PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has issued nine key directives which will enable government communication officers to strategically reach out to the public on their institutions day-to-day activities.
Such directives are aimed at making them become creative and fill the information gap between the public and what is happening in their government, so that people can effectively take part in the development of the country.
According to him, the officials bear the role of ensuring the public is aware of all the plans and implementation of the government by productively and timely disseminate information.
“When carrying out strategic communication, you should know your targeted audience, objective, its importance and expectation of the communication…this also involves employing the proper channels of disseminating the information,” said Mr Majaliwa, during the 18th working session of the Tanzania Association Government Communication Officers (TAGCO) held in Dar es Salaam.
Likewise, he reminded them on the need to issue knowledge and accurate information to the public on the importance of implementing specific government projects, plans and activities, saying this was crucial in pushing forward the government agenda.
He, equally, urged them to take into account the freedom to receive and disseminated information in accordance to the legal framework, insisting that all stakeholders should meet their obligations.
The list included effective utilisation of social media in increasing access, prioritising patriotism, integrity, freedom and the country’s welfare and being innovative in pushing further the government agenda rather than waiting for others to do it for them.
The Premier also encouraged them to develop careers as well as embracing the changes that come due to science and technology in promoting government work through various digital platforms.
“The knowledge and skills which will be acquired through the working session should be employed to advise your supervisors in releasing information to the public,” noted the PM, while also stressing that the achievement recorded by the government needs to reach to the public, therefore every institution needs to implement strategic communication in bringing about desired results.
Along with the directives to the communication officers, the PM also ordered for Permanent Secretaries, District Executive Directors and public institutions to ensure local government authorities, regional secretariats and ministries, to see it crucial to employ communication officers as per the institution’s establishments.
Also, he urged them to allocate enough budget to cater for the activities of disseminating information to the public effectively as well as build capacity for its information and communication experts for them to be able to embrace new media technologies in executing their roles.
And, he demanded the executives to engage the Communication Officers in all activities relating to projects and other day to day activities, so as to offer technical advice in promoting their implementation.
Mr Majaliwa called upon the administration in ministries and institutions to prioritise engagement of communication officers in various meetings including management to help them to move with the institution pace and acquire knowledge on its plans.
On his part, Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology Mr Nape Nnauye, the organisers of the event, indicated that the meeting was attended by over 600 government communication officers from the mainland and Zanzibar.
Mr Nnauye said that in further transforming the information sector the ministry was currently in the final preparation stages of the National Communication Strategy, which will outline the process of accessing and disseminating government information to the public as well as the preparations of the Risk Communication Strategy and National Branding Strategy.
“Upon its finalisation, the strategy will bring about a major revolution in the information sector and build the foundation of managing dissemination of information, which carries national agenda. Likewise, put in place tactics and technology of disseminating, synthesising and distributing information,” he said.
He noted that through the strategy, the information officers will be in a position to fully participate in management meetings to know what is happening.
As such transform the way the government communicates with the public including doing away with bureaucracies, underscoring the major reforms carried out for the betterment of the sector.
Besides, Mr Nnauye said that TAGCO has presented an award to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in recognition of her outstanding work in aspects of promoting democracy and media freedom through her 4Rs strategy (Reconciliation, Resiliency, Reforms and Rebuilding of the nation).
Earlier on, the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Tulia Ackson urged the communication officers not to hold information on account of confidentiality, in issues that even do not require for such application. She said that the public depended on them (the communication officers) to obtain accurate and timely information.
