MCL gives Tido colourful farewell

Dar es Salaam. Staff and management of Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) on Thursday bid farewell to outgoing managing director Tido Mhando, who leaves the company after two and half years at the helm.

Speakers at a colourful farewell party held at the company’s headquarters heaped praise on the man who has been in the media for over 40 years. Nation Media Group (NMG) chief executive officer Linus Gitahi hailed Mr Mhando as the manager who brought MCL back to business while maintaining professionalism.

MCL, a subsidiary of NMG, publishes Mwananchi, Mwananchi Jumamosi, Mwananchi Jumapili, The Citizen, The Citizen on Saturday, The Citizen on Sunday and Mwanaspoti in both print and online formats.

Mr Gitahi said Mr Mhando was also instrumental in making sure that the company’s relations with other stakeholders including the government were friendly.  

“He helped to make MCL’s outlets look not necessarily pro-opposition nor against the government, with balanced stories that always upheld the principles of journalism. MCL will continue to use your vast experience in the industry to make the company remain as the leader in the business,” the CEO said.

According to Mr Gitahi, the former MD steered the company to profit even when the MCL flagship outlet Mwananchi was temporarily banned by the government, making it the only company in NMG to get bonuses.

Speaking to the staff and executive, Mr Mhando said it was a privilege to have worked at MCL. “When I first came here I knew it would be a tough assignment but I thank everyone who helped me accomplish my tasks,” he said. He added that working in the private media company was a bit different from working with the government owned media where most of the productions came from the government’s directives.

“But with your help I managed to make our outlets remain neutral and only for the public good,” he said.

The outgoing MD said he will be ready to assist the company whenever needed in future.

While hailing his successor Mr Francis Nanai as the perfect person ready to fill his shoes, Mr Mhando asked the MCL staff to accord the former the necessary support.

In his remarks, Mr Nanai said he would continue to learn from his predecessor.

The new MD said, Mr Mhando made the company a better working place while strengthening the company’s productivity. “Your leadership made us feel the giants in the country’s media industry in all front making our competitors feel the heat, for us it is really sad to see you go,” he said. Mr Nanai said the company would always remain grateful for him after inventing new services like ‘Breaking news’ and the company’s stride to supply papers in the Lake Zone.   

In his vote of thanks, MCL executive editor Bakari Machumu praised the former BBC employee as a person who led the company in a fatherly manner.

“He was like a father sometimes taking decisions but he always wanted to see us (the executive) take collective responsibility in the decisions the company made,” he said. 

Group Editorial director Tom Mshindi hailed Mr Mhando as a person who personally knew journalism thus helping the company maintain professionalism. “We will not forget you,” he said.

Mr Mhando leaves MCL after two and half years at the helm of the country’s biggest media house which he joined in 2012. He is credited for leading MCL during a period that saw the company maintain a steady growth trajectory on all fronts. 

Before joining MCL in 2012, Mr Mhando worked as Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) director general from 2006 to 2010.