Nchimbi to push for new information law
By MASEMBE TAMBWE, 19th January 2011 @ 11:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 143
THE Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, has pledged to push for the stalling Right to Information Act whose process started in 2007.
"I am very optimistic that as long as everyone plays his/her part, all will be well and I promise to work closely with both the media owners and media council in seeing through the new law," Dr Nchimbi said.
Speaking during a familiarisation meeting held in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday with the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and the Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), Dr Nchimbi said that the government would work together with the two parties to revive the process.
Earlier, the Tanzania Information Services Assistant Director, Mr Raphael Hokororo, had informed the meeting that the new law would incorporate the media policy which is currently at the Cabinet Secretariat level.
Mr Hokororo said that the draft bill had passed the ministerial level and that afterwards the policy would be returned to stakeholders who will debate on it and remove and add what they feel is appropriate.
"Since the Common Market was passed and will come into effect in June this year, there is a need to incorporate the issue of how Tanzanians will enter the EAC in the media sector," he said adding that the draft had reached advanced stage.
The MOAT Chairman, Mr Reginald Mengi, whilst explaining his expectation of the new minister said that for the new law to be good and effective there was need for stakeholder involvement throughout the process especially at the final stage.
Mr Mengi said that they were all very confident in Dr Nchimbi and believed that the minister would transform the media fraternity in the country.
He however wanted the minister to clarify on the issue of who is the official spokesperson of the government particularly now where there have been instances where ministers openly oppose each other in public.
"There is need for the public to be educated that not everything that is said by a minister or priest is news and journalists need to use their judgments and sieve what they report for the good of our nation," he said.
The MCT Executive Secretary, Mr Kajubi Mukajanga, said the current media laws need to be overhauled and put in place a new law that allows for a win-win situation to the media, the government and the public.
Africa Media Group representative, Hamza Kasongo also stressed the importance of the new law, saying it will enhance quality journalism.
Dr Nchimbi also praised MCT for its work of mediating and conducting dialogue amongst aggrieved parties, advising them not to wait for people to complain but should rather act on those going against the laws using amicable means instead of the law.
