Tanzania’s journalists’ accreditation board cracks down on unregistered scribes

The law stipulates that anyone working as a journalist, whether as a reporter, presenter, producer, photographer, or content editor, must hold at least a diploma in journalism or mass communications to be eligible for accreditation.

However, investigation by The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, has revealed that a significant number of prominent journalists and broadcast presenters have quietly exited the profession after losing accreditation under this provision.

During a telephone interview on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, JAB’s acting executive director, Mr Patrick Kipangula, provided an update on the ongoing registration and accreditation process.

He confirmed that 10 individuals had been officially removed from the profession for lacking the required qualifications or registration.

“We are continuing with a thorough inspection of those currently practising. Anyone found without the appropriate academic background or formal registration will be disqualified immediately,” said Mr Kipangula.

He noted that some individuals had voluntarily left the profession upon realising they did not meet the legal criteria.

“Some had academic backgrounds unrelated to journalism. Once they understood the legal framework, they opted to withdraw,” he explained.

However, Mr Kipangula declined to name those affected, citing incomplete data. “You can observe for yourselves. Some presenters and journalists are no longer active. We cannot definitively say all have exited due to accreditation issues; some may simply be on leave. But the issue is real, and we continue to urge compliance,” he added.

A radio presenter who spoke on condition of anonymity admitted that their station had been significantly affected after five of its most popular presenters were disqualified due to a lack of accreditation.

Commenting on the matter, the Journalists and Media Workers Union of Tanzania (Jowuta) secretary general, Mr Suleiman Msuya, said JAB’s actions would help strengthen professionalism, safeguard media freedom and restore respect for journalism as a regulated profession.

“To prevent unqualified individuals from claiming to be journalists, we must insist on professionalism. The ability to write, analyse or present content does not automatically make someone a journalist,” said Mr Msuya.

“As a union, we fully support efforts to raise standards in the profession. The law was enacted with a grace period to allow those without formal qualifications to upgrade, but some ignored the opportunity and are now in breach,” he added.

Mr Msuya also called on media owners to support staff who lack the required credentials by facilitating their enrolment in formal training, rather than relying solely on natural talent.

The crackdown has also raised concerns among media proprietors. The Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) chairperson, Mr Samwel Nyalla, warned that losing experienced personnel could affect content generation.

“When staff exit, it’s inevitable that content output may decline, especially if seasoned journalists and presenters are involved. Finding equally capable replacements is not easy,” said Mr Nyalla, adding.

“I believe a grace period should have been introduced to allow media practitioners to meet accreditation requirements while remaining employed. Dismissing someone from their job affects their livelihood, reduces tax contributions, and leads to the loss of valuable talent.”

The Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa) chairperson, Dr Kaanaeli Kaale, echoed these concerns, cautioning that the simultaneous loss of many experienced journalists could destabilise the sector.

She called for flexibility in enforcing the law and urged the government to provide a viable solution.

Dr Kaale proposed the introduction of short-term training programmes to help unqualified practitioners acquire certification without enrolling in full academic courses.

“My advice is to establish a special programme through which these individuals can obtain recognised certificates outside the regular academic calendar,” said Dr Kaale.

“This situation calls for wisdom. A targeted programme at a designated institution would enable many to become certified. Losing experienced journalists only to replace them with formally qualified but inexperienced individuals may not resolve the issue,” she said.

“Experience and education must go hand in hand. While experience is valuable, academic grounding is equally crucial. Without proper training, critical thinking suffers. A five-year grace period was provided, but many failed to make use of it,” added Dr Kaale.