Tanzania Journalists Reminded Of Patriotism, To Write For The Welfare Of The Country
Journalists in Kagera Region in Northwest Tanzania, have marked World Press Freedom Day by meeting 50 students from five secondary schools within Bukoba Municipality, so that they learn about human rights and freedom of expression.
The secondary schools, represented by ten students each, were Hamugembe, Bukoba, Kashai, Bilele and Rumuli, to go with this year’s theme ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a driver for all other human rights’.
The event, was organised by Kagera Press Club(KPC),under Union of Tanzania Press Clubs, took place on Friday 19, May 2023 instead of May 3, due to unavoidable circumstances.
Bukoba District Commissioner, Erasto Siima,who was Chief guest of the event, urged the Press not to write stories which can harm national security on pretext of freedom of speech, instead, to write for the welfare of the country.
He said since he was appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in January 2023, he has received good cooperation from journalist in the region, asking them to continue telling good things done by the government, so that they reach ordinary people at grassroot level since the government has allocated billion of shillings for development projects.
The DC also showed his commitment to work with KPC, advising to contact his office if there’s any assistance needed to make it stronger.
Adv. Peter Matete, Chairperson for Association of independent lawyers, Kagera zone, has explained about human rights and freedom of expression as a tool to development, that are very basic citing the religious teachings, whereby Adam and Eve before were chased from Eden,were asked what was the matter.They were given a chance to be listened. That when a new baby is delivered, before anything it cries,and that is where freedom of expression starts.
Students had opportunity of asking questions ranging to what is news to what has to be done if the editor is adamant to publish a story, while Sylidion Cyprian Bintabara,a teacher at Kashai secondary school, wished KPC to have a programme of visiting schools to meet young students who dream for the profession to mentor them and uprising their talents of story writing.
Mbeki Mbeki, Chairperson, Kagera Press Club urged the owners of media houses to appreciate their correspondents, as he is still investigating the matter to take action that the media house in the region didn’t attend the burial of its correspondent who passed away recently, let alone paying his allowances.
World Press Freedom Day is an annual observance celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of freedom of Press and also remind the government to uphold the right of freedom of expression and free Press.
Although the situation of freedom of expression in Africa is steadily improving, it is still under threat. In 2022 Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), documented at least six journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, four in Somalia and two in Chad.
In 2023, CPJ recorded two deaths, Martinez Zogo, a Cameroonian, was abducted, tortured and killed, while John Williams Ntwale of Rwanda met his death in a suspicious road accident.
By Mutayoba Arbogast
