RC Kalembo issued the advice in 2010 in his opening remarks at a meeting organized by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) to how different media in the country reported investigative stories in the 2010 general election.
He said some regional reporters were blamed for writing unbalanced stories, but said most problems were largely being contributed by poor working conditions they faced in the line of their duties.
However, the survey conducted by this paper in two regions of Iringa and Mbeya has revealed that there is still a public outcry from journalists on poor working conditions they face in their line of duties.
Some of the reporters interviewed by this paper in the said regions above revealed that there is an unfriendly working condition they encounter when doing their job, which makes them, not to be objective but subjects to the news sources.
They said they were poorly paid and sometime not paid and have not been given some working tools.
They said that some of their media owners have not laid down proper procedures on them to make them work effectively due to lack of contracts and not paid for the long time.
While in Mbeya region, this paper talked to the Mbeya district attorney (Mwanasheria wa Wilaya), Prosper Msivala who blamed the journalists for their inconsistence when doing their duties, by citing an example of one of reporter of Swahili daily newspaper (name withheld) for misinterpretation.
Msivala said that the journalist one day attended the house of councilor meeting (baraza la madiwani) and misquoted him (lawyer) during the session, by saying that lawyers attires (uniforms) cost 500,000 Tzs per month instead of yearly.
He said the way the journalist reported was totally wrong and cited that was due to poor working conditions journalists face, especially those in the upcountry.
He said that he was planning to sue the reporter to court for misinterpretation of which tarnished the image of his department.
But, this reporter advised the district attorney not take the journalist to court instead he should make sure that he talks to editors about it so that they can apologize through the same newspaper and on the same page.
“Media owners and editors should provide upcountry reporters with facilities to enable them to report objectively and enhance professionalism,” he said.
However, the former Tanga Regional Commissioner Said Kalembo appreciated work done by the media in the 2010 general election and reminded the Tanzania Information Services Department (Maelezo) to support regional journalists in the next elections.
“Think of a situation whereby the Regional Commissioner pays for reporters’ meal allowances and accommodation. Will the same reporter dare revealing the RC’s irresponsibility?” asked Kalembo
MCT executive secretary Kajubi Mukajanga said the meeting was aimed at evaluating how media reported investigative stories in that year (2010), saying the council under United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) earlier trained reporters on the effective election reporting.
He noted that the meeting provided attendants with the opportunity to exchange ideas and experience.
“The project started in July, 2010 and trainings were provided in four zones in the country. Beneficiaries were both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar journalists…We are here to evaluate its success and failure,” said Mukajanga.
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