MCL boss urges bold media transformation to drive innovation

Dar es Salaam. The Chief Executive Officer of Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), Ms Rosalynn Mndolwa-Mworia, has urged Tanzania’s media industry to embrace a bold transformation agenda that positions it as a catalyst for national innovation and development.

Speaking at the official opening of Innovation Week 2025 in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Ms Mndolwa-Mworia challenged media practitioners to go beyond their traditional role of observers and become active enablers of progress.

“Media is not merely an observer of change; it is an enabler,” she said. “It amplifies impact, connects industries, and drives progress by ensuring that ideas reach the right stakeholders, that solutions receive the visibility they deserve, and that communities remain informed, engaged, and empowered.”

The event brought together government officials, development partners, entrepreneurs, and media professionals under the theme of using innovation to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Ms Mndolwa-Mworia stressed that visibility is critical for innovations to thrive, likening the absence of media engagement to a “lighthouse without a beacon—powerful, yet unseen.”

Drawing lessons from international experiences, she cited examples from Argentina, the United Kingdom and Germany where media institutions have embraced artificial intelligence, data-driven storytelling, and digital platforms to shape governance, urban development, and civic engagement.

“Tanzania must embrace this momentum,” she said. “Our media industry cannot afford to lag behind in the digital revolution that is redefining economies and societies globally.”

She outlined strategic measures MCL has taken to lead in this space, including the launch of MwanaClick—the country’s first mobile-first digital journalism hub—and Habari Hub, an innovation-focused platform designed to support creatives, startups and business leaders.

“These are not just platforms for publishing news—they are spaces for co-creating the future of storytelling,” she noted.

In addition, MCL has pioneered initiatives such as the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum, Tanzania’s Top Techpreneurs, Rising Woman and the MSMEs & Stakeholders Summit. According to Ms Mndolwa-Mworia, these efforts reflect MCL’s deliberate strategy to not only report on innovation but actively foster it—especially at the grassroots level.

However, she warned that the transformation the industry requires cannot happen in isolation.

“It requires collective commitment—from development partners who value credible journalism, from policymakers who understand that an informed society is a prosperous one, and from sponsors ready to invest in content that fuels inclusive growth.”

In a symbolic gesture of this commitment, MCL announced that all Innovation Week 2025 participants would receive a free one-week digital subscription to MwanaClick, giving them full access to The Citizen, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti.

“In an innovation economy, credible content is not a privilege—it is a necessity,” she said.

Ms Mndolwa-Mworia made a rallying call for media houses to go beyond competing for public attention and instead work collaboratively to deliver lasting impact.

“We must ensure that the full story—struggles, resilience, and triumphs—is told,” she said. “Together, we will build a media ecosystem that does not merely report on progress but accelerates it.”

She reaffirmed MCL’s commitment to playing a strategic role in national development.

“We are not just here to tell Tanzania’s story. We are here to shape it. With you. For you.”