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2007 Assessment

Tanzania: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Tanzania: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Media
Indicators		Score
5	Are media and free speech protected?	100
6	Are citizens able to form print media entities?	63
7	Are citizens able to form broadcast (radio and TV) media entities?	63
8	Can citizens freely use the Internet?	88
9	Are the media able to report on corruption?	75
10	Are the media credible sources of information?	70
11	Are journalists safe when investigating corruption?	100

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are media and free speech protected?

5a: In law, freedom of the media is guaranteed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Article 18 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 Cap 2 (R.E. 2002) as amended by Act No. 1 of 2005

[ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: Article 18 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania guarantees freedom of expression, although Article 30 is taking away that freedom.

Peer Review Comments: Even though the freedom of media is guaranteed, the government recently made attempts to introduce restrictions to public access to information (i.e., the media) through The Rights to Information Act of 2007. The Act was meant to support the freedom of the media, but in its draft form it contained controversial legal provisions that would have restricted the right to obtain information.

5b: In law, freedom of speech is guaranteed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania

[ LINK ]

Are citizens able to form print media entities?

6a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to form a print media entity.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: I think the government has not imposed any obstruction in formation of a media entity. That's why we can see the mushrooming of newpapers every now and then.

6b: In law, where a print media license is necessary, there is an appeal mechanism if a license is denied or revoked.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Media Institue of Southern Africa, African Media Barometer Tanzania [ LINK ]

Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Act 203, Section 34

[ LINK ]

6c: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a print media license within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Media Institute of Southern Africa, African Media Monitor [ LINK ]

6d: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a print media license at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Media Institute of Southern Africa African Media Barometer [ LINK ]

Are citizens able to form broadcast (radio and TV) media entities?

7a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to form a broadcast (radio and TV) media entity.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Media Institute of Southern Africa, African Media Monitor [ LINK ]

7b: In law, where a broadcast (radio and TV) media license is necessary, there is an appeal mechanism if a license is denied or revoked.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Tanzania Communications Regulatory Act of 2003 [ LINK ]

7c: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a broadcast (radio and TV) media license within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Media Institute of Southern Africa, African Media Monitor [ LINK ]

7d: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a broadcast (radio and TV) media license at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Media Institute of Southern Africa, African Media Monitor [ LINK ]

Can citizens freely use the Internet?

8a: In practice, the government does not prevent citizens from accessing content published online.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

8b: In practice, the government does not censor citizens creating content online.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Are the media able to report on corruption?

9a: In law, it is legal to report accurate news even if it damages the reputation of a public figure.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Newspapers Act of 1976, Article 43

[ LINK ]

9b: In practice, the government or media owners/distribution groups do not encourage self-censorship of corruption-related stories.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: Censorship of corruption-related stories is highly encouraged among some media houses. In essence, the government is the major advertiser in the media, so some media owners would rather refine stories likely to jeorpardize income.

9c: In practice, there is no prior government restraint (pre-publication censoring) on publishing corruption-related stories.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 24, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Are the media credible sources of information?

10a: In law, print media companies are required to disclose their ownership.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Newspaper Act. of 1976

[ LINK ]

10b: In law, broadcast (radio and TV) media companies are required to disclose their ownership.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Broadcasting Services Act Cap 306

10c: In practice, journalists and editors adhere to strict, professional practices in their reporting.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: In Tanzania, journalism ethics are there, but seldom followed due to the nature of the media industry and lack of a proper and mandatory regulatory body. The Media Council of Tanzania is toothless. Therefore, matters related to ethical transgressions are often resolved through mediation between parties.

10d: In practice, during the most recent election, political parties or independent candidates received fair media coverage.

Score:

100

Comments: State media tend to devote more space and time to the ruling party during campaigns. The privately owned media, on the other hand, tend to be more balanced.

The situation in Zanzibar is worse, with state media bias being more blatant and with stricter government controls on private media also inhibiting free and unbiased reporting.

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: I totally disagree with this indicator; there has never been fair media coverage on independent or political parties in recent elections. The scenario was such that the state media organs tended to side with the candidate from the ruling party.

10e: In practice, political parties and candidates have equitable access to state-owned media outlets.

Score:

100

Comments: There is a general bias toward the ruling party in state media. This is much more pronounced in Zanzibar, where state media consistently favor the ruling party's campaign and are more likely to put a negative spin on coverage of the campaign of the strong Zanzibar opposition, the Civil United Front.

References: Salvadore Rweyemamu Then director Media Institute of Southern Africa Tanzania July 5, 2006, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: State media has been giving preferential treatment to the candidate from the ruling party, known as Party of the Revolution (CCM-Chama Cha Mapinduzi).

Are journalists safe when investigating corruption?

11a: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been imprisoned.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no journalists imprisoned related to work covering corruption during the study period. A YES score is positive. NO: A NO score is earned if any journalist was jailed because of his/her work covering corruption during the study period. The causal relationship between the official charges and the journalist\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the journalist was imprisoned due to his or her work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007

Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

11b: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been physically harmed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007

Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: No journalist suffered physical harm, but an editor with This Day tabloid had his car window panes smashed and had a laptop computer containing sensitive corruption information stolen. Threats of physical harm were issued to the same institution through mobile phone messages .

11c: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been killed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of journalists being killed because of their work covering corruption-related issues during the study period. A YES score is positive. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases where a journalist was killed in relation to his or her work covering corruption-related issues in the study period. The relationship between a mysterious death and an individual\'s work may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is a reasonable guess that a person was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007

Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania