African media leaders unite to strengthen press freedom

ARUSHA: ZANZIBAR President Hussein Mwinyi has praised the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) for honoring the first and second phase presidentsMwalimu Julius Nyerere and Ali Hassan Mwinyi for championing media freedom across the continent of Africa.

The awards presented on Tuesday during the Second Pan-African Media Councils Summit, organised by the Network of Independent Media Councils of Africa (NIMCA), at the Arusha international Conference Centre (AICC) are part of the MCT’s 30th anniversary commemoration.

The summit was officially opened by Vice- President Dr Philip Mpango on behalf of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. Dr Mwinyi, who received the Anniversary Special Recognition Award bestowed to his late father said thanked the council for recognising the late Mzee Mwinyi’s role in establishing MCT and championing media freedom in Tanzania.

“The family of the late President Mwinyi is proud of this award, especially as MCT celebrates 30 years since its founding,” Dr Mwinyi said. “This award encourages the use of media to promote development in Africa, as the media unites people to discuss issues that affect their lives.”

He also commended MCT Executive Secretary Mr Ernest Sungura for being elected the first chairperson of NIMCA, expressing hope that under his leadership, the African continent will achieve significant progress.

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Similarly, son of the Father of the Nation, Madaraka Nyerere, received a special award on behalf of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. The award recognised Mwalimu Nyerere’s efforts in acknowledging the media’s crucial role during the liberation movement in southern Africa and his commitment to environmental conservation.

“On behalf of our father and our family, we are grateful for this award, which symbolises the protection of media freedom and environmental stewardship,” Mr Madaraka said.

“Mwalimu Nyerere understood that media freedom is not a luxury but a vital need for society’s well-being.” Earlier, Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for creating an environment conducive to media freedom, which he said is vital for the media’s growth.

He further noted that the president had directed his ministry to clear all outstanding media debts to strengthen the sector’s economic capacity, a process currently underway.

“The government will continue to collaborate closely with media stakeholders through MCT to ensure the public’s right to information is upheld,” Prof Kabudi said. NIMCA Chairperson and MCT Executive Secretary Mr Ernest Sungura called for unity in addressing the media’s challenges across Africa.

“One of NIMCA’s goals is to combine forces and implement strategic, alternative solutions to revive the media’s economic strength, which is quickly diminishing,” Mr Sungura said.

“The challenges facing African media require a united voice to protect media freedom and enable the media to fulfill its role of reporting, exposing wrongs and educating society while adhering to ethics and professionalism.” UN Country Representative Ms Suzan Namondo described the summit as a testament to the continentwide commitment to meaningful policy dialogue on journalism, press freedom, and communication, highlighting the media’s crucial role in Africa’s sustainable development.

UNESCO Assistant Director for Communication and Information Dr Tawfik Jelassi noted the media sector’s struggles with misinformation, public distrust and underrepresentation of marginalised groups, urging urgent action.

“Without facts, there is no truth; without truth, there is no trust; and without trust, there is no shared reality upon which, society can act,” Dr Jelassi stated.