The government has stated that it will continue to collaborate with media outlets in the country to ensure they operate with freedom and professionalism as the 2025 General Election approaches.
This statement was made today, February 13, 2025, by the Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, while opening the Tanzania Annual Broadcasters’ Conference, a two-day event taking place in Dodoma.
"I assure you that the ministry I lead will provide you with all the support you need to bring positive outcomes in the fields of media, culture, arts, and sports," said Prof. Kabudi.
He emphasized that the government, under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, continues to address various challenges facing the media sector and assured that his ministry will offer the necessary support to ensure that media houses contribute positively to the nation.
Prof. Kabudi also stressed the importance of media outlets providing content that benefits society rather than focusing solely on entertainment. He reminded journalists to uphold professionalism and avoid spreading misleading information.
During the conference, organized by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), stakeholders in the media industry discussed the role of broadcasters in promoting rights, equality, and professionalism as the country prepares for the general election.
Prof. Kabudi further urged broadcasters to use proper and standard Swahili, rather than distorting the language and diminishing its fluency.
"Media outlets have a huge responsibility in educating the public, but we have witnessed improper usage of Swahili. It is your duty to restore the dignity of our language," he said.
For his part, TCRA Director General, Dr. Jabir Bakari, stated that the conference provides an opportunity for broadcasting stakeholders to discuss challenges in the industry and come up with strategies to improve broadcasting services in the country.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson, Grayson Msigwa, reminded journalists to exercise great caution in using modern technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to ensure that the information published, or broadcast does not mislead the public.
The conference will continue until February 14, 2025, where various topics concerning the future of the broadcasting sector in the lead-up to the October 2025 General Election will be discussed.
