Tanzanian Media warned against misuse of press freedom   

DODOMA: TANZANIAN President Samia Suluhu Hassan said while the country has made significant strides in promoting freedom of the press and freedom of expression, the government will not hesitate to take firm action when media outlets are misused, especially when such misuse threatens national peace or disrupts public security.

Speaking in Dodoma today, June 27, 2025, during the official closure of the 12th Parliament, President Samia announced that the government has so far issued a total of 1,068 licenses to various media institutions. These include 356 newspapers and magazines, 247 radio stations, 68 television stations, 325 online radio and TV platforms, and 72 blogs.

“Today, information is right at our fingertips. We cannot run away from technology. The government does not censor or pre-approve media content before publication because we trust that media practitioners are sufficiently professional,” said President Samia.

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She added that the government believes media freedom is a pillar of democracy, and has therefore continued to support media outlets in educating the public, fighting social ills, and promoting accountability.

President Samia further noted that the government has amended the Media Services Act of 2016 along with its regulations, to improve the working environment for journalists. In addition, the government has introduced the Samia Ink Awards to recognize journalists who produce development-focused stories.

However, the President warned that misuse of media freedom will not be tolerated, and the government will continue to take appropriate legal action against those who use media platforms to endanger national peace.