Tanzanian Association Oslo

Primer Minister Pinda

salutes media for firm

`watchdog` role

’’Everybody in government is now on extra
alert lest they get caught in the corruption trap’’


THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda, acknowledged yesterday that the local media’s watchdog role has succeeded in instilling a sense of fear among corrupt government officials who are now dreading being exposed by investigative newspapers.

The PM said in continuously monitoring government performance and holding public leaders and other powerful interests accountable for their actions, the media has indeed turned out to be a deterrent against grand corruption in the real sense of the word.

Speaking to editors of various local mainstream media outlets in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Pinda paid tribute to the media for its efforts so far in this pursuit.

He said in this way, much has been done to ensure that government officials are now more afraid than before of dabbling in graft openly, for fear of public exposure through the media.

However, he also conceded that the media could play this watchdog role even more effectively if government officials do not try to make key information difficult to the point of (in some cases) impossible to obtain.

’’The media has succeeded in keeping the government on its toes everybody in government is now on extra alert lest they are caught in the same trap (of corruption),’’ the premier stated.

He cautioned government officials at all levels to stop blaming the media, which he described as vital in promoting good governance, and instead strive to remain clean and responsible.

The premier said it was the government’s responsibility to deal with corruption culprits once exposed within its ranks, as per the country’s laws.

He also announced plans by the Prime Minister’s Office - which coordinates all government ministries to start giving regular briefings to the media on various topical government matters.

To begin with, he said he would meet with editors every three months - starting next month (June) or at any time considered appropriate to clarify on important issues in the spirit of transparency.

’’I believe in the media as a tool of passing government information on to the wananchi,’’ Pinda said.

But at the same time, the premier challenged editors to make sure they continued to abide by the journalistic code of ethics, particularly that which stresses that any reported news must be backed up by truth.

’’I have gone through your ethics and I appreciate that it’s a credible practice which, if followed by all journalists, would make everybody including we in government -comfortable,’’ he said.

He called on local media to also be conscious of national interests, and endeavour to avoid reports that may put such interests and even national security at risk.

Meanwhile, Premier Pinda told the editors that the government is still finalizing certain preparations before taking much-awaited action on the recommendations of the parliamentary committee that investigated the Richmond power generation scandal.

’’Everything is ready all that is left are a few final details for the process to begin. In a country like ours that respects the rule of law, we must take time to properly check everything before giving any final verdicts,’’ he said.

He was responding to a question from one local journalist regarding the latest status of the government’s promise to work on the Richmond parliamentary probe committee recommendations within the next few weeks.

According to the premier, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals has already been directed to look into the legal implications of terminating the controversial Richmond-Dowans power deal, as recommended by the parliamentary committee.