CoRI submits proposals to strengthen the Information and Broadcasting Policy 2003

Dar es Salaam. On August 21, 2024 the Coalition on Right to Information (CoRI) submitted their electronic copy of the proposals regarding Information and Broadcasting Policy 2003 to the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technologies for consideration during the review of the policy.

CoRI reviewed different areas of the policy which seemed to be challenging and with which the media stakeholders expressed their dissatisfaction. The submitted document contains recommendations that CoRI believes when considered will help improve the media context in the country.

In the proposal CoRI found some policy issues which are outdated to the current media landscape and needs. The Information and Broadcasting Policy 2003 exist for 21 years since it was developed.

Citing an example from the policy, Adv. James Marenga a CoRI representative from MISA-Tan said there are concepts in the outdated policy that do not reflect the today’s reality.

“The public media in this policy is portrayed as governments’ media and it has been misused. We proposed that the policy should clearly state that the public media will be owned and operated by a special fund passed by the Parliament from the taxes of Tanzanians” said, Adv. Marenga.

He added that, policy should state that the Government media will be established by the government with the aim of advocating for its daily activities including plans, successes and challenges.

Other shortfall in the policy according to CoRI chairperson Ernest Sungura is the lack of statement or directives regarding safety and security of the of journalists who are the key agents of access to information.

“We all know that, media is preferred to be the fourth estate, it is good that its members (journalists) are well protected by this policy and laws and specifically the Media Services Act 2016”, added Sungura.

Members of CoRI are 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), chaired by Media Council of Tanzania (MCT).