Dar es Salaam. The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and the U.S. Embassy have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening media freedom, professional journalism, and democratic governance following high-level discussions held at the Council’s headquarters in Tegeta Skanska, Dar es Salaam.
The meeting brought together MCT Executive Secretary Ernest Sungura and a U.S. Embassy delegation comprising the newly appointed Press and Information Officer, Niles Cole, accompanied by Press and Media Specialist, Japhet Sanga. Their discussion focused on stregthening cooperation to build a free, professional, and sustainable media environment in Tanzania.
Welcoming the delegation, Sungura described the U.S. Embassy as one of MCT’s most valued development partners, acknowledging its long-standing contribution to advancing independent journalism and media reforms in the country.
“Your consistent support has directly strengthened democratic institutions, protected public interest reporting, and ensured that the voices of Tanzanian citizens remain central to national development,” Sungura said while noting that the Embassy contributed approximately 73 percent of the resources that enabled the successful convening of the 2024 Media and Elections Stakeholders’ Conference in Dodoma.
He also briefed the delegation on MCT’s history and mandate, explaining that the Council was established in 1995 by Tanzania’s media fraternity as an independent, voluntary, and non-statutory self-regulatory body. Since beginning operations in 1997, MCT has promoted press freedom and freedom of expression through professional training, mentorship, media monitoring, mediation, and documentation of press freedom violations while strengthening ethical journalism and accountability across the media sector.
Sungura paid tribute to former U.S. Embassy Spokesperson, Kalisha Holmes, for championing the role of independent media during her tenure, saying her engagement helped deepen collaboration on access to information, media freedom advocacy, and professional journalism standards.
“We are thrilled to continue this incredible momentum with you, ensuring that our collaborative footprint expands to meet new challenges in the digital age,” he told the delegation.
The Executive Secretary further highlighted MCT’s sustained advocacy for legal reforms, saying years of evidence-based engagement with government, Parliament, legal experts, and civil society had contributed to significant amendments to the Media Services Act in 2023. He noted that reforms to nine key provisions reduced statutory penalties and eased operational barriers for media houses, developments that coincided with Tanzania’s rise in the World Press Freedom Index from 143rd to 97th place.
Despite the progress, Sungura said further reforms remain necessary to fully align Tanzania’s media laws with regional and international human rights standards, including stronger protection of journalists’ sources, independent public service broadcasting, due process in publication restrictions, and the removal of unnecessary regulatory barriers affecting digital media.
Looking ahead, Sungura unveiled MCT’s flagship State of the Media Report 2025/2026, which will be launched as part of the Council’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The report will assess the resilience of Tanzania’s media sector following the 2025 General Election and generate evidence to inform future policy reforms and professional capacity-building.
Speaking during the meeting, Niles Cole commended the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) for its continued efforts to promote and protect press freedom and the right to access information in Tanzania. He expressed his appreciation for the Council’s work and affirmed the U.S. Embassy’s willingness to explore opportunities for future collaboration in advancing these shared democratic values.
“I am new here. I need more information on the state of the media, so that I can effectively support the media in Tanzania,” Cole noted.
Executive Secretary Ernest Sungura, on his part, highlighted two priority areas where MCT would welcome support from the U.S. Embassy. These include conducting the State of the Media Report 2025/2026, which will provide a comprehensive assessment of Tanzania’s media landscape, and strengthening the capacity of the Coalition on the Right to Information (CoRI) to enhance its engagement with the Government on policy and legal reforms related to press freedom and access to information.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism that the long-standing partnership would continue to strengthen Tanzania’s media landscape, democratic governance, and citizens’ access to credible, ethical, and independent journalism.