'Proposed media services law raises fresh concerns among stakeholders'

MEDIA practitioners and other stakeholders have urged the government to give them more time to review the Media Services Bill of 2016 before it is tabled in parliament amid growing concerns that it will give the state draconian powers to muzzle the press and grossly undermine media freedom in Tanzania.
The country currently has the most dynamic media industry in east Africa in terms of outlet numbers and media concentration, but local journalists fear that
the proposed new law will seriously infringe on their rights as professionals and the right to information in general. 
Representatives of at least seven media industry stakeholder groups are now requesting that the tabling of the bill is delayed for at least three more months to allow for further consultations on its more intimidating clauses.
Among other things, the proposed new legislation calls for the establishment of a state-run Journalists Accreditation Board which will maintain a roll of accredited journalists and have powers to suspend, fine and “expunge journalists from the roll” for non-compliance.
It also proposes to give the Director of Information Services (MAELEZO), police officers and other state agents powers to seize any equipment of a media house deemed to be contravening the law. 
The minister responsible for information shall also have powers to “prohibit or otherwise sanction the publication of any content that jeopardizes national security or public safety.”
Journalists who are convicted of committing some of the offences under the proposed law would face fines of up to 20 million/- or jail sentences of up to five years, or both.
Meeting with the parliamentary committee on Social Development and Services here yesterday, the media stakeholder group reps declined to offer their opinions on the bill on the spot, citing lack of inclusive consultation beforehand.
Committee chairperson Peter Serukamba had to postpone the meeting to tomorrow, but gave the stakeholders just one week to do their consultations and submit a shared opinion on Wednesday next week.
The group comprised representatives from the Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Media Institute of Southern Africa–Tanzania (MISA-TAN), Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), and Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).
They later told a press conference that they don’t have any problem with the bill itself, but need more time to involve a larger group of stakeholders including those in the rural areas.
“We need the law even today, but it should be all inclusive by involving all stakeholders, and since some media practitioners have not been reached, there is need for more time” said Pili Mtambalike from MCT.
She noted that since there are a lot of things in the bill that will affect media practitioners strongly, there should be no rush to push it through.
Even the formation of MCT was achieved through a long process, and since the government understood the importance of the council, it granted all the time needed, Mtambalike said.
MOAT representative Henry Muhanika argued that the bill should be tabled in February “after we have done a complete consultation which will involve experts to review it and see if it complies with the policy and the real situation on the ground.”
According to TEF deputy chairman Deodatus Balile, a group of different media stakeholders met in September and agreed that the views of more practitioners should be incorporated in the bill, since the government consulted only a few media players based in Dar es Salaam.
“We called for a time extension so that we can reach other partners on the ground, including the rural-based media practitioners” Balile said.
He pointed out that while the current Newspaper Act of 1976 has been operational for four decades, the proposed new law will embrace a digital era that did not exist in those days and could be here to stay for at least another 100 years - hence the need to avoid any shortcomings from the outset.
TLS president John Seke also called for wider consultations within the media fraternity and involvement of practitioners in the regions, noting that the issues involved will directly affect their operations for years to come and the government’s own notice was very short.
On his part, UPTC president Deogratius Nsokolo noted that although there are 27 regional press clubs with over 2,000 members countrywide, not even half of them have even seen the bill.
Some of the parliamentary committee members, including Kigoma Urban MP Zitto Kabwe (ACT-Wazalendo) and Mbeya Urban legislator Joseph Mbilinyi (CHADEMA), supported the media stakeholders’ call for more time to consult, although chairperson Serukamba was insistent on a deadline of just one week.