The Citizen Scribe scoops top energy reporting award as Mwananchi named most reliable newspaper

Dar es Salaam. Mwananchi newspaper has been named Tanzania’s most reliably available publication, while The Citizen’s Julius Maricha clinched the 2025 Samia Kalamu Award for Best Reporter in Clean Cooking Energy Reporting.

The honours were handed out on the night of May 5 by President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a ceremony organised by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (Tamwa) in partnership with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

In addition to Maricha’s win, Mwananchi’s Juma Issihaka was among the finalists in the prestigious category of Tanzania’s Most Outstanding Journalist.

Addressing journalists after the award presentation, President Hassan reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to progressively build the capacity of the media sector by identifying and resolving its structural challenges.

“The government stands with you. As our capacity expands, we are ready to engage, understand the obstacles you face, and address them so that the media sector can thrive,” she said.

The Head of State observed that press freedom in Tanzania continues to grow, but urged journalists to exercise it with a deep sense of patriotism.

“Freedom of the press—speak, analyse, critique—but always with patriotism. This is your birthplace, your origin, and your ultimate home. Even when you go abroad and face difficulties, it is Tanzania that rallies to bring you back. Tanzania is your father, your mother—everything. Let us cherish it deeply,” President Hassan said.

She emphasised the importance of timely and accessible information for citizens and called for closer support to community-based media, including rural radio and television outlets, which play a vital role in reaching marginalised populations.

“Mainstream media can publish freely, but in remote areas, local language communication is often more effective than Kiswahili or other national languages. Community media can help us reach farmers, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens with relevant political and social information,” she said.

President Hassan also called for more data-driven reporting, citing economic growth figures as an area that requires clarity for the average reader.

“If you say the economy has grown by 5.5 percent, what does that mean? How does it affect a low-income farmer or a rural youth? That’s your task—to interpret the numbers for the public,” she said.

She further urged the use of correct Kiswahili in broadcast and print journalism, arguing that language clarity strengthens public understanding and national identity.

Turning to technological change, President Hassan noted that advances in ICT have transformed the media landscape, including the proliferation of online television stations and the growing use of smartphones in news consumption.

“These developments should drive efforts to provide accurate, real-time information to citizens—on prices, markets, innovation, and productivity. Such information is critical for government, the private sector, and the public,” she said.

She added that informed decision-making depends on credible reporting, and that the government relies on strong journalism to support governance and accountability.

President Hassan reiterated that these developments come at a time when Tanzania is pursuing its long-term goal of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2050.

She noted that the country’s population is expected to reach 140 million by then, with half comprising young people.

“To reach that goal, we need transformative planning and mindset shifts. Journalists have a major role to play in shaping attitudes, helping citizens understand what is expected of them, and communicating the country’s vision,” she said.

President Hassan criticised the past tendency of some media outlets to publish content that damaged the country’s reputation.

“In the past, some articles undermined the nation. Today, more stories are constructive, factual, and promote Tanzania’s progress. Constructive criticism is welcome—when things are not right, they must be reported so that appropriate action can be taken,” she said.

However, she cautioned against Tanzanian journalists being used to disseminate negative narratives abroad, noting that some global outlets avoid publishing stories that harm their own countries.

“Some journalists are lured by minor incentives to provide content to foreign outlets like the BBC. When your country’s shortcomings are aired globally, how does that feel? Let us reflect on that,” she said.

Commenting on the award process, Tamwa chairperson Joyce Shebe said 1,131 entries were submitted by journalists nationwide.