CoRI pushes for more amendments of MSA 2016

Dodoma. Coalition on Right to Information (CoRI) has urged the government to amend the remaining 12 sections of the Media Services Act 2016.

The call was made in a statement to the media circulated on May 2, 2024 during the commemorations of World Press Freedom Day 2024.

The statement signed by CoRI members, called for the governmet to table the contetious law to the Parliament since the 12 unamended sections continue to pose threats for free and independent media. Members of CoRI includes Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) which is the secretariat, Twaweza, Sikika, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Tanzania  Editors Forum(TEF), Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-TAN), Tanzania Development Information Organization (TADIO), Policy Forum, Jamii Forums, Union of Tanzania Press Clubs(UTPC), Organization of Journalists Against Drugs and Crimes in Tanzania (OJADACT), Tanzania Citizens’ Information Bureau(TCIB).

“We commend the government for its willingness to bring the MSA 2016 for review last year the process which ended in June by revising the 9 sections that we believe will help the media in very critical areas such as economy by removing the power of Director of Information Services Department to coordinate government advertisements, but also by making defamation being civil cases and protecting printers/publishers by, removing the powers of the Court to confiscate print machines.

“However, we call for the government to amend the remaining 12 sections that continue to limit the freedom and welfare of the media sector, among the remaining one include section 7 (2) (b) (iv) that forces private media to broadcast or publish news or issue of national importance as the Government may direct. CoRI does not agree with this section because it promotes interference of editorial independence,” reads CoRI statement.