MCT condemns latest harassment of scribes
The Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania, Kajubi Mukajanga.
The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) has strongly condemned latest trend of harassing journalists while on duty.
In statement signed by the Council’s Executive Secretary, Kajubi Mukajanga issued on April 22, 2021, the Council reminded state security organs that journalism is not just sheer work but it is a credible legal work.
Mukajanga in the statement cited the directive given by President Samia Suluhu on April 6, 2021to the Ministry of Information, Culture Arts and Sports to lift ban imposed on media outlets and urged officials not to exercise authority to control media outlets.
“I understand there are media outlets that you have banned, lift the ban and they should abide by the law. We should not give credence to complaints that they are suppressed and denied freedom of expression,” President Samia directed.
The position of the President could be translated that she does not like harassment of the media and its professionals, the MCT noted.
The Council, the statement went on, is surprised on what is going on now that harassment of journalist is on the rise following the directive by the President contrary to the expectation of Tanzanians.
“We are asking is it the wananchi or officials who did not understand the President?” the Council added in the statement.
The Council statement listed incidents of harassments of journalists as follows:-
On April 12, 2021 two journalists one from ITV and Radio One Christopher James and Dickson Billikwija of Island TV were detained under orders from the Director of Temeke Municipality, Lusabilo Mwakabibi, accusing them of gate crushing into his meeting.
Another incident was on April 9, 2021 in Mwanza whereby the District Commissioner of Nayamagana Dr. Philis Nyimbi, threatened to take action against journalist Mabere Makubi of ITV whom she accused that his reporting endangered her employment.
On April 12, 2021 a freelance journalists reporting for The Guardian from Moshi, James Lanka was arrested and remanded in police custody for three days without any charges and no statement was taken from him when he pursued a story on the arbitrary arrests of businessmen.
Another incident was in Katavi region where a journalist reporting for Channel 10, Pascal Katona who was covering the election of a Imam at Makanyagio mosque was attacked by some worshippers of the Mosque who disagreed with the outcome of the election and destroyed his working equipment.
On April 21, 2021 in Zanzibar a journalists working for Mwananchi newspaper, Jesse Mikofu was attacked and roundly tortured by JKU soldiers.
He was accosted by the soldiers when he photographed them arresting and removing forcibly vendors from Darajani area who were supposed to operate at Kibandamaiti area.
The soldiers also ordered the journalist to damage his cell phone which he had used to take the photographs.