalmutilation(FGM)endupwritingreadablygoodandrelevantstorieswhentheygotothefield.Sheaddedthattheseeffortsmusthavecontributedtoawarenesscreation,asmostwomeninthecountryareshowingsignsofunderstandingtheirrightsandareaggressivelyclaimingthem.

Asforgapsinthekindofmediasupportbeinggivenbyorganisations,theTamwabosspointedoutthatthebiggestproblemislackofadequatefunds,whichlimitchancesoftrainedjournaliststogotoremoteareas,identifytestimonialcasesandcoverthemindetail.Sheadded:“Youmaynotethatevennewspaperreportsonissues

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likegender-basedviolencedonot,inmostcases,reachthetargetedgroupsasnewspapershardlyventureouttoremoteruralareas.’’

AstowhatshouldbedonetoimprovesupporttomediaorganisationsandjournalistsinTanzania,Sangasuggestedthatsomeresourcesshouldbedirectedtosolvingsomeoftheobviouschallengesfacingthe industry like poor newspaper distribution. She also advocates introducingthekindoftrainingwhichshapeyoungjournaliststobeinquisitiveandanalytical,asopposedtoonlyfocusingonimpartingbasicgeneralwritingskills.

5.6 FES TANZANIA FriedrichEbertStiftung(FES)isanon-profitGermanFoundation

fundedbytheGovernmentoftheFederalRepublicofGermany,committedtotheadvancementofsocial-politicalandeconomicdevelopmentinthespiritsocialdemocracy,throughciviceducation,researchandinternationalcooperation.OneofitsprogrammesinTanzaniaisonmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression(FES).

Media Support Offered by FES Tanzania AccordingtoFESTanzaniaProjectCoordinator,AmonPetro,their

organisationhasbeensupportingthemediainTanzaniaindifferentways.Thefollowingaresomeofthesupportashighlightedbytheproject coordinator.

Inthepasttwoyears,FESundertookseveralactivitiesincludingsupportingprintingofapublicationtitled‘FreedomofExpressionandCriminalLawinTanzania’,abookwhichgivesasnapshotontheuseofcriminallawinregulatingfreedomofexpression.Italsonavigatesthroughtherecentlypassedmediarelatedlaws,analysethethreatsandchallengesposted,andgivesuggestionsonthewayforward.

Italsosupportedcapacitybuildingtrainingtojournalistsinordertoenablethemimprovetheirabilityinproducingnewsstoriesandmediaanalyseswhichareclear,accurate,thorough,cogentandfair,withintheroomprovidedbycurrentmedialawsandtheirregulations.FEStrainingalsoaimedatdevelopingjournalists’skillsonhumanrightsandhumanrightsdefenders.

Thetrainingbenefitted124journalistsfromtwelveregionswhichwere clustered into four zones. These were Central, South, East and

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Northzones.Apartfromtrainingandpublishing,FEShasbeenalong-termpartnerinorganisingtheannualWorldPressFreedomDay event in Tanzania.

Impact of FES media Support CommentingontheimpactofFESmediasupportactivitiestomedia

organisationsandjournalists,FEZTanzaniaProjectCoordinator,AmonPetro,saidfeedbackfromjournalistsindicatedthattheyappreciatedtheknowledgegainedandexpressedthewishtohavemoretrainingsessionsinvariousareasoftheirprofession.

ThecoordinatornotedthatoneoftheshortcomingsofmediasupportinTanzaniaislackofpropermonitoringandassessmenttofindouthowvarioussupportactivitiesmakeadifferenceinpracticalperformance.Hesuggestedthatthisaspectandsponsorshipofmorementorshipprogrammesdeservespecialattention.

5.7 Misa-Tan The Media Institute of Southern African (MISA), is a non-

governmentalorganisationestablishedin1992withitsmajorobjectivebeingtopromoteafree,independentandpluralisticpressinserviceofdemocracyandgoodgovernanceintheSouthernAfricaDevelopmentCommunity(SADC)region.ItsTanzaniaChapter,Misa-Tanwasregisteredin1997undertheSocietiesOrdinance,1954(www.)

Support Offered by Misa-Tan Intheperiodcoveredunderthisreport,theorganisationsupported

themediaindifferentwaysincludingofferingtrainingandinaspectsrelatedtoadvocacyandprotectionofmediafreedomandfreedomofexpression.

According to Misa Acting National Director, SengiyumvaGasirigwa,theirorganisationhasbeensupportingthemediainTanzaniaindifferentways.Thefollowingaresomeofthesupportasnarratedbytheactingdirector.

Aspartofthecampaigntodecriminalisefreeexpressionandchampionfortheestablishmentofprogressivemediaandaccesstoinformationlaws,Misa-Tanorganisedandconductedspecialisedtrainingtolawmakersandmediapractitioners.

About240MembersofParliamentand150journalistsbenefitted

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fromtheseengagementsinthepastthreeyears.Also,about200journalistsandeditorsfromdifferentmediaorganisations,weretrainedonATIissues,Internetuseandelectioncoverageforthelastthreeyears,aspartoftheorganisation’scapacitybuildinginitiatives.

Besidesthat,theorganisationtrainedabout240staffmembersoftheTanzaniaJudiciaryonATIandcustomercareskillssince2015todate.ItisbelievedthatenlighteningJudiciarystaffonpressfreedomandfreedomofexpressionissuesmayhelpthemtohandlerelatedcaseswithunderstandingandmorecompetence.

The organisation also conducted investigations and mediamonitoringonpressfreedomviolationsinthecountryandcompiledreports which are used in advocacy work.

IncollaboratingwithUnesco,theorganisationpreparedactivitiestomarkthe“InternationalDaytoEndImpunity’’,aneventaimedatraisingawarenesstoprotecttherighttofreedomofexpressionandpromoteaccesstojusticeforjournalists,artists,writers,musicians,humanrightsdefendersandactivistsaroundtheworldwhoarepersecutedforexercisingtheirrighttofreedomofexpression.Misa-Tanhadalsobeentakingpartinco-organisingmediastakeholdersperiodic reviewmeetings involvingmediapractitioners,civilsociety,GovernmentrepresentativesandMPstobrainstormonissuesrelatedtopressfreedomandfreedomofexpression.

Key Partners Working with Misa-Tan Inthecourseofimplementingitsactivities,Misa-Tanhadbeen

receivingsupportfromanumberoforganisationsincluding;UnitedNationsTanzaniaOffice,MediaCouncilofTanzania,FESTanzania,Article19EastAfrica,Unesco,UnionofTanzaniaPressClubs,TCRAandotherorganisations.

WithregardtowhethertheMisa-Tansupporttothemediahavehadasignificantimpactto,theorganisationActingNationalDirector,SengiyumvaGasirigwa,pointedoutthattrainingsessionswithjournalistsandeditorsonmedialawshavebeenaneye-opener,astheorganisationrealisedthatmostofthemwerenotconversantwithlegaldevelopmentswhichhaveabigeffectontheirday-to-daywork.

Heobservedthatmuchasitmaylookstrange,manyjournalistsinthesocietyhavenoreadingculture.“Hence,trainingonmedialaws

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havebeenbeneficialtojournalistswhogotachancetoparticipate,aswellastomediahousestheyrepresented,’’hesaid.

Onthegapsinmediasupport,Gasirigwanotedthatsomethingshouldbedonetochangethemindsetofmediahouseowners,whomheaccusedofnotinvestingmuchinstaffdevelopmentbywayofallocatingadequatefundsintheirbudgetsfortrainingpurpose.“Therearecaseswherejournalistswhoopttogoforalongcourse,evenbyself-sponsorship,enduplosingtheirjobs,”notedGasirigwa,furthersuggestingthatsupportersofmediaactivitiesshouldalsohaveprogrammeswhichtargetmediaownersintermsofenlighteningthemabouttheirroleinmediadevelopment.

Anotheraspect,whichGasirigwasaidisasourceofconcern,isthesituationofinadequatemediaresearch,whichleadstothesituationwherenotmuchisknownaboutnumerousmediarelatedareas,likeunemploymentamongjournalists,workingconditions,genderinequality,trainingprovidedbyschoolsofjournalism,mediaownership,investmentsinthemediaindustry,challengesofnewspaperproduction,andmanyothers.Hissuggestionwasthatmediasupportingorganisationsshouldaddressmediaresearchchallengesseriously.

5.8 Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) TanzaniaHumanRightsDefendersCoalition(THRDC)isan

umbrellaorganisationforhumanrightsdefenders,includingjournalists.Theorganisationcomprisesmorethan150membersfromacrossthecountry.

Support Offered by THRDC Realisingthatthemediahasbeengoingthroughadifficultperiod

forthelastthreeyears,characterisedbyenactmentofdraconianlawsandinsecurityofjournalists,THRDChascomeupwithaprogrammetoimprovetheworkingenvironmentofjournalistsandmediahousesthroughcapacitybuilding,advocacy,andprotectionofmediaworkers.

According to THRDC National Coordinator OnesmoOlengurumwa,theirorganisationhasbeensupportingthemediainTanzaniaindifferentways.ThefollowingaresomeofthesupportashighlightedbyOlengurumwa.

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Activitiesundertakenin2017and2018include:*Empoweringmediapractitionersinmainstreamandonlinemediatoprotectthemselves,wherebyrevieweddocumentsshowthatin2017theCoalitionconductedsixcapacitybuildingactivities,reachingabout270beneficiaries,includingjournalists.

. InJuly2018THRDCassisted10journalistsfromTanzaniatoattendasecuritymanagementtrainingforjournalists,whichwasorganisedbyTHRDC’sUganda-basedsisterorganisation,DefendDefenders.The journalistswhoattendedtheKampalacoursewerefromNipashe,TheCitizen,TanzaniaDaimaandMwananchinewspapers.OtherswerefromITV,AzamTV,StarTV,Radio5andLoliondo FM.

Legal Aid Provision to Journalists and Media Organisations Theorganisation’sreportsalsoshowthatithadbeenontheforefront

intheprovisionoflegalaidtojournalistswhohavebeenattackedor prosecuted in the course of their work. In 2018 the Coalition, throughitsProtectionDepartment,providedlegalaidtoprosecutedjournalists,includingEmmanuelKibikiofNjombeRegion,SittaTumawhowasarrestedinTarime,ChristopherGamainaandtwoothersfromMwanza.

THRDCalsoprovidedlegalaidtobloggersMohabFulweandFridaySimbaya,whowerearrestedanddetained for severaldaysforrunningonlineTVswithoutlicencefromtheTanzaniaCommunicationsRegulatoryAuthority(TCRA).

Challenging Draconian Laws Which Limit Media Freedom Inordertochallengedraconianlawswhichwererecordedin2017-

2018,theorganisationteamedupwithotherinstitutionstotakelegalmeasuresagainstsomeoftheselaws.

ItcollaboratedwithMCTandLegalandHumanRightCentre(LHRC)tofilethreemajorstrategiccasesincourt,whichincludedacasefiledinMtwaraHighCourttochallengetheOnlineContentRegulationsof2018.

Andthen,therewasthecasetochallengetheMediaServicesAct(2016)whichwasalsojointlyfiledintheEastAfricanCourtofJustice,whileanothercasetochallengesomeprovisionsoftheMediaServicesAct(2016)wasfiledattheHighCourtinMwanza.

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Monitoring and reporting on human rights abuses againstjournalists,wasanotheractivityimplementedbyTHRDC.In2017,theorganisationrecorded35journalists’securityrelatedincidents.These included physical attacks, prosecution, online attacks and otherthreats.Usingthisdata,theorganisationdevelopsannualreportsonhumanrightssituationinTanzania,whichareusedbyother institutions and coalitions in advocacy work.

Furthermore,inthelasttwoyears,theorganisationissuedanumberofpressreleasescondemningincidentsofpressfreedomviolation,whenever they occurred.

The incidents included banning of newspapers as well asdisappearanceandtortureofjournalists.Insomeoftheseincidents,pressstatementswereissuedincollaborationwithothermediaandhumanrightsorganisations.

ItwasalsorevealedthatTHRDChasbeenprovidingshorttimerelocationtosomejournalistsreceivingthreatsfromunknownpeople and in 2017, they offered this kind of assistance to two journalists.

Key Players Working with THRDC THRDCworkstogetherwithothermediaorganisationssuchas

theMCT,MOATandUTPCundertheambitoftheCoalitiononRighttoInformation(CoRI).Theorganisationalsoworkscloselywithhumanrightsorganisationsatlocal,regionalandinternationallevels.

Issues on THRDC Media Support Commentingon the impactof the supportprovidedbyhis

organisationtojournalistsandmediaorganisations,Olengurumwasaidjournalistswhosetrainingtheysponsorgetequippedwiththeknowledgetokeepthemselvessecurewhilethosewhogotlegalassistance were set free by the courts.

ThecoordinatoralsopointedoutthatthroughTHRDCpublicawarenessprogramme,journalistshavewonrecognitionashumanrightsdefenderswhodeserveprotectionandsecurity.

AsforgapsinmediasupportactivitiesinTanzania,henotedwithconcernthattheTHRDCissofartheonlyorganisationpreoccupiedwiththeprotectionandsecurityofjournalists,addingthatthetaskistoobigtobehandledbyasingleinstitution.

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“Journalistsneedsecuritygearlikespecialjacketswhencoveringassignmentsthatarerifewithrisks,suchaselections,workers’strikesandriots;however,hisorganisationcannotprovideforthemallonabigscaleduetofinancialconstraints,”Olengurumwaobserved.

Commentingon thebestway to supportmediahouses andjournalistsinTanzania,hesuggestedthatmoreplayersshouldcomeforth and participate in the provision of security for journalists, and mediahousesshouldincludepersonnel’ssecurityontheirlistofpriorities.

5.9 Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET)

JETisanindependent,non-governmentalorganisationwhichusesthemediatopromotetheenvironmentagendainTanzania.Italsoproducesanddisseminateseducationalpublicationsonenvironmentalissues.

Support Offered by JET JETassistsjournaliststogotothefieldwheretheycangather

newsstoriesandfeaturearticlesonenvironmentalmatters.Itofferstrainingforjournalistsandeditorsaswellasorganiseforumstodiscussemergingissuesonenvironment.

AccordingtoJohnChikomo,theOrganisation’sexecutivedirector,in2017,JETconductedarefreshercoursefor30journalistsfromDareSalaam,Iringa,MbeyaandLindionreportinglandrightsinthecountry.

ChikomoobservedthatlanddisputeshavebeenabigprobleminTanzaniaforalongtime,hencetheimportanceoftrainingjournalistsonhowtocoverthissituationanalyticallyandcompetently.

Duringthesameyear,JETorganisedameetingwitheditorstodiscussthebestwaytohandlemediacoverageoftheworldwidebiospherecrisis, which affects Tanzania as well. The JET boss disclosed that in2018,theorganisationintendedtotrain30journalistskeenonspecializinginreportingonenvironmentalissues.

Commentingontheimportanceofthesupportinterventions,Chikomosaid:“Wemonitornewsstoriesandfeaturearticlesinnewspapersaswellaselectronicmediatofindoutwhatispublished

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onenvironmentalissuesandassesstheimpactofourcampaign.On the whole, the journalists we trained have not let us down. Hence,wethinkourinitiativeshaveanimpact,althoughwecanonlyaffordtotrainalimitednumberofreportersandeditors.”

Asforgapsinmediasupport,theJETexecutivedirectorobservedthatthereispoorcoverageofenvironmentaldevelopmentsinruralareas,whereover90percentoftheTanzanianslive,addingthatinadequatefundsareabigsetback.

OnwhatshouldbedonetoimprovemediasupportinTanzania,theJETbosssuggestedthatmediahousesneedtoworkwithenvironmentalcivilorganisationsandstrategisetogetheronhowtoraisefundsforthepurposeofpromotingtheenvironmentalagenda.

5.10 Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF) TanzaniaMediaFoundation(TMF)seekstosupportandpromote

investigativeandpublicinterestjournalismthroughgrantsandlearning,sothatthepublicisbetterinformed,abletodebateanddemandgreateraccountabilityacrossthecountry.

TMF Media Support AccordingtotheFoundation’sInterimExecutiveDirector,Fausta

Musokwa,theirorganisationhasbeensupportingthemediainTanzaniaindifferentways.Thefollowingcomprisesomeofthesupportashighlightedbytheactingexecutivedirector.

TheTMFsupportsthemediathroughtrainingandgrants.Dividedintoinstitutionalandindividualgrants, theyareavailabletocontentproducers,mediaoutletsandjournalists.AccordingtoTMF records, in the past two years, the foundation offered 21 institutionalgrantstocontentproducersandmediaoutletsaswellas80individualgrantstojournalists.

Whileindividualgrantssupportedarangeofissuesincludingraisingruralvoices,reportingondevelopment,healthandroadsafety,institutionalgrantsincluded13contentgrantsonenvironmental,landrightsandconservationaswellashealth(maternalandchild),governanceandwomen’seconomicparticipation.

In2017,eightcontenttransformationgrantswereawardedtomediaoutletswiththeobjectiveofincreasingeachoutlet’scapacity

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toproducequalitycontentandstrengthengovernanceandmediabusiness practices.

TMFalsopromotescontinuouslearningbylinkingjournalistsforpeer-to-peerknowledgesharingandveteranjournalistswithjuniorandmid-careerjournalistsformentorship.In2017and2018,TMForganisedsixlearningactivities,eachofwhichwasattendedby at least 20 journalists. The foundation also introduced a data journalismclubforyoungjournalistsin2018andarrangedfortwodiscussionsessionsonmedialandscape.

Key Players Working with TMF TMFreceivescorefundingfromtheembassiesofIrelandand

Switzerland,anditalsoworkswithHivos,theEuropeanJournalismCentre,theGlobalRoadSafetyPartnership,UNESCOandEvidenceforAction.Locally,TMFisanorganisingcommitteememberofWorldPressFreedomDayaswellasamembertotheCoalitionontheRighttoInformationCommittee(CoRI).ThefoundationalsoworkscloselywiththeMinistryofHealth,CommunityDevelopment,Gender,ElderlyandChildrenaswellasTanzaniaEditorsForum(TEF),TanzaniaMediaWomenAssociation(Tamwa)andtheUnionofTanzaniaPressClubs(UTPC).

CommentingonhowTMFsupporthelpsjournalistsandtheirorganisations, the Musokwa, noted that institutions whichgotthecontentwithtransformationgrantin2018wereabletoaddress structural weaknesses in order to enhance their editorial independence and quality content production. She also pointed out thatmentorshiptobothinstitutionsandjournalistswerehelpfulincapacitybuilding.

Asforgapsinmediasupport,shesaidthereareareaswhichstillneedsupportlikeincreasingdigitalliteracyamongjournalistsandmediainstitutionsasawhole.Musokwafurtherremarked:

“Our assessment reveals that there isminimaluseofdigitalapplications at individual and institutional level, and that institutions havenotbeenabletosufficientlybenefitfinanciallyfromdigitaltechnology.’’

AsforthebestwaytosupportthemediainTanzania,theinterimexecutivedirectorsaidsincethemediasectorinTanzaniaisstillunder-performing,supportshouldaddressfactorsbehindthis

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situation,whichincludelegalframeworkofregulations. Sheaddedthatsupportofthesectorneedtopromotesustainability,

so thatmedia outlets canmanage to stand alone insteadofdependingonpoliticalorbusinesspatronagethatsubsequentlythreatens editorial independence.

5.11 UNESCO and Other Supporters TheUnitedNationsEducationalScientificandCulturalOrganisation

(Unesco)hasbeenabigmediasupporterinTanzaniainthepastaswellasduringthe2017-2018period.Revieweddocumentsshowthatithashelpedtostrengthencommunityradiostationsthroughtraining,equipmentsupport,buildingorganisationalcapacityandinvolvementinmonitoringaswellasassessmentofcommunityradio activities.

Theorganisationhasalsoplayedaroleinprofessionaldevelopmentofmediaworkers,inbothprivateandpublicsectors.ItplaysabigroleinorganisingandfundingtheWorldPressFreedomDaycommemorationinthecountry,aswellasothermediarelatedactivities.

UnionofTanzaniaPressClubs TheUnionofTanzaniaPressClubs(UTPC)isanothermedia

supportingorganisation.Itisanumbrellaorganisationofabout23pressclubsalloverTanzania,anditsmissionistocreateanenvironmentthatenablesstrong,efficientandeffectivepressclubsinTanzania,whichcontributetowardsbuildingademocraticandjust society.

UTPC,whichiscurrentlybeingfundedbytheSwedishInternationalDevelopmentAgency,isengagedincapacitybuildingthroughtraining,researchandconductingstudytoursforjournalists.In2017,itorganisedaspecialcourseforwomenjournalistsandseveralzonalpressclubmembers.TheorganisationparticipatedinmajormediaeventssuchastheWorldPressFreedomDay.

5.12 Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) is an independent, voluntary,

self-regulatingbodyestablishedin1995withtheobjectiveofpromotingfreedomofthemediaandensuringhighestprofessionalstandards and accountability in the country, (MCT, 2018).

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MCT’s2017AnnualReportpostedonitswebsiterevealsthat,majoractivitiesplannedforimplementationduringtheyearunderreviewwere:

· Toconductadvocacyforconstitutionalandpolicyreforms; · InstitutelitigationagainsttheMediaServicesAct,2016,

documentandinvestigatepressfreedomviolations; · Maintainthepressfreedomviolationsregister(PFVR)and · Engagecollegesonteachingstandardsusingmonitoring

evidence. Otherearmarkedactivitieswere: · OrganisetheExcellenceinJournalismAwardsTanzania

(EJAT)2016; · Advocate review and repeal of anti-media laws in

Zanzibar; · Disseminateadvocacyworkthroughpublishingonline

Media Watch and Barazani Newsletters and · Conductmediationandarbitrationofcomplaintsbrought

before the Council. MCTalsointendedto: · Monitormediaperformance; · Lookingattrendsofprofessionalandethicalstandards

andadviseeditorsaccordingly; · Publish reviewed Code of Ethics for Media Professionals · Mentorandsupporttheprofessionalgrowthforyoung

journaliststhrough.(MCT, 2018) Accordingtothe‘2017AnnualReport’andinterviewswithMCT

deskofficers,theCouncilachievedsuccessinmostoftheactivitiesplannedfor2017and2018,althoughthe2018Reportisstillbeingcompiled.

Advocacy Regardingadvocacy,theCouncilworkedwithitspartnersinthe

CoalitionontheRighttoInformation(CoRI)toundertakeseveralactivities.

In2017,CoRIheldfourmeetingswithkeyagendaitemsfocusingondecreaseinfreedomspaceofcivilsocietyandthemediainTanzania.ThiswasatatimewhentheGovernmentusedtheMediaServicesAct,2016tobanorsuspendsomenewspapers,thustemptingCoRImemberstounanimouslyagreetochallengetheGovernmentin

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courtagainstmeasurestaken(MCT,2017). In2018CoRIheld5meetingsinthefirsthalfoftheyearinwhich

issuesrelatedtotheElectronicandPostalCommunications(OnlineContent)Regulations,2018,aswellasthefiningof5TVStationsbytheContentCommitteeofTanzaniaCommunicationRegulatoryAuthority(TCRA),amongothers,werediscussed.

MCT’s online newsletters, Media Watch and Barazani, were publishedasscheduledinboth2017and2018andwereinstrumentalindisseminatinginformationonadvocacyworkinTanzania.TheCouncilalsoparticipatedinradioandtelevisionprogrammesforadvocacy purposes (MCT, 2017, MCT, 2018).

Litigation In2017and2018,MCTjointlyfiledorsupportedsomecasesfiled

bypartnersinsearchoflegaljusticewheremediafreedomseemedtobeviolatedorendangered.Recordsshowthat,duringtheperiodunderreview,theCouncilwasengagedinonewayoranotherinkeycaseshighlightedbelow:

ThereisthecasethepittedMCT,HumanRightsCentreandTanzaniaHumanRightsDefendersCoalitionagainsttheAttorneyGeneraloftheUnitedRepublicofTanzania.ThiscasewasfiledattheEastAfricanCourt of Justice in Arusha, in 2017.

InthiscasetheapplicantsarechallengingtheprovisionsofMSA,2016,contendingthattheycontravenetheTreatyforestablishmentoftheEastAfricanCommunity.Pleadingsandhearinghavebeenconcluded.Thejudgmentisawaited.(MCT,2018).

ThenthereisthecasebetweenCentreforStrategicLitigationLimitedversustheAttorneyGeneraloftheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniaandSecretaryGeneraloftheEastAfricanCommunity,filedin2018.

InthiscasetheCouncilissupportingtheapplicantswhohavesuedthetworespondents,challengingtheEPOCA(onlinecontent)RegulationsforbeingincontraventionoftheprovisionsoftheTreatyfor theestablishmentof theEastAfricanCommunity.Thecaseisinthepleadingstageandtherespondentshavenotresponded to the reference (MCT, 2018)

Thereisthisothermatter,theConstitutionalCaseNo.2of2016,whichinvolvestheUnionofTanzaniaPressClubsandHaliHalisi

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PublishersversustheMinisterofInformation,Culture,ArtsandSports,TCRAandAttorneyGeneral.ItwasfiledattheHighCourtMwanzaandtheApplicantsspecificallyseekfortheinterpretationof the constitutionality of the MSA, 2016 in relation to Article 18 of theConstitutionoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzania.

Thecasewasdismissedinthepreliminarystage.Dissatisfiedwiththedecision,mediastakeholderslodgedanappealattheCourtofAppealinMwanzaandsameiswaitingforthehearingdatetobescheduled (MCT, 2018).

OnApril30,2018theMCT,LHRCtogetherwiththeTHRDCfiledanapplicationbeforetheHighCourtofTanzaniainMtwaraagainsttheMinisterforInformation,Culture,ArtsandSports,TCRAandtheAttorneyGeneral,seekingcourtpermissiontochallengethe Electronic and Postal Communications (OnlineContent)Regulations.

Thesamewasfiledtogetherwithanapplicationforinjunctionwhichwasgrantedonthesameday.

However,therespondentsfiledpreliminaryobjectionswhichsawtheHighCourtofTanzania,MtwaraDivision,strikingoutthecaseinMay,2018.Theapplicantsre-filedthesameandwereallowedtofileanapplicationforordersofcertioraritochallengetheMinisterofInformationmovetomakeonlineContentRegulations.ThesamehasbeenconcludedandthecourtdismissedtheApplicationonJanuary 9, 2019.

Theapplicantshaveappealedagainstthedecision. Other cases which MCT and partners supported, in one way or

another, include Miscellaneous Case No. 2 (2018) of HaliHalisi PublisherscontestingthebanningthepublicationMwanahalisinewspaperfor24monthsinSeptember,2017andMiscellaneousCivilApplicationNo.2(2017)whereFreeMediaLimitedwaschallengingthebanningofTanzaniaDaimanewspaper.

Mediation and Arbitration In2017and2018,MCTreceivedanumberofcomplaintsagainst

somenewspapersfromindividualsandinstitutionsclaimingtohavebeenwrongedthroughdefamationorbadpublicity.MCTrecordsshowthattheCouncilhandledthem,andmediatedwherenecessary (MCT 2018)

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Press Freedom Monitoring In2017and2018theCouncilcontinuedwithmonitoringand

documentingpressfreedomviolations,aswellasmaintainingthePressFreedomViolationsRegister(MCT2017,MCT2018)

Journalism Awards In2017MCTorganisedtheExcellenceinJournalismAwards

Tanzania(EJAT2017)eventinrecognitionof journalistswhoperformedoutstandinglythepreviousyear.EJATwasestablishednineyearsagobyaconsortiumofmediaorganisationsundertheMedia Council of Tanzania.

AccordingtoMCTReportonEJAT2017,theeventhasbeengainingmorepopularityovertimesinceitsinceptionandhasbecomeTanzania’smostprestigiousmediaawardfunction.

5.13 Media Stakeholders Perception Regardingperceptionofmediastakeholdersonmediasupportin

thecountry,manyappreciatedeffortsmadebytheseorganisationsbutwereoftheviewthatsupportaimingatmakingmediaoutletsindependentandsustainable,wouldaddmorevaluetowhattheyaredoing.

AveteranjournalistwhohasworkedforboththeGovernmentandprivatemediabeforeretirementnotedthatorganisationssupportingthemediainTanzaniaaredoingagoodjobbutarefacedwithfinancialconstraintstotheextentthattheycannotsatisfytheneedsofjournalistsandmediahouses.Hecontendedthattheexternalsupportshouldaimatmakingmediahouseseconomicallyviablesoastobeabletofacilitatein-housetrainingfortheiremployees.

Abroadcastingjournalistwhoparticipatedinoneofthetrainingprogrammesconductedthroughmentorshipsaidthetrainingwasverybeneficialtohim,butnotedthatopportunitiesofthiskindarestill few.

Theapproachoftrainingjournaliststhroughpressclubswashailedbyamediaobserverwhonotedthatprovidingtrainingtopressclubmemberswould,inthelongrun,promotemediacoverageinruralareas,asthosetrainedhaveaccesstovillageswheremostTanzanianslive.Shesuggestedthatmoremediasupportersshould

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thinkaboutworkingthroughpressclubstoensuretheirtrainingpartnershiphasanimpactonawidersociety.

Alawyerwhoparticipatedintrainingjournalistsonmedialaws,onaninvitationofamediasupportingorganisation,pointedoutthatgiventhedraconiannatureofTanzania’srecentlyenactedmedialawsandregulations,morejournalistsshouldbeenlightenedonthem,lesttheyendupinlegaltroubleinthecourseofexecutingtheir duties.

Generally,practitionersinthemediaindustryagreethattherapidlychangingdigitaltechnologyisposingabigchallengetomediaowners,reportersandeditorswho,therefore,needtraininginthisareainordertocopewithmodernity.

Theissueoflackofmonitoringandassessmentoftheimpactoftrainingprovidedbymediasupportingorganisationswasraisedbythekeyplayersthemselveswhentheywereaskedtocommentontheimpactoftheirworktojournalistsandmediahouses.

Respondentsagreedthattheproblemexistsandsuggestedthatoneortwoofthestrongmediasupportingorganisationsshouldvolunteertoundertakethisactivity,asimpactassessmentofprojectsistooimportanttobeignored.

5.14 Concluding Remarks This chapter has reviewed different types of support offered to

themediabyvariousorganisations.Amajorobservationisthatorganisationsinvolvedhaveputsignificantemphasisontrainingjournalistsinseveralareas.Yetithasbeennotedthatmorehastobedoneonthiswork,andtherearegapstobefilled.Thefactthatthereisinadequateresearchonmediarelatedactivities,andthat the situation requires a solution, has been observed as well. A follow-upontrainees’performanceonthejobtoassesstheimpactofthetrainingthathasbeenprovidedisanotherareawhichmediastakeholdershavetolookinto.OnthewholemediasupportinTanzaniaisremainsabigchallenge.

5.15 Recommendations Findingsmadeinthechapterrequirethisreporttomakeafew

recommendationsonbasicissueswhichkeyorganisationsinvolvedinTanzania’smediadevelopmentshouldaddress.

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Theseareoutlinedbelow:

Media owners should · Givemoresupporttoin-housetrainings · Strengthentheirmanagementsystemstobefinancially

viableandsupportmediadevelopment.

Journalists/Editors should: Look for specialised training opportunities and introduce

mentorshipprogrammes

Media Training Institutions should: Initiatemoremediarelatedresearch NetworkonMediaSupport,MonitorandImpactofSupported

Activities Providesupportstrengtheningmediainstitutions,makethem

independent and sustainable

References MISA-TANUnpublishedReport(2018) URT(2017)MediaServiceAct,2016Regulations2017,Dares

Salaam,Tanzania. Retrieved fromhttps://www.tamwa.org/tamwa/index.

php/about-us/about-us1 accessed on 16th October 2018 Retrievedfromhttp://utpc.or.tz/?page_id=38accessedon16th

October 2018 Retrievedfromwww.tmf.or.tzaccessedon16thOctober2018 Retrievedfromhttps://www.fes-tanzania.org/accessedon16th

October 2018 Retrievedfromhttps://mct.or.tz/index.php/mct-constitution

accessed on16th October 2018

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PART II

ZANZIBAR

The State of Media Report in Zanzibar in 2017/18

Author

Dr Ali Uki

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ABBREVIATIONS ACHPR AfricanCharteronHumanandPeoplesRights CD CompactDisk CUR ConstitutionoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzania

of 1977 CZ ConstitutionofZanzibar,1984 FM Frequency Modulation DVD DigitalVersatileDisc GOVT Government GSO GovernmentSecurityOffice HDV HighDefinitionVideo ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political

Rights MCT Media Council of Tanzania NACTE National Council for Technical Education NGO Non-Governmentalorganisation SUZA StateUniversityofZanzibar TOR TermsofReference TSN Tanzania Standard Newspapers TV Television UDHR UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights UN UnitedNations V Versus ZBC ZanzibarBroadcastingCommission ZJMMC ZanzibarJournalismandMassMediaCollege ZNZ Zanzibar ZPC Zanzibar Press Club ZSSF Zanzibar Social Security Fund

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Chapter One

Political Context/Legal and Regulatory Framework

1.0 Introduction ThischapterspecificallyfocusesonZanzibarpoliticalsituationin

2017/18aswellasZanzibarMediaRegulatoryFramework.Somekeypoliticalissueshaveemergedduringtheperiodandhavebeenpointed out, discussed and analysed to see how they have directly orindirectlyaffectedthemediaoperations.

1.1 Key Political Events in 2017/18 and Their Implications to Press Freedom and Journalism

Unlikeinthe2016ReportoftheStateofMediainZanzibar,therewereno serious political events that captured national or international. There have, however, been events that had political connotations. ThefirstonewasthenewElectionsActNo.4of2018replacingtheoldElectionsActthatwasinplacesince1984andwhichwasusedforallmulti-partyelections—1995,2000,2005,2010and2015.

TheoldElectionsActhasbeenreplacedbyanewone.AlthoughthereisnosolidevidencethatprovesthattheElectionsActof1984,wasrepealedonpoliticalgrounds,butanalysisshowedthatpoliticalrepercussionthatemergedintheOctober2015GeneralElectionhave been dealt with in the law. As a result, the new Elections Act hasimplicationstopressfreedomandjournalistsinparticularwithregardtotheannouncementofthepresidentialresults.

Intheprocessofaddressingsomechallengesthatemergedintheelections,theRevolutionaryGovernmentofZanzibarpreparedanElectionBilltorepealtheElectionActNo.11of1984andenactElectionsActof2018andothermattersconnected therewith.Amongotherthings,theBill(ZNZGov.Gazette,September1,2017)identifiedtheelectoraloffencesanddeterminedthepenaltiesassociated with such offences.

TheGovernmentBillwaspresented,discussedandpassedbytheHouse of Representatives in Zanzibar. It was later assented by the ZanzibarPresidentandChairmanoftheRevolutionaryCouncil,DrAliMohammedShein,onJanuary16,2018,tobecomealaw.

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(ElectionActNo.4of2018).Itisaconstitutionalrequirementthatalawmustgetapresidentialassentbeforeitbecomesalaw.

InthenewElectionsAct,thereissectiondealingwithmediahouses or journalists. Section 127 (1) of the new Elections Act prohibitsannouncementoftheelectionresultsbyacandidate,apoliticalparty,aninstitutionoranyotherpersonsthroughanymeansofcommunicationbeforetheCommissionannounces.Itisworthnotingthattherewasalmostthesameclauseintherepealedelection law.

Section 127 (2) (a) of the new Elections Act, says that if the offence iscommittedbyacandidatewhoisthereafterfoundguilty,uponconvictionheorshewillbeliabletoimprisonmentforatermofnotlessthanfiveyearsandafineofnotlessSh50millionandheorsheshallnotbeallowedtocontestfortheelectionforatermof10 years.

Section127(2)(b)saysthatiftheoffenceiscommittedbyapoliticalpartyoraninstitutionshallfoundguilty,itshall,uponconviction,beliabletoafineofSh100million,upfromtheSh5millionfineinthe repealed Elections Act.

Furthermore,theActspellsout,iftheoffenceiscommittedbysomeotherperson,heorsheshallbeliabletoimprisonmentforatermof30months,accordingtoSection127(2)(c)ofthenewElectionsAct.

Thismustbeablowtothemediaandjournalists,fortheyarelikelytoworkunderastateoffearandwouldhavetobeextracarefultoavoidconvictionintheexecutionoftheirprofessionaldutiesduringelections.

AlongwiththenewElectionsAct,aBillforanacttoestablishtheZanzibarGovernmentPrintingPressAgencywastabled,discussedandpassedintheHouseofRepresentatives.Bythetimewewenttopress,itwasnotclearwhethertheBillwasalreadysubmittedtotheStateHousetogetanassentfromtheZanzibarPresident.

ThemainpurposeofestablishingtheagencyistomaintaintheconceptofconfidentialityinprintingservicestotheGovernment.Theagencyshallhave theduty toprovide itsservices toallministries, departments, authorities, corporations and allGovernmentinstitutions.

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Inaddition,allGovernmentinstitutions,includingtheState-ownedZanzibarLeonewspaper,shallbeobligedtoseekprintingandstationeryservicesfromtheAgency.Inthepast,ZanzibarLeowasprinted by the Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN) Press in Dar esSalaam.Theimplicationoftheproposednewlawmaycreateachainofbureaucratichurdlesforthoseseekingurgentaccesstoinformation.

Key Legal and Regulatory Framework and Their Implications to Press Freedom and Journalism

ThemediasectorisgovernedbyanumberofapplicablelawsinZanzibar.Themedialawswereestablishedonthebasisofinternational and regional instruments.There are sections ininternationalandregionalinstrumentsthatunderscoretherighttofreedomofexpressionandopinion.

ThereisArticle19inboththeUDHRof1948andInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsof1966(ICCPR).Thechapterputsemphasisontherighttofreedomofexpressionandopinion.Therightincludesfreedomtoholdopinionswithoutinterferenceandtoseek,receiveandimpartinformationandideasthroughanymediaregardlessoffrontiers.

The contents ofArticle 19 from international human rightsinstrumentshavefoundaplaceinSection18oftheZanzibarConstitutionof1984whichistheMotherLawandthereisnolawthatshouldcontradictsit.Asitisfamouslyknown,intheeventofalawconflictingwiththeConstitution,theConstitutionprevails.

However,byimplication,theframingofconstitutionalprovisionshasinonewayoranotherlimitedenjoymentoffreedomofinformationandopinion.Forexampleintheconstitutionalprovisionsrelatingtopressfreedomandinformation,therearewordssuchas,“Withoutprejudicetotherelevantlawsoftheland”,usedinSection18(1)oftheCZof1984.

Byimplication,thewords,famouslyknownasclaw-backclause,limitenjoymentofsuchpressandinformationfreedombyusingrelevantlawswhichareinforceinZanzibar.Ifonemakesareferencetothesaidrelevantlaws,onemayconcludethattheypermittherestrictionofguaranteedfreedomintheConstitution.

ThereisalsoSection24(1)oftheCZ,1984,thusprovides:“…

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Thehumanrightsandfreedoms,theprinciplesofwhicharesetout in this Constitution can be restricted by the law enacted by theHouseofRepresentativessaveonlytotheextentthatarenecessaryandacceptableinthedemocraticsystem.Inanywaythatrestrictionshallnot:interferewiththerighttofreedomfromtorture,inhumananddegradingtreatment;interferencewiththehumanrightsprinciples;causemoreeffecttothesocietyfromtheactthatrestrictionisintended.”

Apartfromtheconstitutionalprovisionscitedabove,intheZanzibarsituation,thelawsrelatingtomediaoperationsinZanzibarcanbedividedintotwoparts.Therearelawswhicharedirectlyrelatingtomediaoperationsandtherearelawswhichareindirectlyrelatingtomedia.

ThelawsdirectlyrelatingtothemediaoperationsaretheZanzibarBroadcastingCommissionActand theRegistrationofNewsAgents,NewspapersandBooksAct.Thesearetwomainlawsregulatingthemediaoperations.Thereareanumberofsectionsinbothlawswhichaffectmediaoperations.Forexample,theZanzibarBroadcastingActprovidespowerstoissueandcancelpermittoanyinstitutionsviolatingthelaw.TheActalsoprovidespowerstotheCommissiontosetconditionsthataredeemedfitfornationalinterest.

TheRegistrationofNewsAgents,NewspapersandBooksAct,providesalmostsimilarpowersthathavebeenstipulatedintheBroadcastingAct.Theministerresponsibleforinformationisempowered(underSection30)tosuspendpublicationofanynewspapersiftheministerisoftheopinionthatitisinthepublicinterestorintheinterestofpeaceandgoodordertodoso.

AseniorinformationofficerwiththeministryresponsibleforinformationinZanzibar,MrSalumVuai,confirmedrecently:“AsfarasIcanrecollect,thereisnoplanbytheGovernmenttorevisetheexistingmedialaws.”

Ifthatisthecase,theonlyoptionleftisfornon-governmentalorganisations (NGOs) toplayadvocacyrole topersuade theGovernmenttochangethelawsinplaceorindividualstotestmediarelatinglawsinthecourtsoflaw.

There are other applicable laws in Zanzibar which are not directly relatedtomediaandjournalists,butwhichhavesectionswhich

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somehow,affecttheexecutionoftheirfunctionsofthemedia.Theseinclude:

· The new ElectionsAct No. 4 2018 which has beenextensivelydiscussedabove

· TheNationalSecurityAct,1970,particularlyinSection48which creates sedition offence

· The Penal Act No. 6 of 2018 which creates an offence relatingtodefamation

· TheHouseofRepresentativesAct, Section32ofwhichmakesitanoffencetopublishanyfalseorscandalouslibelontheHouseorCommitteeproceedingsoftheHouseoranyCommittee.Furthermore,thesameSectionprohibitspublishing—savebythegeneralorspecialleaveoftheHouse—areportofanyproceedingsoftheHouseoranycommitteewhoseproceedingswerenotheldinpublic

· TheCensorshipandCinematographyExhibitionAct.ThereisSection4(a)oftheActconcernscensorshipoffilms,videocassettes(CD,DVD,HDV)andotherpublicitymaterialssuchasbannersorpostersorinmagazinesbeforetheycomeintousebyorshowntothepublic

· ThePreventionDetentionDecree,1964,Section2oftheDecree provides powers to the President to issue detention orderswheneverheissatisfiedthatapersonisconductinghimselfsoastobedangeroustothepeaceandgoodorderinanypartofZanzibarorisactinginamannerprejudicialto the defence of Zanzibar or the security of the Republic

All the above cited laws which have either direct or indirect connectiontomediaoperationsinZanzibarraiseinterestingissuesthatinpracticearelikelytocausechallengestomediahousesandjournalists.Inaddition,theexistinglawscurtailingpressfreedomhavenotyetbeentestedinthecourtoflawtogetthejudicialinterpretation and position.

UnlikeinthecaseofTanzaniaMainland,neitheranon-governmentalorganisationnoranindividualinZanzibarhasopenedacaseonmedialaws.Therearemorethan300registeredNGOsthatoperateatdifferentlevelsinZanzibarwhichclaimtoservetheinterestsofthe people.

Courtdecisionswouldnotonlypromotelocaljurisprudenceon

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lawsrelatingtomediaoperationsbutwouldalsostrengthentheargumentsonpressfreedominZanzibar.

Civilsocietiesandindividualsshouldcultivatethehabitofgoingtocourtsthathaveasignificantroleininterpretationofmediaandnon-medialaws.CourtsremaintheonlyinstitutionsthatcandefendandprotecttherightsthatareenshrinedintheLaw.

Thebestexampleofthecourts’roleininterpretationofcountrylawsisinGoodwinv.UnitedKingdom,theEuropeanCourtofHumanRights.TheCourtheldthattheprotectionofjournalisticsourcesisoneofthebasicconditionsofpressfreedom.However,theCourtdidnotruleoutdisclosurecompletelyandinallcircumstances,insteaditimposedverystrictconditions;basedon“necessity”and“proportionality”.

InanothercaseofA.K.Gopalanv.StateofMadras,theCourtheldthatthewholepurposeoftheconstitutionallimitationsistwofolds:namely,thefreedomisnotabsolutebutissubjecttoregulations.Secondly,thelimitationsmustbewithinthepurposeandpurviewintended by the Constitution.

Highlights of incidents of Acts of press freedom violations: Therehavebeencomplaintsofincidentsofpressfreedomviolations

inZanzibar.However,thecomplaintscarrynoweightandcannotbegivenaspaceinseriousdiscussion.ThereareanumberofNGOsoperatinginZanzibarbutnocomplaintshavebeenregisteredforeitherrecordpurposesoractions.Thismeansthereisnothingtowriteaboutintermsofpressfreedomviolationforthelackofconvincingevidence.Thesaidcomplaintsarereducedasstreetrumours.

TheMediaCouncilofTanzania(MCT),ZanzibarOfficeSeniorProgrammesOfficer,MsShifaaHassan,explainedthatatotalof25complaintsconnectedtotheincidentsofactsofmediaviolationshavebeenreportedintheofficeduring2017/18.

Thecomplaintshadrangedfromdenialofinformation,physicalharassments,journalistsbeingbarredfromcoveringsomeeventsonpoliticalgroundsanddenialofaccreditationcardtopractisejournalisminZanzibar.TheMCThasaspecialregisterforrecordingcomplaintsofpressfreedomviolations.

Inaddition,theMCTteamledbytheExecutiveSecretary,Mr.

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KajubiMukajanga,theMCTZanzibarOfficeSeniorProgrammeOfficer,Ms.Hassan,andtheeditorofBarazaandMediaWatchnewsletters,MrHamisMzee,had,onMay4,2018,conductedameetingforjournalistsinPembatogetfirst-handinformationontheirprofessionalactivities.Duringthemeeting,similarcomplaintsofharassmentanddenialofinformationwereraised.AccordingtoMsShifaa,theMCTteamurgedthejournaliststoexerciseahighdegreeoftolerance,remindingthemthatprofessionalhazardsshouldnotstopthemfromdoingtheirwork.

TheconcernthattherewereincidentsofpressfreedomviolationswasalsobackedbythechairmanofZanzibarPressClub(ZPC),MrAbdallaMfaume.However,hesaid,theincidentshavenotbeenreportedtotheirofficeinwriting.“Wehaveheardthecomplaintsbuttheallegedvictimshavenotreportedtousofficially.”

1.4 Conclusion Theexistingmedialawsandregulationshavebeenachallengeto

promotionofmediafreedom.Therearesectionsinthelawsthatstandasobstacles.UnlesseffortsaremadetorequesttheGovernmenttorevisitthelawsandmakechanges,thepressperformancemayendupbeingmuchbelowtheexpectationsofthepeople.

Duringtheperiodunderreview,theMCTmadeseriouseffortstoinfluencechangesinthemediarelatedlaws.Theeffortshavebeenmadeintheformofmeetings,dialogues,trainingandroundtablediscussions.

ItisonrecordthattheMCTofficialshad,onMay02,2017,metwiththeZanzibarSecondVicePresident,AmbassadorSeifAliIddi,athisofficetoexplainprofessionaldifficultiesfacingthemediaintheIsles.

ItwasexplainedbytheMCTSeniorProgrammeOfficer,MsShifaaHassanthattheSecondVicePresidentpromised,tofollowupthematter,forthebettermentofthemediaprofession.Stakeholders’meetingonreviewingtheexistingmedialawsinZanzibarwasconductedbytheMCTasanattempttoimprovethemediaworkingconditions.

During2017/18,theMCTisreportedtohavesentalettertotheZanzibarStateHouserequestingforanappointmentwiththeZanzibarPresident,Dr.AliMohamedShein,toexplaintohimwhy

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numerousthingsneedtobedonetoimprovemediaoperationsinZanzibar.TheMCTisstillwaitingfortheappointmentaswegoto press.

1.5 Recommendations * Repealandamendmentsoflawshinderingpressfreedom

isfundamental * Media stakeholders should continue to lobby for the

repealandamendmentsoflawshinderingjournalists’professionalperformance

* MediaplayersshouldcultivatethehabitofreportingtoMCTofficesorotherinstitutions,actsofviolationsofmediafreedom

* NGOsshouldassistinpushingforpromotionofmediafreedom.

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Chapter Two

Current Trends in the Print Media in Zanzibar

2.0 Introduction Thischapterattemptstoprovidekeyinformationaboutthecurrent

trendsintheprintmediainZanzibar.ItexplainsastowhetherthereisregistrationofnewnewspapersorderegistrationofthosethatwerethereandaboutonlinenewspapersinZanzibarduring2017/18.

2.1 Registration of Newspapers Thelegalframeworkwithregardtoregistrationofnewspapersis

governedbytheRegistrationofNewsAgents,NewspapersandBooks(Act,No.5of1988).Alltherequirementsforregistrationare provided for under the Newspapers Act. In addition, there areregulationswhichmustbeobservedinseekingapplicationfornewspapersregistration.

Oneoftheregulationsisthattheapplicantmustprovidethenameof the editor who would be responsible for the contents of the newspaper.

TheNyalaliCommissionwhichwasresponsibleforcollectingpublicopinionsoverwhetherTanzaniashouldadoptmulti-partysystemornothadcitedtheNewspapersActasoneofthe40oppressivelawsrecommendedforrepeal.However,thelawisstillinplace.

TherewastimetheMCTattemptedtoreviewtheNewspaperAct,splittingitintotwopiecesoflegislation:theMediaServicesActandInformationAct.Itissevenyearsnow,andtheexistingmedialegislationbothfortheprintandelectronicmediaremainsintact.

There were no new newspaper or newsletters that were been registeredin2017/18,accordingtotheRegistrarofNewspapers,Ms.JamilaMahmoud.Shegavenoreasonsthesituation.ThereisonlyonedailynewspaperintheIsles,theGovernment-ownedpublication, ‘Zanzibar Leo’. The contents of the newspaper are well editedtosuittheadministration’sinterests.

Ontheotherhand,theregistrarnoted,someregisterednewsletters

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thatbelongtoNGOsandGovernmentinstitutionshavefailedtocomeoutforlongtime.Atotalof60newsletters,quarterlies,andannualpublications,havebeenregistered.

Thelackoffundswasthemainproblem.AlmostallNGOsaredonor-drivenanditappearsthatsomepartnershave,oflate,changedtheirprioritiestothedisadvantageofsomeNGOs.

Nonewspaperhasbeenderegistered,explainedtheregistrar.ZanzibariswellservedwithnewspaperspublishedfromTanzaniaMainlandandotherEastAfricacountries.Duringthetime,therewasnopublicationthatwasbannedfromimportationtotheIsles.

2.2 Sustainability Issues The question of sustainability is crucial and broad. It depends on the

focusofinterpretationoftheworditself.Inthiscontextsustainabilityissuesareinterpretedinthefollowingaspects:financialmusclesoftheorganisation,production,distribution,influenceofthecontentsofnewspaperstothepublicandmaintenanceoflabourforce.Thischapter,therefore,attemptstoprovidesomekeyinformationonthesustainabilityissuesasmentionedabove.

2.2.1 Financial Muscles of Newspapers Financialmuscleisafundamentalandalifelineofsurvivalof

newspaper.Withoutfinancialcapacity,itisextremelydifficulttosurvive in the news business. It is the cost of resources that are consumedinorganisationactivities.Asearlierexplained,thereisonly one daily newspaper in Zanzibar, the State-owned newspaper “ZanzibarLeo”.

Almost97percentofthenewspaper’sbudgetissourcedfromtheGovernment.Themainsourceofitsownincomeisadvertisementsandcopysales.ThepaperadherestoGovernmentfinanciallaws,regulationsandpolicies.

AbudgetspeechoftheMinistryresponsibleforInformationfor2017/18 which was presented in the House of Representatives indicatedthattheGovernmentpumpedintothenewspapermoneyforallthemainactivities–recurrentanddevelopment.Thisincludessalaries of the staff and contribution to the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF).

Theperformanceofthenewspaperentirelyrestsontheshoulders

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oftheTreasury.Inotherwords,theadministrationhascontrolofthe newspaper. (Who pays the piper calls the tune).

2.2.2 Production Newspaperproductionisalongprocessstartingfromassigning

journaliststogoouttotheirrespectivebeatstocollectmaterialfornewsstories,featuresandphotographs.Itfurtherentailswritingopinionpieces,editorials;editing,designing,decidingtheprintorder,solicitingadvertisementsandhandlingthefinalproduct,etc.

Sustainabilityofproductionlargelydependsonfinancialmuscles.Theshortageoffundswillautomaticallyaffectnewspapersineverydepartment.Thismeansthesustainabilityof‘ZanzibarLeo’newspaper, which was launched in 2002, entirely depends on the Governmentforahugepercentofitsfunding.

ThecurrentdailyprintorderofZanzibarLeo’standsat15,000copies,accordingtotheManagingEditorYussufKhamisYussuf.AcopyofthenewspaperissoldatSh500,ofwhichSh300coverstheprintingcharges,Sh100isforthevendor’scommissionandthebalancegoestotheGovernment.

2.2.3 Distribution Unlikeinthepast,thenewspaper’sdistributionhaschanged.

There are only two distribution points in Tanzania Mainland. They arethecapitalcity,DodomaandDaresSalaam,thecountry’scommercialcentre.MrYussuf,theME,saidrecentlythatthetwodistributionpointsintheMainlandwerestrategicallyselectedtoserveGovernmentinterests.Theolddistributionpointswhichwerestruckoutfromthelist:Mwanza,Arusha,Lindi,MtwaraandMorogoro.

2.2.4 Newspaper’s Contents ThecontentsofnewspaperobviouslyfollowtheGovernment’s

editorialpolicy.ItisexpectedtoconveyGovernmentinformationtothepublic.MediacriticshavecomplainedthatmostofthestoriespublishedbythepaperarenothingmorethanofficialstatementsorinformationfromtheGovernmentorGovernmentinstitutionsandcarrieslittleornocriticism.

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2.2.5 Maintenance of Labour Force Asexplainedearlier,Zanzibarhasonlyonedailynewspaperthat

isaGovernment-owned.Thenewspaper’sorganisationstructureremainsasotherGovernmentinstitutions.ThemanagingeditorisappointedbythePresidentofZanzibarandrecruitmentiscarriedoutaspertheGovernmentprocedures.Thenewspapermanagementmustsubmititsrequestforrecruitmenttothecentralestablishmentforapprovalandthelaiddownproceduresmustbefollowed.ThenamesofallemployeesaresubmittedtotheGovernmentSecurityOffice(GSO)forvetting.

Unlikeinsomeprivately-ownedmediahouses,thenewspaperemployeesaresupposedtosignalabourcontractandareassuredoftheirmonthlysalarieswellintime.Inthiscase,thesustainabilityof staff is 100 per cent.

2.3 Mushrooming of Online Newspapers WiththeexceptionofZanzibarLeoNewspaper,thereisnoother

newspaper which is accessible online. The Zanzibar Newspapers Registrar,MsJamilaMahmoud,confirmedthatshereceivednoapplicationfromanyoneseekingtooperateonlinenewspaper.ThismeanstheconceptofonlinenewspaperislaggingbehindinZanzibar.

2.4 Conclusion Theroadtodevelopmentofprintmediaisbumpy.Nationaland

international investors have not focused their attention to the print media.Itiseitherbecauseofstiffcompetitionfromelectronicmediawhichisfasteranduptodateorsoaringcostsinvolvedinprintindustryincludingnewsgathering,employmentofprofessionals,productionanddisseminationofinformation.

Itappears,however,thatlackofexperienceinbusinessdevelopmenttostimulatenewthinkinginrunningthenewspapersbusinessisthemainproblem.Asaresult,newspapermanagementmaintainsthetraditionalmindsetofdependingmoneyfromtheGovernmentcoffers or donors.

2.5 Recommendations * Thereshouldbediversionfromthetraditionalset-upof

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runningnewspaperstothebusinessenvironmentset-upinrunningthenewspaper

* Newspapermanagementshoulddevelopplansthatoutlinestrategiestocompeteinthestiffbusinessenvironment

* International and national institutions should help to mentorandcoachnewspapersmanagementinbusinessdevelopment

* Regularbusinessdevelopmenttrainingonthenewspapermanagementshouldbegiventoppriority.

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Chapter Three

Current Trend in Radio and TV Broadcasting in Zanzibar

3.0 Introduction Asinthecaseofprintmedia,thereisaBroadcastingCommission

ActwhichregulatestheaffairsofallelectronicmediainZanzibar.TherearealsoasetofregulationsthatareinplacetosupporttheBroadcastingAct.Thischapterspecificallyfocusesonradioandtelevisionregistration,introductionofdecodersanditsimplicationsonradio,televisionanddigitalbroadcastinginZanzibar.

3.1 Registration of New Radio and TV Stations ThereisaninterestingstoryonregistrationofradioandTVstations.

TheCommissionhasforthefirsttimeinhistoryregisteredandlicensedeightonlineTVstationsinZanzibar.“Itisahistoryinbroadcastingindustry,”explainedtheActingExecutiveSecretary,MrChandeOmar.AlltheonlinetelevisionsareownedbyindigenousZanzibaris.ItisexpectedthattheonlineTVstationswillboostdisseminationofinformationtothepublic.

Theeightregisteredandlicensedonlinetelevisionsare: ZanonlineTech; StateHouse,Zanzibar; ZanzibarDepartmentofInformation; AlfatahOnline; · KTVTZOnline; · PembaTV; · Mubashara Media Network and · ZanzinewsCom. However,thenumberofradioandtelevisionstationsonairremains

at25and28respectivelyasitwasthecaseoflastyear,said,MrOmar.

3.1.1 DeregistrationandSuspensionofRadioandTVstations TheCommissionhasnotderegisteredanyradioorTVstation

buthastemporarilysuspendedoperationsofaprivatelyowned

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A-JazeeraCableTelevisioninPembaforwhatithadbeentermedastechnicaladministrativeissues.

TheZBCActingExecutiveSecretarysaidthesuspendedTVstationhadagreedtosortoutalltheshortcomingsnotedbyauthoritiesandwasnowbackonair.HegavetheassurancethattheCommissionwascommittedtopromotebroadcastinginstitutions.But,hemaintainedthatcompliancetothecountry’sapplicablelawsandregulationsisabsolutelynecessarytopromotestandardsandprofessional ethics.

3.1.2 Introduction of Decoders and its Implications on Radio and TV

Asexpected,thenumberofdecodersinstalledinZanzibar(UngujaandPemba)shotupto300from120.PeopleacrosstheIsles,bothinurban and rural areas, have installed decoders to access local and foreignprogrammes,especiallysports.

TheZBCChiefEngineer,MrAliHussein,attributedtheincreaseto installation of satellite dishes by the people. Media analysts saytheincreaseisanindicationthatpeoplepreferforeignnewscomponentwhosequality,analysisandeditorialindependenceseemtobestrongerthanlocalcontent.Theincreaseofdecodersoutshinesradioandtelevisionperformanceandthisshouldnotbetakenlightly.

AccordingtotheZBCChiefEngineer,thecorporationhasengagedateamoflocalmediaexpertstostudyonoperationsoflocalbroadcastingmedia.Amongotherthings,theresearchisexpectedtocomeupwithanumberofdecodersinstalledinZanzibar.

TheZBCregistrar,MrOmarSaid,wasoftheopinionthatthestudywouldindicateareasofstrengthsandweaknesses,amovewhichwouldstimulatenewthinkinginthedevelopmentofbroadcastingmediainZanzibar.

DespitethefactthatZanzibarwasamongthefirstAfricancountriestoestablishabroadcastingmedia,therearesomecountrieswhichareprogressingfaster,especiallywhenitcomestoinvestinginthenewbroadcastingtechnologicalequipment.

3.2 Threats and Intimidation to Journalists Thequestionofthreatsandintimidationdependsonsomeone’s

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interpretation.Generally,itmaybeinterpretedasthelackoffreeenvironmenttoworkfreelyandindependentmind.TheMCTZanzibarOfficehadrecordedatotalof25incidentsofthreatandintimidationtargetingjournalistsfortheYear2017/18.

Assaidearlier,theactsofviolationincludeddenialofinformation,harassmentsandbeatings.AletterdatedMarch01,2018,whichwassenttotheMCTZanzibarOfficebytheZCTVChiefEditorJacobJoseph,explainedthatfivemediaworkerswerebeatenwhileinthecourseofcarryingouttheirprofessionalworkasjournalists.Theworkers,accordingtothecopyoftheletter,weretryingtorecordaroadaccidentinvolvingacarandVespawhichhadoccurredatMaisara.

Theelectronicmediaemployeesareallowedtoworkaspertheexistingbroadcastinglegislationandregulations.ApartfromtheprivatelyownedAl-JazeeraCableTelevisioninPemba,whichwastemporarilybannedforwhathadbeentermed“technicalissues”therewerenomediaworkersthathadbeenharassed.

However,therehavebeenseriouscomplaintsbysomejournalistsworking for themushroomingelectronicprivatemedia,whoclaimtheywerenotgivenemploymentcontracts.Ontopofthat,ittakestoolongforthemtoreceivetheirmonthlysalaries.Byanydefinition,thisfrustratesthejournalistsanditmaybedescribedaspsychologicalthreatandintimidation.ThisfactwasconfirmedbytheZPCchairperson,MrAbdallaMfaume.However,hemaintainedhehadjustheardaboutthis“onthestreets”.HesaidhewouldratherthecomplaintswerebroughtofficiallytotheZPC.

3.3 Sustainability Issues Asthecaseofprintmedia,theelectronicmediaalsosurvivesunder

thecompetitivebusinessenvironment.Theelectronicmedia,withtheexceptionoftheGovernmentownedmediawhichreceivesmoneyfromtheTreasury;thesehavetocompeteforadvertisementsasincomegeneratingmeans.

Thismaybeconsideredasoneofcontributing factors to thedelayofmonthlysalariestosomejournalists.Giventhecurrentbusinesssituation,nomoreadvertisementsaresenttotheradioandtelevisionstations.Inaddition,ittakesabitlongertogetmoneyfrombusinessmen,saidMrMwinyiHamad,amemberin

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themanagementofaprivatelyownedmedia. ThereisalsotheneedofIslesbusinessmentochangetheirmindset

andmakefulluseofavailabilityelectronicmediatoadvertisetheirmerchandise.

3.4 Current Status in Digital Broadcasting Thedigitalbroadcastinghasrecordedanimpressiveperformance

inZanzibarafterreplacingtheanaloguesystem.Bylastyear,allelectronicmediahadswitchedtothedigitalsystem.

Itisnotpossibletocontinueoperatingwiththeoldbroadcastingsystem,saidZBCChiefEngineerAliHussein.Oneoftheconditionssetfortheregistrationofelectronicmediaistoproveyouoperateunderthedigitalsystem.

3.5 Conclusion ThereisapositivedevelopmentintheelectronicmediainZanzibar.

Online TV stations have started to sprout, a sign of digitaldevelopmentandimprovementindisseminationofinformationtothepublic.Anincreaseinthenumberofdecodersinstalledinurbanandruralareasisanothersignofpositivedevelopmentintheelectronicmedia.Itstandsasachallengetoradioandtelevisionindisseminationofinformation.Unlessconcretemeasuresareputinplacetocompetewithonlinetelevisions,radioandtelevisionsmaybepushedoutofthemarket.

3.6 Recommendations Thefollowingarerecommendationsinrespecttothischapter: · TheZBCmanagementshouldcontinuetoencourage

interestedpeopletoinvestintheelectronicmedia. AllregisteredradioandTVstationsmustadheretotheapplicable

lawsandregulationstoavoidunnecessaryfrictionwithauthorities.

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Chapter Four

Current Trends in the New Media

4.0 Introduction Thenewmediaremainsasoneofthechallengingissuestothe

operationsofoldmedia.Ifseriousmeasuresarenotputinplacetocheckthetrend,theoldmediamightcompletelybeovershadowedandpushedoutofthemarket.Bywhateveryardstick,thenewmediaareflourishinganditappearsthatsomesegmentsofthepopulation believe the content they circulate.

Unlikeinthepast,thenewmediatreatthemselvesasfreefromtheGovernmentcontrol.Individuals,non-governmentalorganisations,companies,andothersocialgroupshaveestablishedtheirownwebsites,Facebookandotherplatformsandrelyentirelyonthenewmediatosendmessagestotheirtargetedgroups.

Therewasnoregistrationorlicensingrequirements.Informationwashaphazardlyputincirculationwithouttakingprecautionsinrespectof peace, unity, social and cultural considerations. However, the situationhasnowchangedinZanzibar.TheGovernmentthroughtheZBChasdevelopedthenew2018MediaContentsRegulations.

Underthenewregulations,allsocialmediaoperatorsarerequiredtomakeanapplicationforregistrationtotheZBCbeforestartingto operate.

4.1 Registration of New Media Thedecisiontoregisterandlicenseoperationsofnewmediawas

notbydefaultbutbydesign.Initially,theGovernmentwantedtoamendtheZBCAct(ActNo.7of1997)andcreateasectionofthelawcompellingregistrationofthenewmediainZanzibar.Butanewthinkingcameuptoreviewtheregulations.

TheZBChasissuedathree-monthultimatumbeginningOctober2018toalloperatorsofsocialmediatoapplyforregistrationinordertobegivenanoperationallicence.Thebasicpurposeofregistrationistomaketheoperatorsresponsibleforthecontents.

TheZBCActingExecutiveSecretary,Mr.ChandeOmar,insisted

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thattheregistrationisamatterofabsolutelynecessaryandnon-compliancetotheultimatumwouldattractlegalaction.“Weareveryseriousonthesocialmediaregistration.Someofthesocialmediaoperatorsareirresponsibleforthecontentsandviolatetheisland’sculturalnormsandvalue,”explainedMrChande.

4.2 Current Status of New Media and its Implication on Journalism Practices

Itisanopensecretthatthenewmediahasbroughtimplicationsonjournalismpractices.Alotofinformationthatiscirculatedbythenewmediaisnotinlinewithethicalconsiderationsthatjournalismdemands.Itappearsthatsomeoperatorsinthenewmediaarenottrainedinjournalism.Asaresulttherehasbeenaseriousdeteriorationinkeyjournalismethicssuchasobjectivereporting,balancingofinformation,therightofprivacyandtherighttoreply.

Thenewmediaoperatorsarecompetingwiththetraditionalmediaintermsofnewsgatheringanddissemination.Itisundeniablefactthatpeoplegetinformationabitfasterthroughthenewmediathantheygetitfromthetraditionalmedia.Furthermore,itappearsthatthegeneralpopulationhasbuiltatrustonsomeoftheinformationtheygetthroughthenewmedia.

However,alargenumberofpeoplehavebeencomplainingoverthemannerthenewmediaisoperating.AlotofprivacyissuesarepubliclycirculatedthroughthenewmediacontrarytotheIsles’culturalnormsandsocialvalues.ThisisinfactoneofthereasonsthatpushedtheZBCtoreviewtheregulationswiththemainobjectivebeingtoexercisecontrolonthenewmedia.

Ifthecurrentsituationofthenewmediaisleftunchecked,itmayleadtosocialdisharmonyandendangerpeaceandunity.

4.3 New Media and its Impact on Traditional Media in Zanzibar

ThenewmediahasabigimpactontraditionalmediainZanzibar.Although,therearenoofficialstatistics,itappearsthatprivateandGovernment-ownedTVandradiostationshavelostasubstantialnumberofitserstwhileviewersandlistenersinthewakeofthenewmedia.

Judgingbyviewsgiven in therecent trainingworkshopfor

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journalistsinZanzibar,manypeopleprefertogetnewsandotherinformationthroughthenewmedia.“YoudonothavetoswitchonyourradioorTVtogetthecurrentaffairs.Yougeteverythingthroughthenewmedia,”explainedaparticipantintheworkshoporganisedbyArticle19fromKenya.

AlthoughradioandTVstationsareheretostay,specialeffortmustbemadetocompetewiththenewmediaindisseminationofinformation.CriticalanalysismustundertakenbyradioandTVstationsiftheyaretocontinueattractingviewersandlisteners.

ArandomsurveyconductedinZanzibar’sStoneTownindicatesthatsalesofnewandusedradioshavegonedowndrastically,aclearsignofadropinthenumberoflistenersinbothurbanandrural areas of Zanzibar.

4.4 Comparison of Ownership, Press Freedom Violations and Advertising Aspects

Thequestionofownership,pressfreedomviolationsandadvertisingisanissueintheZanzibarsituation.GovernmentownedmediaandjournalistsworkingforitarestrictlyguidedbytheState’seditorialorientation.AllthenewsandinformationfromtheGovernmentmediamustadheretothecountry’sapplicablelawsandpolicies.

Inanycase,allseniorStateofficialsareappointedtoGovernmentmediapostsinaccordancewiththeprocedureslaiddowninthePublicServiceCommissionActof2011.And,astheadagegoes,“Hewhopaysthepipercallsthetune”.AnyonewhoactscontrarytotheGovernment’sstandpointshouldexpecttobesubjectedtothelaiddowndisciplinarymeasures.

TheGovernmentmediadon’tdependmuchon fundsbeinggenerated fromcopysalesandadvertisements to cover theirdailyoperations.Thebudgetisthere.Intermsofadvertising,withtheexceptionoftheGovernment/donor-fundedprojects,allGovernmentadvertisementsaresenttotheState-ownedprintandelectronicmedia.PaymentsaremadedependingontheTreasuryfundsdisbursement.ThisleadstoaconclusionthatState-ownedmediaworkers,includingjournalists,donothavetobothermuchaboutcopysalesoforadvertisementssincetheyareassuredoftheirmonthlysalaries.

Privatelyrunmediahavetocompeteforadvertisements.Theyhave

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tolobbyheavilywithkeyofficialsintheState-ownedcorporationstogetadvertisements.

Itappearsthatmostofprivatelyownedmediahousessurviveonfundsfromextrasourcesandnotstraightfromadvertisements.However,analysesindicatethatsomeprivateelectronicmediahavecompromisedtheirprofessionalprinciplesintheirbidtobuildgoodpublicrelationstoattractadvertisements.

4.5 Conclusion Intermsofprofessionalism,theissuesofownership,pressfreedom

violationsandadvertisinghaveaffectedtheperformanceofbothGovernmentandprivatemedia.Veryfewjournalistsandmediaownersareindependentincollectionanddisseminationofnews.

4.6 Recommendations Thefollowingarerecommendationsinrespecttothischapter: · Professionalismshouldbegivenatoppriority · Governmentmediaworkersshouldmapoutstrategies

to survive on their own and contribute to the national coffers

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Chapter Five

Media Development Support

5.0 Introduction Thedevelopmentofthemediasectorisimportantifitistoperform

itsprofessionaldutiesbetter.Thedevelopmentincludes,amongotherthings,havingastaffdevelopmentprogrammetosharpenjournalists’skills.Withoutputtinginplaceaspecialdevelopmentplan,mediaplayersmightbeleftbehindespeciallyinthiseraof science and technology. It appears, however, that mediadevelopmentsupportisnotintheprioritylistofbothpublicandprivateestablishments.

5.1 Grants/Fellowships and Scholarships Unlikeinthepast,journalistsandbroadcastersarenolongersent

abroad to pursue further studies in their profession. Journalists and broadcastershavetostruggleontheirownandgetthemoneytopayforundergraduateandpostgraduateprogrammestheydesire.

Like it is the case in other professions, journalists are now forced tocompeteforloansfromtheHigherEducationStudentsLoansBoardtogetmoneyforpursuingfurtherstudies.Theymaysecureadmissiontolocalorforeignjournalismcollegesanduniversities,butgettingsponsorshipwouldbeabigheadache.

TheGovernmenthasdrawnalistofprioritiesforscholarships.Thelistincludesscience,medicine,pharmacy,petrolandgas,engineeringstudiesandagriculturalprogrammes.

Journalismisnotinthelist.Asaresult,thosewishingtotakeupfurtherstudiesinotherprofessions,includingjournalism,haveeithertodigdeeperintotheirpocketsorlookforsponsorsotherthantheGovernment.

TheZanzibar JournalismandMassMediaCollege (ZJMMC)principal,MrChandeOmar,saysalargenumberofCertificateandOrdinaryDiplomastudentshavenotsettledtheirtuitionfees,asituationwhichmakesitdifficultforhisinstitutionattainitsadministrativeandacademictargets.

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It is on record that some Zanzibari students are in ChinapursuingdoctorateprogrammesinjournalismundertheChineseGovernmentscholarships.However,thecompetitiontoclinchaChinesescholarshipisveryhigh.

5.2 Promotion and Protection of Journalists Rights and Welfare

Sofar,themediaprofessionalassociationssuchasZPC,MCTandsomeforeignbodiessuchastheKenya-basedArticle19havetriedtorecordincidentsaffectingthejournalisminorderpromoteandprotectjournalists’rights.

Generally,theyhavepopularisedinternationalandregionallegalinstrumentscontainingarticlesonthejournalists’rights.TheyhavealsoeducatedlocaljournalistsontheCZ,1984,medialawsandlawsrelatingtothemedia(statutes,regulationsandpolicies).

The safety of journalists was also a topic of discussion. This, accordingtoMCTofficialsandArticle19,wasdeliberatelydesignedinanattempttofilltheyawninggapandempowermediaownersandjournaliststodealwiththelegalaspectsoftheirwork.

However,thewelfareofjournalistsremainsathornyissue.Itappearsthatjournalistsaregoodindefendingandexposingotherpeople’sproblemsbutcannotstandupandfightfortheirownwelfare.AccordingtothePresidentofZPC,MrAbdullaMfaume,manyjournalistsworkingwiththeprivateelectronicmediaarenotpaidtheirmonthlysalariesintime.

“Somejournalistshavegonewithoutsalariesforthreemonths,”henotes. But, so far, no action has been taken to rectify the situation. Itwasalsolearntthatsomejournalistsandbroadcastersinprivatemediahavenotevensignedalabourcontract.

AtleastjournalistsworkingwiththeGovernment-ownedmediaarecomfortableintermsoftheirwelfare.Underthecivilservicearrangementsguidedbylegislation,regulationsandpolicies,allcivilservants,areassuredofmonthlysalariesfromtheTreasury.

Inaddition, theemployer(theGovernment)remitsmonthlycontributionstotheZSSFforthebenefitofthemediaworkers.This is plausible.

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5.3 Promotion of Specialised Training in Journalism Neitherschoolsofjournalismnornewsroomshavedevelopeda

cultureofaspecialisedtrainingforjournalists.Generaljournalismsubjectsaretheonesthataretaughtinmediaschools.TheChiefAcademicOfficeroftheZJMMC,MrRashidOmar,acknowledgestheimportanceofspecialisedtraining,butsofarnothinghasbeendone.

StudentsaretaughtDevelopmentStudiesasoneofthecompulsorysubjectsinthefirstsemester.TheassumptionisthatthecontentofDevelopmentStudiestakescareofessentialgeneralknowledgethatthelearnersrequire.However,thefactremainsthatthereisnospecialisationintheIsles’mediaschools.

Likewise,innewsrooms,therearenospecialiseddesksthathavebeenestablished.Journalistsareassignedtocovernewsofanynature.Specialisationisnotpartoftheplanofmanagementsinthenewsrooms,explainstheManagingEditorofaGovernment-ownedmediaoutlet,MrYussufKhamis.HisviewswereechoedbythechiefeditoroftheBombaFM,MrMwinyiSadallah,whosaidthatspecialisationentailsalotofissuesincludinghumanandfinancialresources.

5.4 Provisions of Institutional Support to Media Institutions OnlyGovernmentownedelectronicandprintmediainstitutionsget

theinstitutionalsupport.Theseprepareanannualbudgetcoveringadministrativeexpenses,longandshorttermcostsanddevelopmentplan including technological advancement, recruitment, staffdevelopmentprogrammeandotherrequirements.

Thereafter,thebudgetisincludedintheestimatesoftheministryresponsibleforinformationbeforebeingtabledintheHouseofRepresentatives for deliberations and approval.

Privatemediaestablishmentsareleftontheirowndevices.TheydonotgetapennyfromtheGovernmentkitty,so.theyhavetodeveloptheirbudgetscoveringrecurrentanddevelopmentexpenditureandspendaspertheirownfinancialmuscle.

Thepaceofdevelopmentinprivatemediaisslow.Themediaownershavesettheirownpriorities.Theymayhavegoodplansbutthefinancialcapacityisthemaindeterminingfactorinimplementationoftheinstitutionaldevelopmentplan.Theyhavetofindtheirown

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survivalmeans,especiallythroughadvertisements.Infact,itappearsthatveryfewmediainstitutionshavedevelopedlongandshorttermdevelopmentplans.

5.5 Availability of Research Fund Researchfundingisadistantdreamforbothpublicandprivate

media.Thesituationisworsefortheprivatemedia.Itappearsthatresearchfundingisnoteveninthemindoftheprivatemediaowners.Almostallbudgetoperationsoftheprivatemediaexcluderesearchfunding.Theprivatemediaisallouttoearnandsavemoney.

Foritspart,theGovernmentmediahasstoppedincludingarequestforresearchfundsintheirannualbudget.Nomoneyissetasideformediaresearchfund,explainedtheZanzibarJournalismandMassMediaCollegeChiefAcademicOfficer,MrRashidOmar.

5.6 Other Development Support AllGovernmentmediahousesgetdevelopmentsupportfromthe

nationalcoffers.ItisuptothemanagementofeachGovernmentmediahousetobudgetfordevelopmentsupportandsubmitittotherelevantministryforscrutinyandapproval.Thereafter,thebudgetisincorporatedintheministry’sbudgetandissenttotheMinistryofFinanceandPlanningforinclusioninthenationalbudget.

Thebestexampleofdevelopmentsupportisthemajorrehabilitationof thebuildingshousingtheGovernment-ownedZJMMCatKilimani.TheGovernmenthasreleasedaboutSh100millionfortherehabilitationworkandthepurchaseofmediaequipment.

Thesituationisdifferentwithprivatelyownedmediahouses.There isnobudget fordevelopmentsupport.Ownersof themediahouseshavethefinaldecisionofwhatshouldbedoneforthedevelopmentalinterestofaninstitution.Somemediahousescontinuetorentbuildingsandoffices.

5.7 Conclusion Mediadevelopmentsupportisnotawell-organisedaspect.Itis

notapredictablethingespeciallyinprivatemediasector.WithexceptionofjournalistsinGovernment-ownedmediahouses,the

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restcanneverbesureoftheirwelfare.Promotionandprotectionofjournalists’rightsisnotwelldesigned.Tosuittheirrespectiveinterestsandplans,somelocalandforeigninstitutionshaveshowninteresttopromoteandprotectjournalists.

However,thereisnoofficialplanshowingtheshortandlong-termstrategiestoachievetheobjectivesofthemediadevelopmentplanwhich include the welfare of journalists.

5.8 Recommendations Thefollowingarerecommendationsinrespecttothischapter: · Staffdevelopmentplaninmediahousesisabsolutely

necessary toassist journalists toadvance themselvesprofessionally;

· ThewelfareofjournalistsshouldbegivenpriorityinbothGovernmentandprivatemedia;.

· Thesafetyofjournalistsmustbepromotedand · Researchfundsmustbesetasideonannualbasis.

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Chapter Six

Professionalism in the Media and Trends in Journalism Training Institutions

6.0 Introduction Professionalismhasbeenanimportantsubjectinthepracticeof

journalismallovertheworld.Thisisanover-emphasisedissue.Lackofprofessionalismmaycauseaseriousblunder,denythepeopletherighttobewellinformedandthecredibilityofinformationsuppliedtothepeoplemaybequestionable.Inanumberofforums,playersinthemediasectorhavebeenurgedtotrytheirbesttosticktoprofessionalethicsinordertowintheconfidenceofthepublic.Thischapterfocusesontheprofessionalism.

6.1 Key Ethical Events in 2017/18 Unlikeinthepastyears,almostalltheintervieweeshaveconfirmed

thatnoofficialethicaleventhasbeenreportedinUngujaandPembain2017/18.Mediaplayershavebeenstrictlyobservingethicsinthepractice of the profession.

TheMCTZanzibarofficehasintroducedaregisterinwhichpeoplewithcomplaintsareinvitedtoreporttotheofficeforconsiderationandredress.“Notasinglecaseethicalissuehasbeenreportedtoouroffice,”saidtheMCTZanzibarOfficeIn-charge,MsShifaaSaid.ThisstatementwasechoedbythePresidentofZanzibarPressClub,MrAbdullaMfaumewhorevealedthattherewasnoofficialreportofethicaleventsduringtheperiod.

Lackofcomplaintsreportedinthetwoofficesdoesnot,however,indicatethatallwaswellintermsofethicalconsiderations.TheremaybeextrafactorsthatmakepeoplenottoreportincidentsofethicalviolationstotheMCTandZPC.Otherfactorsmayincludethe state of fear, lack of cooperation, slow response to incidents ofethicalviolations,awarenessbythepeopleontheexistence,functions and powers of the MCT and the ZPC on the interventions ofethicalissues.Asaresult,someoftheaffectedpeopledonotcomeouttoseeklegalredressandhavedecidedtokeepquiet.

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6.2 Media Current Ethical Debates AnongoingethicaldebatehascenteredontwoissuesinZanzibar.

Oneistherighttoreply.Mediahousesarenotdoingwellinthisscore,andtwo,istheissueofbalancinginformationbeforeitispublishedandcirculated.Theseareveryimportantissuesthatneedimmediateattentionfromthemediahousesforthepurposeofrestoringtheircredibilityintheeyesofthepublicbeforethesituationgetsoutofhand.

6.2.1 The Right to Reply Inthiscontext,therighttoreplymeansthemediahousesmust

offer equal opportunity to people affected by what is published Notdoingthathasimplicationsonthemedia.Somepeoplefeel

unfairlytreatedbythemassmedia.Inaddition,theythinkthemediaisbeingusedtodamagetheirreputationintheeyesofrightthinkingmembersinthesociety.

6.2.2. Balance of Information Whenthereisnobalanceofinformation,itmeansjournalistsarenot

professionallyeffectiveanddonotspendtimeverifyingthecollectedinformationbeforepublishingit.Thisshouldbedistinguishedfromtherighttoreply,whichmeansgivingtheaffectedpersontheopportunitytorespondtowhathasbeenpublishedabouthim.Somejournalistshavedefendedthemselvessayingthatoften,sourcesofinformationdodeliberatelyshyawayunderflimsyexcusesfromspeakingtojournalistsonsomeburningissues.

Thissituationforcessomejournaliststopublishtheirstoryusingthelimitedinformationtheyhavecollectedfromtheirownsourcesprovidedthereisnoelementofdefamationorsedition.

6.3 The trend in Journalism Training Institution Traininginanyprofessionisavitalaspectofdevelopmentand

reforms.Journalismhasbeenchangingwithtime.Itisimpossibletopractiseoldjournalisminthiseraofscienceandtechnology.

Journalistsmustbegiventheopportunitytoattendtrainingprogrammesperiodicallysoastosharpentheirthinkingandequipthemwithnewskills.Developmentjournalismisnotachievablewithouttrainingprogrammes.

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6.4 Tertiary Institutions and Quality of Education/Curriculum

AspertheConstitutionoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniaof1977,highereducationisoneofthemattersfallingundertheUnionsphere. A special institution—the National Council for Technical Education(NACTE)—wasestablishedwithitsmainobjectivebeingtoregulate,amongotherthings,qualityassuranceofeducationprogrammeswhichareofferedatalltertiaryinstitutions.

Auditoftheeducationprogrammesisdoneperiodically.Theauditincludesavailabilityofteachersandtheirqualifications,curriculumandsupportivefacilitiesavailableintheinstitutions.JournalismschoolsinZanzibararealsounderNACTEcontrolandmustbeaudited periodically.

6.5 Research Status/Consultancies and Community Services

Assaidearlier,researchstatusandconsultanciesremainaproblem.Inthefirstplace,internationalandnationalinstitutionshavearesearch and consultancypolicy. Interestedparties includingforeignersareinvitedtoapplyforresearchandconsultancies.Thereafter,ashortlistoftheapplicantsismadeandafinalselectioniscarriedoutonthebasisofmerit.Thecompetitionisstiffandlocalapplicantsarerarelyselected.Inmanycases,foreignersaregiventheopportunitytodotheconsultanciesonthegroundsofcompetencyand they do not have any political or social inclination that could influenceresearchoutcome.

6.6 Sustainability of Journalism Training Institutions Thesurvivaloftraininginstitutionsofferingjournalismcourses,

especiallythosethatareprivatelyrun,ishanginginthebalance.Thenumberofstudentshasgonedowndrastically.Thisisattributedtoanumberofreasonsincludingcapacityofparentstopayfeesandalargenumberofpotentialapplicantsoptingforotherprofessions.

TheGovernmentdoesnotsponsorstudentsdoingjournalismasitisnotamongitspriorities.

TheZJMMCChiefAcademicOfficer,MrRashidOmar,saidthenumberofregisteredstudentsforadiplomainJournalismhasdroppedfrom115to5intheacademicyearthatbeganinOctober,

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2018.However,hedidnotrevealtheminimumnumberofstudentsperaprogramme.However,thegoodnewsisthattheZanzibarGovernmenthasrecentlyformedaspecialtaskforcechargedwiththedutytostudyintowaystomergetheZJMMCwiththeStateownedUniversityofZanzibar(SUZA).

Ifallgoeswell,theState-ownedmediacollegemaybecomepartofSUZAinthenearfutureanditwillabletoofferundergraduateandpostgraduateprogrammes,explainedMr.Omar.

6.7 Conclusion Despiteseveralexcusesthathavebeenadvancedbyjournalists

whofailtobalancetheirstoriesbeforetheypublishthem,butthatisaclearsignofviolationofmediaethics.Ethicsserveasaguidelinetothepracticeoftheprofessionandmustbeadheredtobyeveryjournalist.Thissituationindicatesthatthereisagapofprofessionalismthatneedstobeaddressed.Regardingtraining,thetrendshowsthatthereishopeforjournalismtraininginstitutions,especially those that are State-owned, to survive. What is required isthattheinstitutionsshouldabidebyalltheregulationsgivenbyNACTEinordertoberecognisedandattractstudents.WithoutgettingaccreditationfromNACTE,theschoolsmaybeforcedtoclosedown.Trainingremainsamatterofparamountimportance

6.8 Recommendations Thefollowingarerecommendationsinrespecttothischapter: · EnactmentoftheRighttoInformationAct; · Journalistsmustabidebyprofessionalethics; · Staff development programme in journalism is a

fundamentalissue. · Researchandconsultanciesshouldbegivenaspecial

considerationbyimprovingtheprofessionalcapacitiesof locals so as to win the awards and

· Journalismtraininginstitutionsmustbefinancialback-upinorderforthemtosurvive.

References

Constitutions TheConstitutionoftheUnitedRepublicofTanzaniaof1977.

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TheConstitutionofZanzibar,1984.

Legislation TheZanzibarBroadcastingCommissionAct,Zanzibar(ActNo.7

of 1997). TheCensorshipandCinematographyExhibitionAct,Zanzibar(Act

No. 1 of 2009). TheElectionsAct,Zanzibar(ActNo.42018). TheHouseofRepresentatives(Immunities,PowersandPrivileges,

Zanzibar(ActNo.4of2007). TheNationalSecurityAct,1970(ActNo.3of1970). The Penal Act, Zanzibar (Act No. 6 of 2018). ThePublicServiceCommission,Zanzibar(ActNo.6of2011). TheRegistrationofNewsAgents,NewspapersandBooksAct,

Zanzibar(ActNo.5of1988).

Bill TheZanzibarGovernmentGazette,1stSeptember,2017. TheZanzibarGovernmentPrintingPressAgency.

Cases A.K.Gopalanv.StateofMadrasAIR1950S.C.27. GoodwinvUnitedKingdom(1996)22EHRR123. InternationalHumanRightsInstruments TheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRightsof1966. TheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsof1948.

Speech TheBudgetSpeechoftheMinistryResponsibleforInformationfor

2017/18 which was presented in the House of Representatives.

Report TheNyalaliCommissionReportonWhetherTanzaniashouldgo

tomulti-partypolitics,1992.

Gazette ZNZGovt.Gazette,1stSeptember,2017.