Government reiterates commitment to uphold press freedom, democracy

Dar es Salaam. The government has reiterated its commitment to uphold the country’s democracy and press freedom, insisting that there have been no intentions to interfere with press freedom in the country.

The government’s statement has been issued Wednesday on February 7, 2024 by the Minister for information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye during a press conference held at the country’s administrative capital-Dodoma.

The statement comes a few hours after reports had  it that Chadema Vice Chairman (Mainland) Tundu Lissu was restricted from participating in the morning radio programme at Wasafi FM over what was referred to as “directives from above.”

However, Mr Nnauye told the press conference that Tanzania journalists should get out of unreasonable fear that has adversely been affecting the smooth execution of their duties.

“I would like to call upon the media to execute its duties according to the demands of the law. The government has no plan of interfering with the freedom of the press in fulfilling their duties,” he stressed during a live broadcast event.

“People are allowed to use any content provided they abide by the law and procedures. But, there is no government leader planning to interfere with the freedom of the press in fulfilling their duties,” he added.

The minister urged the Wasafi FM Radio Station to go ahead with its scheduled radio programmes, insisting that the media houses should give equal opportunities to politicians, thereby creating an equal playing field in discharging their duties.

Mr Nnauye also said through the 4Rs (Reconciliation, Resiliency, Reforms and Rebuilding); President Samia Suluhu Hassan has emphasised her political will for reconciliation, noting that was the reason of different political reforms made shortly after assuming office.

Extending his message to all media outlets in the country (print and electronic media), Mr Nnauye insisted that incidents of the suppressions of press freedom and democratic prosperity should be avoided,

“Anybody doing this for sure is sabotaging the President and the Sixth Phase Government. Being the industry’s supervisor, I will not allow this to happen,” he said.

“Probably, fear has been existing for a while, but much has been done in assuring the media with freedom to fulfil their duties,” he said.

He insisted that journalists have no reason to fear, saying that they should also not mudslide the government over issues of interference.

“No directives have been issued to the media since the Sixth Phase government assumed office,” he insisted.

According to him, freedom of the press has been to enable them to fulfil their duties, insisting that as the country goes to polls this year, people, especially politicians, should be given equal opportunities to express and air their views.