PM: Time to involve information officers in decision making

Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday said that the government was considering allowing government communication officers to attend key decision-making meetings taking place in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to increase transparency within the government.

The move would also ensure that the public is provided with accurate information. The premier was speaking when opening a five-day seminar organized by the Tanzania Association of Government Communication Officers (Tagco).

The meeting was attended by at least 500 communication officers from the Central Government, Local Government Authorities (LGAs), Government Agencies, Independent Departments and Parastatal Organizations.

Mr Majaliwa said it is the duty of government information officers to reduce circulation of misleading information by disseminating correct and authentic information to public.

“The heads of institutions should make it a priority to involve communication officers in decision-making meetings and sessions. This will enable them to gain sufficient knowledge about the respective institution as well as government plans,” he said.

The Premier who doubles as Ruangwa MP directed the heads of public institutions to create a conducive environment for smooth flow of information to the public.

Furthermore, Mr Majaliwa said a special budget should be allocated to address challenges facing information officers when carrying out their daily duties.

Welcoming the premier, the Information, Communications and Information Technology minister, Mr Nape Nnauye said participation of communication officers in these crucial meetings will be legally highlighted in the soon-to-be-completed National Communication Strategy.

“If Mr Msigwa (Gerson-the Chief Government Spokesperson) attends cabinet meetings, there is no reason for communication officers to be denied access into important decision-making sessions,” he said.

“Information officers have all the rights to attend decision making meetings because they are the faces of their respective institutions,” he added.

Along with the strategy, Mr Nnauye who doubles as Mtama Constituency legislator said the ministry was in the final stages of preparing information strategy during disasters dubbed: The Risk Communication and Branding Strategy.

“The strategy will provide guidance to information collection, processing and distribution of content consisting of key national agendas. It will also establish strict systems on how the government should clarify, reject, question and provide feedback on different issues,” he said.

“It will state clearly how responsibilities of each stakeholder will be coordinated,” he added.

For his part, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Mr Selestine Kakele, said during the five days of the seminar, the officers would be taken across different topics.

He named some of the topics as the responsibility of the officers in the security and protection of government secrets, public service ethics, cyber security and observation of protocols during government events.

Others are photo, video and information editing, sending specific messages to specific people and good public and communication skills.