MCT cautions on increasing trend of denial of information

The Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Kajubi Mukajanga presents the Council’s publications to the chairperson of Lindi Press Club, Fatuma Maumba on November 2, 2023. It is while in Lindi that he also issued a statement marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (idei) in which he cautioned against the increasing incidents of denial of information in  Tanzania.

Incidents of denial of information have increased as compared to the past three years the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) has said in statement commemorating the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (idei).

The statement issued on November 2, 2023 and signed by the Council’s Executive Secretary, Kajubi Mukajanga noted that in the period between January and November, this year MCT through its database (www.pressviolations.or.tz) has recorded that 21 violations were committed against journalists impeding them to access information or threatening them not to carry on their duties as journalists

The incidents of violations in 2023 included denial to access information – eight incidents , threats (5) arrests (3) attacks (2) and harassment (3).

In 2020 there were three incidents of denial of information, 2021 four incidents and 2022 two incidents, the statement said.

The Council has established that there are still challenges to access information, despite the directive given by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on March 27, 2023   during the meeting of public information and communications officers held in Dar es Salaam.

The Prime Minister had ordered Ministries, Public Institutions and Government Departments to earmark budgets for disseminating information to the public, accurately and expeditiously.

“Despite negating the directive, we have noticed some officials issuing decision contrary to the Access to Information Act of 2016, compelling informations seekers to get a letter from the Local Government Authorities in Tanzania (Tamisemi) asking for information from the Councils.”

Five such incidents involved Mpwapwa, Muleba, Kilosa, Njombe and Ifakara district councils.  The Director of Information and Chief Government Spokesperson, reacted   by dismissing such orders as inappropriate and incorrect.

As idei  is marked worldwide on November 2 and  which this year carries the   theme – Violence against journalists, the integrity of elections, and the role of public leadership, MCT has reminded the media that next year, Tanzania will hold local government elections and journalists should be careful in their reporting.

MCT has cautioned that during the elections there will be a lot of information including those disseminated through artificial intelligence, there will be fake news and hate speech as well.

The Council has appealed to media outlets to train their journalists on how to discern the new types of disinformation pointing out that Journalists must not be source of spreading inaccurate and false information which has not been collaborated by sources to avoid causing undue panic.

The Council has also appealed to the government to create friendly environment for journalists to discharge their duties including access to information and freedom of expression to the public, institutions and media.

• To take actions against all who restrict or frustrate journalists from doing their work in accessing information in public offices contrary to the law.
• To ensure that information is disseminated accurately and expeditiously and to ensure District Council Directors implement the directive issued by the Prime Minister and to provide secure environment for journalists and to charge in courts those who commit criminal deeds against journalists.

To journalists, the Council has urged them to professionally conduct themselves, adhere to ethics and journalistic regulations in performing their daily duties and to take precautions especially following technological changes and developments to avoid false information and to continue to seek information according to the dictates of the law.

As to society the Council has urged it to continue to seek different information in area to get their rights adding end that when one is denied information, he/she should not hesitate to report to responsible institutions on the denial of information”.