President Mwinyi urges scribes to focus on national interest issues

Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi has urged members of the media fraternity to put forward national interest in the course of discharging their duties.

Dr Mwinyi said that if journalists stick to the code of conduct guiding their profession and be patriotic they will make a better contribution in bringing development, peace and stability.

Addressing editors, journalists, government officials, diplomats, donor agencies and media partners at the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday under the theme ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights’ the President said without adhering to journalist code of conduct, the industry can dim development efforts and even endanger peace, unity and international solidarity.

“You are the witness of the great dangers some countries in the world have faced after journalists failed to follow the principles of their professions and entered into provocative propaganda that has become a source of chaos,” Dr Mwinyi said.

He added: “When we celebrate World Press Freedom Day, we must realize that there is no freedom without limits and there is no freedom without responsibility… so when we celebrate this day we must also realize the importance of being patriotic to our country.”

Dr Mwinyi applauded the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology for their efforts in promoting media freedom urging them to continue in overseeing them in order to carry out their duties in accordance with the rules and regulations that have been established.

He, however, reminded the media fraternity that the World Press Freedom Day should be used as an opportunity to put a strong emphasis on freedom of expression within the overall agenda of human rights.