Minerals
producing countries in Africa including Tanzania are loosing between $50
million and $80 million per year of its wealth in extractive industry which is
being taken away by foreign investors. It has been learnt. The senior Regional
Adviser of the Revenue Watch Institute, Silas Olan’g disclosed this yesterday
in Dar es Salaam with a call insisting journalists to continue exposing the
mischief which continues to hamper the industry in the country. Olan’g issued
the call when addressing senior journalists and editors at a function whereby 9
senior journalists were handed over certificates of participation after
successfully completed a 3 month intensive fellowship programme on specialized
reporting on extractive industries. The programme was organized by tne Tanzania
Media Fund (TMF) aimed at empowering senior journalists in the country with
knowledge and professional skills for investigative journalism. Those awarded
with the certificates of participation with their media organizations in
brackets includes John Bwire (Raia Mwema), Felix Mwakyembe (Raia Mwema), Esther
Mvungi (Uhuru Publications). Others are Jaston Binala (Freelance), Sidi Mgumia
(The African), Shermarx Ngehemera (The African), Namsembaeli Mduma (Habari Leo),
Deo Mushi (The Daily News), and Saidi Mmanga (Changamoto) Elaborating the
losses incurred by these countries, Olan’g who was the guest of honour made it
clear that, poor policies and bad contracts entered are the main source of
problems caused by many African governments, an aspect which paves the way for
the investors to continue exploiting local resources. He said African governments have poor
leadership code and this is the reason why the management policies targeted for
developments are not in good order. However, he wonders why Tanzania has a
plenty of wealth and yet is regarded as a poor country, he queried and called
upon journalists to be the watchdog in order to help solve the problem. On his
part, TMF’s Director Erest Sungura said that, his organization has pledged to
continue helping media professionals in the country by providing more fellowship
programs.
He noted that, TMF plans to organize a programme on illegal
trafficking of Illicit drugs. He said the trainings would give an highlight of
investigative skills to journalists pursuing issues related with illegal trade
of illicit drugs and other factors which would enable them understand the
concept into details. In another development, a veteran media professional and
a programme mentor, Atilio Tagalile blamed the editors for not taking
appropriate decision of favoring their journalists’ report writings of the
investigative news. Tagalile is on the view of the fact that, some editors were
not cooperative enough with the reports submitted by senior journalists who
underwent the programme. He said that, the attitudes mostly shown by some
editors in some newsrooms are not so paramount and encouraging, but rather
discouraging their reporters who does TMF’s programmes. However, he also
outlined the challenges faced during the programme and noted that, there is a
problem of language barrier as mot Tanzanian journalists lacks proper
understanding of the English language while pursuing their stories of
extractive industry. Another mentor of the programme, Joseph Mwamunyange also
gave his concern and insisted cooperation between newsmen and newsroom editors
into bringing efficiency. He also called on the proficiency in English language
while running the programme. Mwamunyange observed that, most journalists rely
on getting translation which to some extent looses the whole meaning of the
subject matter.
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