News Details

#WenyeNchiWananchi  #KatibaMpya #ChangeTanzania 

Uhuru wa vyombo vya habari nchini ni mdogo mno. Kuanzia kipindi cha hayati Rais Magufuli Tanzania iliripotiwa kushuka zaidi katika uhuru wa habari ukillinganishwa na vipindi vya nyuma. Vyombo vya habari vya Tanzania vimekuwa vikikabiliwa na vikwazo vingi ambavyo vimeathiri ufanisi wao na ubora wa kazi. Hii imechangiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na sheria zilizotungwa kwanzia mwaka 2014 mpaka sasa ambazo ndani yake zina vipengele vinavyozuia uhuru wa vyombo vya habari. Kati ya sheria hizo zikiwemo; Sheria ya Mawasiliano ya Kielektroniki na Posta 2010, Sheria ya Upatikanaji wa Taarifa 2016, pamoja na Sheria ya Huduma za Vyombo vya Habari 2016.

Jamii yetu pia haijathamini uwepo wa waandishi wa habari kwani wengi wao hawapewi mikataba kuacha maslahi yao kuwa juu ya uamuzi wa mwajiri. Hii imepeleka wengi kupokea rushwa kwa kutokurusha taarifa za ukweli na zenye tija katika jamii. Serikali yetu haitaki kuona vyombo vya habari vilivyo huru. Tumeshuhudia kukamatwa na kuwekwa kizuizini kwa waandishi wa habari na polisi, waandishi wa habari kunyang'anywa vifaa vyao vya kazi, kunyanyaswa na kushambuliwa waandishi wa habari, vitisho na utekaji nyara kwa waandishi wa habari pamoja na kutekwa na kupotea kwa waandishi wa habari katika mazingira yasiyoeleweka, mfano mzuri ni Azory Gwanda ambaye toka Novemba 2017 mpaka leo hii hajulikani alipo. 

Vyombo vya habari vina jukumu muhimu katika maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kisiasa ya raia kwani hutoa habari nyingi. Ni jambo muhimu katika kukuza demokrasia na utawala wa sheria endapo tu itapewa fursa ya uhuru wa kujieleza na kufikisha ujumbe kwa wananchi bila kuonewa au kutishwa na mamlaka au vyombo vyovyote vyenye mamlaka ya kuzuia taarifa. kutoka kwa watu. Kuzuia upatikanaji wa taarifa kwa wananchi ni ukiukwaji wa haki za binadamu. Uhuru wa habari hauwezi kuwepo kama haijalindwa kikatiba. Hivyo kama wananchi bado tuna kazi ya kuhakikisha kuwa katiba mpya inapatikana ili kurekebisha mapungufu yaliyopo. 

#ChangeTanzania  

#WenyeNchiWananchi
#MariaSpaces  

ENGLISH VERSION

Freedom of the media in the country is very limited. From the reign of the late President Magufuli Tanzania was reported to have further decline in freedom of information and the media compared to previous periods. Tanzanian media have been facing many obstacles that have affected their efficiency and quality of work. This has been contributed to a large extent by the laws enacted since 2014 and that continue to exist. The laws enacted contain elements that restrict the freedom of the media, press and access to information. Among those laws include; The Electronic and Postal Communications Act 2010, the Access to Information Act 2016, as well as the Media Services Act, 2016. On the other hand, our society has also not appreciated the presence of journalists as most of them work under unfavorable work terms where many are not given employment contracts leaving their interests at the discretion of the employer.

This has led many to accept bribes in exchange to withhold information of public interest from reaching the public. Our government also does not want to see free and strong media existing in the country but rather one that praises it. We have witnessed the arrest and detention of journalists by the police, journalists being robbed of their work equipment, harassment and attacks on journalists, threats and kidnapping of journalists as well as the capture and disappearance of journalists in mysterious circumstances. A good example is Azory Gwanda whose whereabouts since November 2017 are unknown to date. 

The media plays a crucial role in the economic and political development of citizens as it provides a wide range of information. It is an important factor in promoting democracy and the rule of law only if it will be given the opportunity of freedom of expression and to deliver messages to the people without being oppressed or intimidated by the authorities or any entities that have the authority to prevent information from the people. Prevention of access to information to citizens is a violation of human rights. Freedom of information cannot exist if it is not constitutionally protected. So as citizens, we still have the task of ensuring that a new constitution is available to correct the existing shortcomings.

#ChangeTanzania  #WenyeNchiWananchi #MariaSpaces