FROM THE PUBLIC EDITOR'S DESK : End impunity against media

        It is not in my habit to dish out thanks, praises and congratulations to those who have done their job. But today, I am saying, media outlets in Tanzania deserve congratulations for one thing: they have managed to bathe in a river live with crocodiles.

The crocodiles are exactly what Mr Kajubi Mukajanga, Secretary General of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) is pointing out – the impediments to full exercise of rights and freedoms of citizens through media outlets.

He was quoted by media pointing out, in his remarks on 2nd November in Dar es Salaam, at the International Day to End Impunity and Crimes Against Media, that police officers and district and regional commissioners were stumbling blocks to access to information.

Msondo Ngoma, one of the Dar es Salaam based music bands that pull crowds of the young and old, has a piece, which runs as follows: “When you see an adult drop a tear, get it clear, there is trouble…” Mr Kajubi would be quiet if there was no trouble.

Here are stumbling blocks and here are media outlets still operating; not by way of defying any authority but frankly and briskly defying the real threats – legal or illegal – in form of orders; and managing to break through and reach their audience the following minute, hour and day.

I challenge those who say they do not deserve congratulations to throw down tools of whatever they are doing and embark on print or radio and TV broadcast. I am not a cassandra; but I can foresee their calamitous closing stages.

In the early years of search for political independence, Julius Nyerere, later father of the nation, had this to say:

“Too often the only voices to be heard in oposition are those of a few irresponsible individuals who exploit the very privileges of democracy and freedom of the press, freedom of association, freedom to criticise in order to deflect the government from its responsibilities to the people by creating problems of law and order ...

“The government must deal firmly and promptly with the trouble makers. The country cannot afford, during these vital early years of its life, (and this was months before political independence) to treat such people with the same degree of tolerance which may be safely allowed in a long-established democracy…” (in A Century of African English).

Lack of farsightedness

Before his death, Nyerere had abandoned his maladroit stance. He was quoted criticising Zambia’s president Kenneth Kaunda for myopia when it came to retirement; and lack of farsightedness in terms of going multi-party.

One could understand Nyerere at that time when he said, during these vital early years of its life (a new nation). He parted works of his hands when the nation was 46 years – “adult nation” with the senses and ability to discharge its responsibilities.

But earlier, this writer had complained worldwide when he wrote: “…constructive ideas (in those dark days) became the preserve of those few in power. Workings of government were shrouded in secrecy, while people’s participation remained an empty slogan as the people were severely denied information (Southern Africa Political and Economic Monthly, October 1988).

Crocodiles of the time

Those were the crocodiles of the time. Today, when we are no longer “in the early years” of the nation’s life – we are adults at 56 years; the crocodiles remain; secrecy remains and some outlets get crucified for and on behalf of others.

Bad laws and impunity are not likely to go tomorrow just as communication is not likely to be whipped off the earth. MCT, the only independent, voluntary and non-statutory organ for and on behalf of journalists, media and citizens, remains with its honourable duty:

To enhance professionalism in the media; catalogue crimes against media and free expression; expose perpetrators of crimes; demand for removal of bad laws; and work with sections in government and civil society in arraigning perpetrators. The government cannot afford to ignore your honourable duty.

Ndimara Tegambwage is Public Editor with Mwananchi Communications Limited