Veteran journalists set for accreditation return

DODOMA: VETERAN journalists previously excluded under the accreditation system are set to be reintegrated into the formal media framework through special guidelines developed by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports.

Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, announced the move while presenting the ministry’s budget estimates for the 2026/27 financial year in Parliament.

He said the guidelines provide a legal pathway for recognising and certifying the competence of experienced journalists through a special assessment based on their experience, professionalism and ethical standards.

“The Ministry, through the Journalists Accreditation Board, has prepared special legal guidelines to enable veteran journalists affected by the accreditation system to return to the formal framework, in accordance with the Information Services Act, Chapter 229,” he said.

The accreditation system was introduced under the Information Services Act to promote professionalism in the media sector by establishing a formal regulatory framework.

Mr Makonda said that between July 2025 and April 2026, the Journalists Accreditation Board received 4,139 applications through the Tai Habari system, with 3,357 journalists meeting the legal requirements and receiving accreditation.

During the same period, 14 cases of professional misconduct were handled.

He also highlighted efforts to support young selfemployed media practitioners through concessional loans, implemented in collaboration with the Tanzania Culture and Arts Fund.

“In this regard, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has allocated 20bn/- to the Culture Fund, with 2bn/- already disbursed as loans to online content creators to help them acquire equipment and improve production,” he said.