Tanzania’smedia has been barred from covering the testimonies of victims and the relatives of those killed during theviolence which followed elections last October,a move critics say undermines the public’s right to information. Making the announcement recently, the acting chairperson of the Presidential Commission conducting the inquiry, former chief justice Ibrahim Juma, said the restriction was intended to protect the privacy of those giving testimony. Since the commission began its hearings across different parts of the country, hundreds of victims and relatives of deceased victims have presented harrowing accounts which have attracted significant public attention.
Juma said the widespread circulation of testimonies had exposed some victims to renewed trauma and persistent media intrusion, potentially leading to psychological stress and family tensions. But media analyst and former Tanzania Media Council executive secretary Kajubi Mkajanga questioned the decision, in an interview with German network DW. “I do not understand why the commission has taken this step, because these incidents occurred publicly.
Many people witnessed them, debated them and lodged complaints,” he said. Media organisations and press freedom advocates have criticised what they describe as a blanket restriction, arguing that while victim protection is essential, it should not undermine transparency and the public’s right to information. A senior editor at one of the country’s leading national newspapers warned that the decision risks eroding public confidence in the commission’s work.
Read Full Article on Mail & Guardian
[paywall]
We routinely protect the identities of vulnerable sources. A total ban creates suspicion and limits independent verification,” the editor said. While acknowledging the need to safeguard victims, the editor urged the commission to consider alternatives such as anonymised reporting, pooled media coverage, or the delayed publication of sensitive details.
“Accountability mechanisms work best when they are seen to be open and fair,” he added. Victims and relatives who have appeared before the commission have recounted cases of deaths, gunshot injuries, beatings, destruction of property and forced displacement linked to the 29 October protests and violence that followed the general elections which keptPresident Samia Suluhu Hassanin power.
[/paywall]
