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Nape tasks media to spark productive debates

DAR ES SALAAM:MINISTER for Information, Communica- tion and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye has called on media stakeholders to develop a culture of sparking debates and various progressive agendas to spur the country’s development.

He also challenged the media to restore the system of setting up discussion platforms that used to allow leaders to respond to various burning issues on development fronts.

Mr Nape made the call yesterday, while winding up the second media sector devel- opment symposium in Dar es Salaam.

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He said that the two -day session was productive as media practitioners voiced their views on how to improve the performance of the media industry in the country.

Mr Nape said the symposium’s spill effects must be felt immediately for the benefit of the country.

“Let’s create platforms that will bring leaders to the discussion especially on matters related to the development of the nation,” Minister Nape said.

Minister Nape said that the information sector is important in bringing about a real economic, social and political revolution by educating the people well, so that they make well informed decisions, realise their responsibility and con- tribute to the prosperity of the nation.

“Media is capable of changing the state of our country’s economy, we can also decide to change the way our nation conducts its politics, because we have the power to remove something we don’t want and instill something we want instead in the country,” he said

He said that for the two days they spent at the symposium, the media practitioners have built the strong foundation for the information sector and that is the direction that President Samia Suluhu Hassan wants the ministry to implement.

Regarding the proposal to amend 12 sections in the Media Services Act of 2016, he said that the ministry had already discussed with the media stakeholders and agreed on why it is im- possible to change them.

Speaking earlier, Chief Government Spokesperson, Mr Thobias Makoba, who also doubles as the Director of Information Services, MAELEZO said that some positive outcomes have been registered at the symposium, including President Samia’s directive to ensure institutions and ministries with outstanding debts to media house to settle them by December this year.

He added that they agreed that the media should ensure that they have an alternative source of income instead of relying on advertisement to protect, strengthen and develop the media economy.

Mr Makoba also said “The symposium also agreed that in the forth- coming local government election, all media outlets should provide equal space and airtime to all political parties.”