The European Delegation in Tanzania has called upon Tanzania government authorities to deal transparently with the killing of David Mwangosi a journalist with the Channel ten TV station based in Dar es Salaam who was killed by the police over two weeks ago with a view to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. The European Head of Delegation in Tanzania, Ambassador Filiberto .C. Sebregondi made the call yesterday in Dar es Salaam in an interview when he and his delegation team toured the IPP Media group to see how the company is engaged in the production of newspapers, television and radio news. After a joint interview with both print and electronic media of the IPP Media he issued a statement that extended a heartfelt condolence to the deceased and fellow media professionals who was killed in a cold blood on 2nd September 2012 while covering an opposition event in Iringa town. He said that, the EU Delegation noted that while it is the right and duty of every government to take appropriate measures in order to preserve law and order, it is also the responsibility of the same organ to do so in a balanced and measured manner in order to avoid the use of excessive force and to safeguard the integrity of fundamental rights. However, he noted that, the EU Delegation has praised the government for the initial steps it has taken so far to serve justice over the killing including the arrest of a police officer. In view of this he has also called on the government to make every effort to promote the freedom of press to preserve freedom of expression. Meanwhile, there are three probing commissions already formed to investigate the real course of the death of the deceased journalist. There is a government probing commission of the Ministry of Home Affairs led by the Minister Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi, an investigating team from Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) and the police force which is being spearheaded by the Director f Criminal Investigation (DCI) Robert Manumba. Earlier, Ambassador Filiberto and his delegation team composed of over 20 people toured the Guardian Limited newsroom and met with long serving editors of the daily as well as weekly publications such as the Guardian on Sunday and Nipashe Jumapili. He was briefed on how the newspaper production is made from the procuring stage to production level when the newspaper is out.
This is how the police were doing at the time of the killing of the innocent journalist, Daudi Mwangosi who was bruised prostrate down when the police knew he is a journalist and was on duty reporting the anti-police riot who at that time were confronting members of an opposition party. It's very sad to look at
Apart from the production trend, the delegation team was also briefed of various challenges faced by the media on the course of their operation when they asked in order to get to know various challenges met by the media industry. In reply, the editor of the daily English Guardian newspaper, Wallace Maugo, briefed the delegation that the main challenges the media in the country has been experiencing is the how it’s bound with the Newspaper Act of 1976 saying that, it really haunts the editorial development when it comes to information dissemination. However, he couldn’t elaborate it into details but stressed in brief that, the media in the country has been seeking for the review of the Act but their efforts has ended up in vain. He also talked about the ethical practices and how they handle matters of arbitrations when solving issues related with the defamation or sedition through Media Council of Tanzania (MCT). “We are very much careful with unethical reporting in this profession, unlike others, we are sort of accountable and responsible media organization which cares for professionalism for the society’ he said. Later the delegation moved to the printing section and circulation department whereby the saw the modern machines installed for the printing of newspapers. A bundle of newsprints coiled in rolls of various sizes were seen ready close to the machines though the printing particulars were not yet in place. The delegation team also visited the electronic media of the company which deals with the news productions of the radio and television respectively. At the main ITV newsroom, the delegation team was received by the Managing Director in charge of both radio and television Ms. Joyce Mhavile and touring the entire house, were impressed by the way how TV programs are prepared. They were shown various programs some of which are related with the many activities that the European Union fund for the national development in the country. Such programs are like those discussing about women and children as well as issues that talks about infrastructures such as roads. ‘We are very impressive to see how the programs especially those of women and children are prepared, and others like artists’ programs” said one delegate from Djibouti. After a long tour of the entire industrial production from print and media of the IPP media group, the delegation cooled down for brief discussion with their hosts and exchanged different ideas with the visiting team. The information officer of the EU Delegation office in Tanzania, Emmanuel Kihaule said that, the visiting teams are information and communication officers working in various 25 Southern African countries for which the European Delegation is attached. The came to Tanzania to attend a one week seminar on issues related to the scrutiny of their African social and economic development programs. Tanzania receives Euro 100 million (Equivalent to over 200 billion) per year in its budget report in the country as a contribution from European Union to help facilitate various projects in rehabilitating infrastructure, water, agriculture and protection of natural resources. According to EU Delegation Ambassador Filiberto .C. Sebregondi , the money is used correctly.
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