Four Print Media Outlets, that were banned under the Previous President John Magufuli Regime, have been allowed to resume circulation again.
The newspapers, all printed in the local Kiswahili language, include, Tanzania Daima, Mwanahalisi, Mawio and Mseto. Only Tanzania Daima used to be a daily publication (albeit a popular one at that), the other three were weekly
Tanzanian Government, through the country’s Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye, is also reviewing the proposed Media Service Act of 2016 which was supposed to go into effect this year.
The new act, described to be draconic stiffling freedom of information had previously attracted complaints from various members of public.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Tanzania welcomed the decision of the Tanzania government to lift a ban on the four publications.
The Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr. Nape Nnauye, also pledged to appoint a team comprising government officials and media practitioners to jointly review the Media Services Act of 2016, with a view to amending the regressive legislation.
The publisher of Mawio newspaper, Mr. Simon Mkina, when speaking to MISA applauded the government’s decision.
“It’s important to ensure that all voices are heard by allowing progovernment media to exist side by side with media outlets that are seen to be critical of the government. Media diversity is of paramount importance,” said Mkina, whose Mawio newspaper was suspended for 6 years before lifting of the ban.
MISA-Tanzania’s position is that they are urging all authorities and stakeholders to remove all restrictions on media outlets and allow journalists to operate freely.