Media Viability in East Africa: Tanzania - Media Futures East Africa
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
March 2021
Media Viability in
East Africa: Tanzania
Media Futures
East Africa
Supported byii
© Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications
Prepared by:
Joyce Bazira, Abdallah Katunzi, Rose Kimani, Hesbon Hansen Owilla and Njeri Wanjiru
Edited by:
George Gathigi and Ann Hollifield
Reviewers:
George Mutalemwa and Julia Wegner
In the context of:
The Media Futures EA Project
Implemented through:
Aga Khan University - Graduate School of Media & Communication (AKU GSMC)
DW Akademie
Supported by:
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW)
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit & Entwicklung (BMZ)
Recommended citation:
Media Innovation Centre. (2021). Media Viability in Tanzania. Graduate School of Media and
Communications, Aga Khan University and DW Akademie.
*The order of researchers who prepared this report is alphabeticaliii
Executive Summary
The media landscape in Tanzania is diverse and NMOs’ access to technology, audience’s access to on critical reporting by the media (Katunzi & Spurk,
vibrant. This diversity as of March, 2020 included technology, digital expertise and citizens’ digital 2020).
183 radio stations, 43 TV stations, 229 newspapers rights. Lastly, content indicators include: content
The legal regime has fairly restrictive laws including
and magazines in mainland Tanzania (Katunzi & quality, journalism expertise and NMOs’ ownership,
fairly restrictive and punitive legislative frameworks
Spurk, 2020) and 22 blogs and online news sites. business structures, competencies and business
on the cyber spaces and laws that cap foreign media
In recent times, internet penetration has grown to expertise.
ownership at 49 percent. Further the laws limit
37.60 percent in the country (Internet World Stats,
Politics continues to play a major role in Tanzania’s private and commercial investment in the media,
2020), further diversifying information sources in the
media dynamics. In the period of the fifth president and restricts training directed to media by foreign
country.
(2015-2021), the late John Pombe Magufuli, there entities. The Access to Information Act, 2016 has
This national level media viability analysis of the were increased incidences of the government very expansive provisions on access to government
Tanzanian media is guided by the DW Akademie banning or suspending newspapers and radio and public information, but the implementation
Media Viability Indicators (MVIs) covering the stations, as well as raiding or fining NMOs for has been problematic. Together, these restrictions
broad topics of politics, economics, community, publishing or broadcasting content deemed critical constrain media plurality, diversity and growth.
technology, and content (Deselaers, James, Mikhael, of the government (MCT, 2019a). Authorities have
NMOs in Tanzania are highly concentrated in urban
& Schneider, 2019). Politics deals with the rule of law, also passed new legislations and enforced existing
areas partly due to the dearth of purchasing power
freedom of expression, access to information, legal laws that repress independent reporting and
among the rural populations. The steep decline in
equality, and media within society. The economic restrict the work of media, civil society and political
advertising income occasioned by competition
indicators analyse national economy, financial opposition groups. As a result, freedom of expression
from social media platforms and digital advertising
stability of News Media Organisations (NMOs), and of media in Tanzania declined sharply in the
channels, including tech giants like Google
financial independence of NMOs, competition, same period. This has affected public discourse, as
and Facebook, has also affected the financial
and audience demand for quality journalism. The members of the public no longer air their political
performance of most traditional media. The
community indicators include: citizen education, views freely, avoid political discussions altogether,
situation has not only led to media houses scaling
social cohesion, trust and credibility, participation and instead, prefer to discuss less controversial
down their operations but has also compromised
and audience data. The technological indicators topics such as sports. The media too has not been
their independence and stability. As NMOs’ financial
are: production and distribution of resources, spared as the state uses national security to rein in
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSIONiv
position has weakened, the government has digital sources, traditional media continue to the reach of most NMOs. There are also factors such
increasingly used its own advertising buys to whip be an important part of the citizens’ lives, and as skills gaps, low internet penetration in rural areas,
the media into pushing government agenda, a audience data indicate that Tanzanians consume limited access to digital devices and low awareness
situation that has significantly compromised media news content mostly from print media, radio and regarding the benefits resulting from technology
independence. Generally, the media is struggling television outlets (Katunzi & Spurk, 2020). Audiences, use (Spurk & Katunzi, 2019).
for viability as the low audience demand for quality especially those in rural areas, view the media as an
Finally, the socioeconomic and political conditions
media does not sufficiently sustain a competitive entity tasked with promoting unity and cohesion.
and media capture in Tanzania influence media
media ecosystem. The struggle is further heightened They credit the media with supporting government
content, journalistic quality and robust public
by the high investments in production of premium policies, including facilitating literacy campaigns
engagement (Powell, 2017). The quality of content
content on the digital platforms and the dearth and discussions on social issues such as health and
is further affected by the capacity of journalist,
of monetisation opportunities for such premium elections. However, the level of trust in the media
media houses reliance on fewer sources and news
content. is on a decline, with the public having notably less
media content characterised by fewer viewpoints
trust in social media sources than in traditional
The Tanzanian audience has a high literacy (Katunzi & Spurk, 2020). Going forward, the financial
sources of news content.
level, and is fairly media literate, and majority of challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
Tanzanians perceive the media as an important An examination of the ways in which Tanzania’s and the attendant impact on the quality of content
ally of the state in development matters. Although media sector interacts with technology reveals that will be major issues of concern as media houses
there is increasing consumption of content from technological resources are inadequate and beyond work around the new political dispensation in
Tanzania.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSIONv
Table of Contents
Executive Summary................................................................ iii 3.0 Community......................................................................16
List of Abbreviations..................................................................................................... vi 3.1 Citizen education .................................................................................................. 16
List of Figures............................................................................................................... vii 3.2 Social cohesion ..................................................................................................... 17
3.3 Trust and credibility............................................................................................... 17
Overview: The Media Industry in Tanzania................................ 1 3.4 Participation .......................................................................................................... 18
3.5 Audience Data ....................................................................................................... 19
Methodology........................................................................... 2
4.0 Technology.......................................................................20
1.0 Politics.............................................................................. 3 4.1 Production and distribution resources............................................................... 20
1.1 The state of rule of law in Tanzania....................................................................... 4 4.2 News media organisations’ access to technologies.......................................... 21
1.2 Freedom of Expression ........................................................................................... 5 4.3 Audiences access to digital technology.............................................................. 21
1.3 Access to Information ............................................................................................. 7 4.4 Digital expertise..................................................................................................... 21
1.4 Legal Equality .......................................................................................................... 8 4.5 Citizens’ digital rights ........................................................................................... 22
2.0 Economics........................................................................11 5.0 Content............................................................................24
2.1 National Economy................................................................................................. 12 5.1 Content quality...................................................................................................... 24
2.2 Financial Stability of News Media Organisations............................................... 12 5.2 Journalism Expertise ............................................................................................ 25
2.3 Financial Independence of News Media Organisations.................................... 13 5.3 News Media Ownership......................................................................................... 26
2.4 Competition ........................................................................................................... 14 5.4 News Media Organisations’ Business Structures and Competencies............. 27
2.5 Audience demand and quality of journalism .................................................... 14 5.5 Business Expertise ................................................................................................ 28
Conclusion............................................................................29
References............................................................................31
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSIONvi
List of Abbreviations
AMB Africa Media Barometer RSF Reporters Sans Frontieres
BRELA Business Registrations and Licensing Agency EAC East African Community
CCM Chama cha Mapinduzi SADC Southern African Development Community
CHADEMA Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo TADIO Tanzania Development Information Organisation
DIS Director of Information Services TAMWA Tanzania Media Women’s Association
EPOCA Economic and Postal Communications Act TCRA Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority
FES Friedrich Ebert Stiftung TEF Tanzania Editors Forum
ISD Information Services Department THRDC Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition
JET Journalist`s’ Environmental Association TMF Tanzania Media Foundation
LHRC Legal and Human Rights Centre TPDF Tanzania People’s Defence Force
MCL Mwananchi Communications Limited TSN Tanzania Standard Newspaper
MCT Media Council of Tanzania UDSM University of Dar es Salaam
MIL Media and Information Literacy UNDP United Nations Development Programme
MISA Media Institute of Southern Africa UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation
MNH Muhimbili National Hospital UTPC Union of Tanzania Press Clubs
MVI Media Viability Indicators URT United Republic of Tanzania
NMO News Media Organisations WPFI World Press Freedom Index
PFVR Press Freedom Violation Register
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSIONvii
List of Figures
Figure 1: Numbers of newspapers, radio and TV in Tanzania and Zanzibar....................................... 1
Figure 2: Overall World Justice Project (WJP, 2020)........................................................................ 3
Figure 3: National economy (World Bank, 2019)............................................................................11
Figure 4: Literacy Rate (UNESCO, 2020).......................................................................................16
Internet Penetration (World Internet Stats, 2020)..........................................................................20
Figure 6: Weighted Prices for internet bandwidth (Telegeography 2019b as cited in Trade and
Investment Global Practice, Africa Region, 2020)..........................................................................21
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION1
Overview: The Media Industry in Tanzania
Tanzania is the union between Tanganyika (Tanzania Zanzibar, there are 25 radio stations, 12 TV stations Zanzibar
Mainland) and Zanzibar, an island in the Indian and two newspapers (Interview with TCRA officials).
Ocean Tanzanian archipelago. While Tanganyika got Apart from the growth of traditional media, the
its independence in 1961, Zanzibar got hers in 1964. country is also witnessing growth in internet Radio
On April 26, 1964, the two countries merged to form
the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar,
which was later renamed the United Republic of
penetration which now stands at 37.60 percent
(World Internet Statistics, 2020). The current research
team established that as at March 2020 there were
25
Tanzania in October 1964. 22 blogs and online news sites in Tanzania.
The history of media in Tanzania goes back to 1888 Digital technologies have expanded the range of
when Msimulizi (The Storyteller) newsletter was sources of information available to Tanzanians, TV
12
established in Zanzibar (Sturmer, 1998). Today, the with online multimedia content being the fastest
media landscape in Tanzania is diverse and vibrant growing source of news. In addition to digital
with 183 radio stations and 43 TV stations (Katunzi native news organisations, most newspapers, radio
& Spurk, 2020). The print sector is the most diverse stations and TV channels are present online and
in East Africa; Katunzi and Spurk note that there use social media to reach more people. M-Papers, a
are 229 newspapers and magazines in Tanzania digital newsstand, allows members of the public to
Mainland, 78 percent being privately owned and the subscribe to electronic versions of newspapers and Newspapers
2
rest owned by the government and its parastatals. In magazines.
Newspapers Radio TV
229 183 43
Tanzania
Figure 1: Numbers of
newspapers, radio and TV in
Tanzania and Zanzibar
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION2
Methodology
The goal of this report is to provide an overview beginning in 2015. The indicators and sub indicators researchers used document analysis, a qualitative
of the news media landscape and operating are based on research on news media economics, research procedure that systematically analyses
environment in Tanzania. Such an overview provides management and sustainability, existing national and examines text, reports and data in order to elicit
a foundation for understanding the institutional assessment tools published by credible world meaning, gain understanding and develop empirical
and structural context in which Tanzanian news organisations and NGOs, and in consultation with knowledge (Gross, 2018; Bowe, 2009). The MVIs
media organisations (NMOs) and professionals journalism researchers and professionals around provided a framework for the systematic analysis
work. The authors used DW Akademie’s Media the world. The indicators were field tested in of different documents and reports published by
Viability Indicators (MVIs) index as the framework for February 2019 before being published. different reputable organisations to generate this
gathering relevant data for this report on national- report. In general, however, the report is not based
This report provides an overview of the media
level factors that affect news media performance in on the structured interview-based methodology
landscape of Tanzania using the structure and
Tanzania (DW Akademie, 2019). recommended by DW Akademie for a full MVI
variables outlined in the MVIs and, where applicable,
assessment (DW Akademie, 2020).
DW Akademie developed the Media Viability some of the specific measures where those measures
Indicators index over a period of four years, in the MVIs use third-party assessments. The
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION3
1.0 Politics
News Media Organisations (NMOs) operate within to a constrained civic space. The Political Parties government has often been adversarial. Since 2015,
political and regulatory frameworks that have (Amendment) Act (2019) has further clawed back on the Tanzanian government has banned or suspended
significant impacts on their organisational viability. If the right to political freedom by giving the registrar of newspapers and radio stations; raided them or
they are to perform their watchdog role of informing political parties, a government appointee, immense fined them for publishing or broadcasting content
the citizenry, NMOs are dependent on the existence powers over political parties. This powers also deemed critical of the government (MCT, 2019a).
and enforcement of laws at the national and local include granting the ruling party, CCM, the powers The government has also arbitrarily arrested and,
levels that protect free expression, and guarantee to punish perceived dissident politicians and their in some cases, levelled trumped up charges against
access to government information. The overall political parties. journalists, activists, and opposition politicians
rule of law, when respected and enforced, affords perceived to be government critics. Authorities have
The constrained civic and political space has not
the public the freedom to not only freely express also passed new legislation and enforced existing
stopped the media and politicians with divergent
themselves, but to also be informed by independent laws that repress independent reporting and restrict
views from playing a major role in Tanzania’s
and free institutions. the work of media, nongovernmental organisations
socioeconomic and political scene, and in recent
and political opposition groups.
Tanzania has a two-tier political and legal system, years the relationship between the media and the
with a legislative framework that governs the 0.45
entire country and a second one that is specific Kenya
to Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania as separate
entities. According to the Legal and Human Rights
Centre (LHRC), Tanzania is a multi-party democracy 78/128 120/128 69/128 101/128 119/128 89/128
and since the introduction of the system in 1992
(LHRC, 2018), the independence party, Chama Tanzania 0.47
Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, in English The Party of the
Revolution) has held power, enjoying majority status
in the National Assembly.
Constraints on Government Powers 72/128 81/128 105/128 105/128 78/128 94/128
The right to participate in the political sphere has
Absence of Corruption
been constrained in the past few years. In the 2018 0.40
Tanzania Human Rights Report, LHRC (2018) noted Open Government Uganda
that there have been arbitrary restrictions on the Fundamental Rights
rights to civic participation, including freedom of Order and Security
expression, freedom of assembly and freedom Regulatory Enforcement 105/128 125/128 102/128 117/128 113/128 106/128
of association, which have, in turn, affected
participation in the political space and contributed Figure 2: Overall World Justice Project (WJP, 2020)
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION4
1.1 The state of rule of Restrictive laws that continue to hinder effective NMOs, private companies and individuals in Tanzania
realisation of freedom of expression include the are regulated on the digital sphere and the law
law in Tanzania
Media Services Act of 2016, the Cybercrimes Act of stipulates the extent of digital liability and rights. The
The rule of law in Tanzania for the past four years can 2015, and the Electronic and Postal Communications Government, through TCRA passed The Electronic
be described as undefined and frustrating. According (Online Content) Regulations of 2020. The existence and Postal Communications (Online Content)
to the LHRC (2020) report, the situation of freedom of and implementation of these laws continue to Regulations 2018, later amended to Electronic
expression continues to slightly deteriorate, owing contribute to a shrinking civic space in Tanzania. and Postal Communications (Online Content)
to the existence and implementation of restrictive Arrests and/or detention of journalists reported in Regulations, 2020 with the view to regulating online
laws; bans on, and suspension of media outlets; and 2019 include that of Erick Kabendera and Joseph content. The regulation states that social media
arbitrary arrests and/or detention of journalists. The Gandye. Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition users are responsible and accountable for the
media in Tanzania have also witnessed an increase (THRDC) documented one additional arbitrary information they publish on social media, while
in rhetorical attacks by the authorities, who have arrest reported in the period between January and bloggers and internet forums are also accountable
also increased their harassment of opposition September 2019 in Legal and Human Right Centre for the content on their websites. Content providers,
parties and human rights defenders. These factors (LHRC, 2020). by law, are now required to have mechanisms in
have negatively affected Tanzania’s performance place to identify sources of their content and, when
Cases of malicious arrests and, in some cases,
in Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press needed, to cooperate with the authorities to identify
disappearance of journalists have increased in
Freedom Index 2019; the country dropped 6 places users’ identities.
Tanzania, and it is commonplace for elite government
to position 124 in 2020 in the world rankings with a
officials to storm media houses and intimidate
score of 40.25 percent (RSF, 2020).
journalists. Amnesty International notes that the
The World Justice Project (WJP, 2020) gives Tanzania August 2019 arrest of journalist Erick Kabendera was
a Rule of Law Index rank of 0.47 on its scale of 0 to a travesty of justice, as the charges that were levelled Cases of malicious
1, where 1 indicates the strongest adherence to the against him were politically motivated to stop him arrests and, in some
rule of law. Tanzania ranks 93 globally out of 128 from exposing the political divisions within the ruling cases, disappearance
countries. The WJP index shows Tanzania ranking party (Amnesty International Report, 2019). Joseph of journalists
72/128 globally on Constraints on Government Gandye was also arrested in August 2019, ostensibly have increased in
Power; 81/128 on Absence of Corruption; 105/128 on to stop him from exposing police brutality, while Tanzania, and it is
Open Government; 105/128 on Fundamental Rights; investigative journalist, Azory Gwanda, who went commonplace for
78/128 on Order and Security; 94/128 on Regulatory missing in 2017, is yet to be found. The Government elite government
Enforcement; 76/128 on Civil Justice; and 81/128 on of Tanzania seems to be unbothered about the officials to storm
Criminal Justice (WJP, 2020). whereabouts of Gwanda, who was exposing gang media houses and
killings (Ng’wanakilala, 2019). intimidate journalists.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION5
1.2 Freedom of Expression on Political or Other Sensitive Topics without Fear and -- whereas in the past, people discussed politics
of Surveillance or Retribution, Tanzania scores 1/4 openly next to newsstands or around bus stops
Various human rights and media landscape
(Freedom House, 2020). The government is neither -- the subjects of discussion have in the last few
reports indicate that the situation of freedom
open nor transparent and scores 1 out of 4 on the years changed from politics to football or religion.
of expression and of the media in Tanzania has
question How the Government Operates with The report further indicates that even social
continued to deteriorate. RSF (2020), for instance,
Openness and Transparency. media conversations have become well-guarded,
notes that Tanzania under the late President John
especially with new laws that hold the moderators
Pombe Magufuli has had a precipitous decline in According to Freedom House (2020), government
of discussion forums responsible for member-
protections for freedom of expression since 2015. surveillance through neighbourhood-level CCM
generated content. In the run up to the 2020
RSF’s (2020) World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) ranks cell structures, enactment of draconian laws and
general elections, internet services in Tanzania were
Tanzania 124 out of 180 countries, a drop in ranking electronic surveillance have curtailed civil liberties
disrupted with a partial to total shutdown of popular
by six places, and a score of 40.25 percent, which is and political rights. All these factors have instilled
social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp
an increase in score of +3.97 compared to 2019. A a sense of fear among the citizenry, who are
and YouTube (Ssessanga, 2020). Critics blamed the
score of zero is the best and 100 the worst, and an apprehensive of expressing their personal views on
shutdown and its attendant high economic cost
increase in score in the WPFI index means the level political matters and sensitive issues.
implications on the late President John Pombe
of freedom available to journalists in a country has Besides the media and journalists, Africa Media Magufuli’s disdain for the internet which he claimed
fallen and this has been the case in Tanzania since Barometer (AMB, 2019) reports that members of the was not conducive for his government’s delivery of
2015. public are unable to freely express their opinions development to Tanzanians. A government official
WJP (2020) scores Tanzania at a 0.43 out of 1 for who remained anonymous is cited by Ssessanga
Protections for Freedom of Expression, 0.46 for Right as saying the shutdown of the internet during
to Information and 0.47 for Rule of Law Index (where the elections was sanctioned by the government
0 indicates the lowest amount of freedom, and 1 the (Ssessanga, 2020), ostensibly to muzzle freedom of
highest). expression by individuals on popular social media
sites.
Freedom House ranks Tanzania’s status as Partly
Free with a score of 40/100, which is a reduction from
45/100 in 2019 (Freedom House, 2020). Tanzania also
ranks low at 17/40 on Political Rights and 23/60 on
Civil Liberties. Tanzania ranks lowest in East Africa on According to Freedom House (2020), government surveillance through
the Presence of Free and Independent Media, with a neighbourhood-level CCM cell structures, enactment of draconian laws and
score of 1 out of 4, while on the question of whether electronic surveillance have curtailed civil liberties and political rights. All these
Individuals are Free to Express their Personal Views factors have instilled a sense of fear among the citizenry, who are apprehensive of
expressing their personal views on political matters and sensitive issues.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION6
increasingly difficult to get sources willing to express legislative terms used in the regulations, continued
their views, a situation that has led to reduction of with the imposition of licensing for any right to
viewpoints, especially on politics. According to the publish online without justification. For news and
report, even ministers and senior public officials, current affairs content, the regulation imposes
because of the restrictive political environment, are both application and licensing fees that add up to
increasingly reluctant to speak to the press (Katunzi approximately US$480 for a period of three years.
& Spurk, 2020). The regulation further requires fairly high annual fees
payment and renewal of the license after three years
Unsurprisingly and as a consequence of the dearth
(see the breakdown under legal equality), limiting
of freedom of expression, critical features, analyses,
publication of content on the digital platform for
commentary and opinions have all but disappeared
many, especially young people. Non-compliance is
from newspapers; and in the increasingly shrinking
a criminal offence.
political space, journalists have turned their
attention to subjects considered less sensitive. The Cybercrimes Act (2015) continues to impede
Investigative journalism has also suffered, with fewer free expression and privacy rights. A number of
projects examined every year and both investigative individuals have been charged under this Act and
Enacted legislations have continued to hinder reporting and media coverage generally limited to most notable in the recent past is the December,
the freedom of expression. These include the urban centres (AMB, 2019). 2016 arrest of co-founders, Maxence Melo and Micke
Online Content Regulations, 2020 under the William of the popular whistleblowing and online
Enacted legislations have continued to hinder the
Electronic and Postal Communications Act discussion website JamiiForums who were charged
freedom of expression. These include the Online
(2020) that provides discretionary powers to under the Cybercrimes Act for failure to comply with
Content Regulations, 2020 under the Electronic and
license internet-based content found on blogs, a police order to disclose the identity of platform
Postal Communications Act (2020) that provides
online television and digital radio with fairly users.
discretionary powers to license internet-based
punitive penalties like imprisonment for up to
content found on blogs, online television and digital The LHRC (2020) report shows that in January 2019,
ten years and content removal.
radio with fairly punitive penalties like imprisonment the regulatory authority, TCRA fined five television
Katunzi and Spurk (2020) found that there was for up to ten years and content removal. The Online stations a total of TSh. 60 million ($27,000) for
a marked decline in political reporting in the Content Regulations, 2020 also imposes further broadcasting a press conference by the LHRC in
Tanzanian media as sources including government restrictions that Article 19 (2021) notes fails to protect which the organisation accused the government
ministers are apprehensive of appearing on record. and promote freedom of expression. An analysis of security forces of abuses during the November 2017
The report further notes that most news reports the 2020 regulation by Article 19 indicates that it by-elections. The regulator argued that the content
are single sourced stories because it has become has expanded the categories of prohibited content, was ‘seditious’ and contrary to the broadcasting
broadened filtering requirements, failed to define regulation.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION7
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA, 2019) the freedom of expression as per various reports 1.3 Access to Information
report indicates that between September 2017 and include: The Media Services Act, 2016; Access to
While efforts have been made to promote access
June 2019, Tanzanian media and human rights Information Act, 2016 and the Statistics Act, 2015 as
to information, the full realisation of this right
organisations reported more than 40 cases of amended in 2019. THRDC (2018) has also recorded
continues to be a significant challenge. After years
intimidation, harassment, suspensions, closure and various incidences of limiting the civic space through
of media and human rights advocacy, Tanzania
fines of media, arrest and detention, abductions imposition of hefty fines to five media outlets (ITV,
finally passed an Access to Information Act in 2016.
and disappearance of journalists in the country. Channel Ten, EATV, Star TV and Azam 2), attack of
Despite many progressive clauses contained in the
MISA’s findings suggest that most of the identified journalists, and arbitrary arrest of more than 20
Act, accessing information has not been any easier
violations were committed by government HRDs from January to November 2017.
(AMB, 2019).
authorities, particularly the Police, the Ministry of
In a nutshell, the freedom of the media in Tanzania
Information, Arts and Sports officials, and unknown The enactment of the Act was intended to
has been on a decline in the last six years. This
persons. Between 2017 and 2018, over 35 journalists operationalise Article 18 of the Constitution of the
decline has been occasioned by enactment of
were harassed, abducted, threatened, warned, United Republic of Tanzania (1977), but this has not
several legislations used to charge journalists, a
arrested and temporarily detained by the police. been the case. The Act provides that government
situation that has essentially led to self-censorship
officials and private actors must be available to
Additionally, the findings indicate that in the and dearth of critical reporting by journalists who
provide information to NMOs on a fair and equitable
years 2017 to 2018, over 34 people were arrested, find it hard to get sources on record. Moreover, the
basis, but there have been some limitations with
temporarily detained before appearing in courts political environment has also made it difficult for
the application and jurisdiction of the law (THRDC,
of law, and charged under the Cybercrimes Act top government officials and the citizenry at large
2018). This law mainly applies to Tanzania Mainland
(2015) for running unregistered and unauthorized to express themselves freely and this has further
and not Zanzibar, even though the constitution
online media platforms. Other laws that infringe on constricted the public sphere.
refers to the United Republic of Tanzania (URT).
The Act also spells out a long list of exempted
information. Some of these exemptions are not
justifiable as they are against Article 18 of the URT
Constitution. For instance, Article 6(2g) exempts the
For instance, Article 6(2g) exempts the government from government from giving access to information if the
giving access to information if the disclosure of such disclosure of such information is likely to hinder or
information is likely to hinder or cause substantial harm cause substantial harm to the government. However,
to the government. However, the definition of “Substantial the definition of “Substantial harm” remains in the
harm” remains in the hands of the government and thus hands of the government and thus can be used at
can be used at will. will. Similarly, Article 6(3d) of the Act has no proper
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION8
guidance to what “foreign relations or foreign 1.4 Legal Equality Services Regulations 2017, only Tanzanian citizens
activities” mean and thus provides loopholes that are allowed to have a 100 percent shareholding
The enactment of media regulatory laws like the
make it possible for the government to hinder access stake. The maximum cap for foreigners is 49 percent,
Media Services Act, 2016, and the subsequent
to information. The excessive vagueness of section and the rest must be owned by Tanzanian nationals
Media Services Regulations, 2017, has made
6(3)(f) also makes it difficult to access information (RSF, 2018).
the business environment for the private sector
in certain situations such as projects related to the
difficult. All newspapers were required to register In addition, for foreign donors to support media
military and businesses whose major shareholder is
afresh. Similarly, in preparation for presidential organisations with civic education programmes,
Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF).
elections in 2020, media houses broadcasting public awareness on elections, and capacity
The Access to Information Act and its resultant foreign content were required to re-register and building of journalists, the Registrar of Political
regulations make it obligatory for governmental gain additional permission (DW, 2020). In general, Parties must provide approval as per the Political
meetings, hearings, and press conferences to be media houses that have foreign investors like Parties Amendment Act (2019). Section 5(A)(1) of
accessible, but some government institutions are Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), owned this Act spells out that the registrar may disapprove
still denying the media access, using the vagueness by the Nation Media Group (NMG) whose principal of any donor support. The same provision of
of different sections and exemptions in the act to shareholder is his highness the Aga Khan, find the Political Parties (amendment) Act 2019 also
justify their exclusion. This dearth of access and themselves in difficult positions. Under the Media applies to journalists involved in any activities that
transparency in government dealings explains why incorporate political parties, their programmes and
WJP (2020) scores Tanzania poorly on Publicised getting funds from abroad.
Laws and Government Data (0.24/1) and the Right to
The Twaweza (2017a) report has raised exceptions
Information (0.46/1).
with these restrictions noting that even though the
law seeks to protect Tanzanian media and democracy
from undue outside interference, the Declaration of
Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa makes
it clear that limitations of this kind should not be
so stringent as to inhibit the development of the
media. Twaweza (2017a) argues, and rightly so, that
Under the Media Services Regulations 2017, foreign funding brings investment, expertise and
only Tanzanian citizens are allowed to other benefits, and has suggested an assessment
have a 100 percent shareholding stake. The of investment levels in the media industry to avoid
maximum cap for foreigners is 49 percent, foreign domination, while balancing the need to
and the rest must be owned by Tanzanian attract funding and expertise from abroad to the
nationals (RSF, 2018). media industry.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION9
The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online the media by starving media houses critical of Renewal fee
Content) Regulations, 2020, provides for mandatory the government of advertising revenue, while Tshs 1,000,000
registration and licensing, including registration channelling the same to media houses that are
of bloggers, which is not in line with international supportive of the government agenda. It is therefore
standards on freedom of expression. The regulations safe to argue that the government in Tanzania has,
also require payment of registration fees, license through legislation and control of the government
fees and annual fees. Regarding online content advertising, established an environment in which
services, the Second Schedule of the Regulations the media in Tanzania rarely run with views that are
sets the application fee at Tshs. 100,000 (43.24 USD); in competition with the government position.
initial license fee at Tshs. 1,000,000 (431.96 USD);
It is therefore safe to conclude that the media in Annual license fee
annual license fee at 1,000,000 (431.96 USD); and Tshs 1,000,000
Tanzania has been targeted with fairly restrictive
renewal fee at Tshs. 1,000,000 (431.96 USD). With the
legislative frameworks that are different from the
above requirement, stakeholders like LHRC (2018),
other sectors of the economy. Some of the legal
Twaweza (2017a), THRDC (2018), MISA (2019) and
demands that seem stringent for media business
MCT (2017) have argued that the fees are exorbitant
include restrictions on foreign investments and the
for most Tanzanians and deprive potential new
recently enacted laws like Electronic and Postal
bloggers of the right to exercise their freedom of
Communications (Online Content) Regulations
expression on the internet, thereby limiting the flow
(2020), Media Services Regulations (2017) and
of ideas and information.
Political Parties Amendment Act (2019) which when Initial license fee
Operation of newspapers to a large extent depends looked at collectively make very exorbitant financial Tshs 1,000,000
on advertising, but the Media Services Regulation, demands for media business and at the same time
2017, has introduced a new restriction on obtaining restrict financial investments and capacity building
advertisements from government agencies. The activities by non-Tanzanians.
regulations further stipulate that the director of
the Information Services Department (ISD) will be
the government advertising agent. This requires
Stakeholders have argued that the fees are
government ministries, departments, agencies, Application fee
exorbitant for most Tanzanians and deprive
Local Government Authorities as well as projects Tshs 100,000
potential new bloggers of the right to exercise
with over 50 percent Government funding to channel
their freedom of expression on the internet,
their advertisements through the Director of ISD.
thereby limiting the flow of ideas and
To this end, the government ends up controlling
information.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION10
1.5 Media within Society Currently, there are a number of professional
associations such as the LHRC, MCT, THRDC, MISA
The surveillance function of the media and the
- Tanzania and Twaweza that are advocating for
watchdog role in Tanzania’s socio-political and
the rights and safety of journalists. There are also
economic environment has created hostility between
groups of individual lawyers working with these
the media and government officials. Twaweza
organisations to file cases challenging various
(2017b) reports that across East Africa, between
laws and regulations that infringe on the rights of
2014 and 2017, citizens have generally supported
journalists or their organisations. A typical example
media freedom more than they have supported
is the case that was filed before the African Court on
government control of the media. However,
Human and People’s Rights to challenge a number
compared to Kenya and Uganda, Tanzanians seem
of provisions of the Media Services Act, 2016. The
to support government control of the media with a
East African Court of Justice, a regional court, ruled
majority (58%) of the citizens in the Twaweza survey
in March 2019 that the Media Services Act, 2016 was
agreeing that the government should have the
against protocols of the East African Community
right to stop the media from publishing things the
(EAC) treaty (LHRC, 2019).
government considers harmful to society. Moreover,
Tanzanians were found more likely to agree that too These findings indicate that the media in Tanzania
much negative reporting can harm the country as seem to face challenges, exacerbated to some
32% of Tanzanian citizens in the survey supported extent by a society that seems to be supportive of
this view compared to 28% in Kenya and 24% in the government’s clamp down on the media. The
Uganda. society does seem to support efforts to cut down on
Twaweza (2017b) reports that across East
negative reporting and are to some extent complicit
While incidences are known to exist, there is very Africa, between 2014 and 2017, citizens
to the intimidations, violence and threats meted
limited reporting on organisations or individuals have generally supported media freedom
on journalists. The efforts by different civil society
who threaten or injure journalists. An MCT (2019a) more than they have supported government
and media development organisations appear to
investigation mentioned lack of trust in the law control of the media. However, compared
be pushing for the rights of journalists in a society
enforcement agencies, delays in completion of to Kenya and Uganda, Tanzanians seem to
where the civil space has been limited by the
investigation of existing cases and the feeling among support government control of the media
restrictive political environment.
journalists that the authorities either abet or are with a majority (58%) of the citizens in the
complicit in the cover up of the violations. One or Twaweza survey agreeing that the government
two cases have been reported where police officers should have the right to stop the media from
faced criminal charges for attacking journalists and publishing things the government considers
killing journalists. harmful to society.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION11
2.0 Economics
The economic health of the nation is a critical factor Tanzania is a member of both the East African The relatively high cost of newspapers and data, limits
in news media viability. The strength of the local Community (EAC) and the Southern African access to newspapers and online content for poor
economy and the distribution of wealth across the Development Community (SADC). It has an economy rural and marginalised communities (AMB, 2019).
population affects the citizens’ ability to buy news that encourages private enterprise combined with The migration to terrestrial digital broadcasting has
media products and the devices through which economic planning and regulation by the central also added an extra burden as many households
news content is distributed. A thriving consumer government. have been forced to invest in set-top-boxes. In
economy is necessary for a thriving advertising terms of advertising expenditure, Tanzanian media
The media landscape in Tanzania continues to
market, which makes access to news affordable operate in a very competitive environment where
be diverse and highly competitive, offering the
for consumers at all socioeconomic levels. News the pool of advertising revenue is not sufficient to
population a wide range of sources of news and
media organisations (NMOs) need diverse, stable, support a diverse media industry. According to the
entertainment (AMB, 2019). Most media companies
and sustainable revenue streams as a protection African Media Barometer (AMB, 2019) community
are concentrated in urban areas, especially Dar es
from forces that seek to influence editorial radio stations are funded by advertising from
Salaam, even though the majority of the population
decisions and to provide the resources needed to municipalities and businesses, as well as UNESCO
(70%) lives in rural areas. Higher amounts of
produce high-quality journalism. There must be and other donors. Organisations such as UNESCO
disposable income among the people in urban
enough competition among news organisations to have also partnered with journalism schools to build
areas and the likelihood to spend on media products
encourage journalistic excellence, but not so much the capacity of community radio journalists through
compared to the rural populations, may be one
that audiences for individual media houses become e-learning programs and mentorships (AMB, 2019).
factor influencing this.
too small to be financially sustainable.
4,521.50
2,770.70
2,284
1,816.50 1,750
1,122.10 1,080
794,341 780
GDP GDP per 95,503 35,165 63.177
capita
GDP per GNI per
capita, PPP capita Kenya Tanzania Uganda
Figure 3: National economy (World Bank, 2019)
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION12
2.1 National Economy 2.2 Financial Stability of have also avoided news outlets that are critical of the
government. This practice has not only constricted
The World Bank classifies Tanzania as a lower News Media Organisations
the market, but also led to inequalities in the
middle-income country (World Bank, 2019), a Reports from AMB (2015) and MCT (2019b) show a distribution of advertising revenue throughout the
higher ranking from the low-income country in 2018 decline in advertisement revenue, a situation that industry (AMB, 2019), a situation that has negatively
(Battaile, 2020). The GDP is estimated at $63.177 has seen national news media struggle to sustain affected financial stability of independent media.
billion and the GDP per capita 1,122.1. The country’s operations due to reductions in advertising revenues.
GNI per capita is $1,080 while the GDP Per capita, The State of the Media Report 2017 (MCT, 2017) further
The changing media environment has caused stiff
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is $ 2,770.70 as per established that a changing media environment and
competition from entrants who have leveraged on
the World Bank report for 2019 data (World Bank, the fast-growing online communication are also
the digital platform, while the current economic
2020). responsible for the dramatic decline in newspapers’
situation in the county has seen most media
advertising. The shift in newspaper readership from
Despite a sustained average economic growth rate organisations struggle to survive. Furthermore, the
hard copy publications to online articles continues
of 6-7 percent every year, the economic situation same reports indicate that many media houses have
to affect advertising trends as major advertisers
in Tanzania does not support a strong advertising been forced to lay off employees, while others are
are attracted to social media platforms such as
market (MCT, 2017). Moreover, the advertising struggling with payment of salaries.
Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Blogs, which
budget spend and allocations by corporates, The advertising market has shrunk over the guarantee wider exposure at low cost.
governments, non-governmental organisations and years, leaving only a handful of major advertisers;
individuals have significantly reduced. The situation There is a glimmer of hope as some media
notably the telecommunications, brewery and
is said to have worsened with the coming to power organisations have developed various revenue
banking companies. Worse still for some private
of the fifth government towards the end of 2015, and generating initiatives. The Nation Media Group’s
media organisations, the government controls a
its determination to cut down what it considered Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL), for
significant share of advertisement spending, which
unnecessary expenditure by public institutions. The example, has a thought-leadership forum known as
is channelled selectively to state-owned and pro-
current economic situation in the county is thus Jukwaa la Fikra that serves as an additional revenue
government private press. A number of private
tenuous for media organisations’ as they strive to stream. Mwananchi has partnered with Radio One
advertisers, for fear of the government reprisals,
diversify revenue sources.
The advertising market has shrunk over the years, leaving only a handful of
major advertisers; notably the telecommunications, brewery and banking
companies. Worse still for some private media organisations, the government
controls a significant share of advertisement spending, which is channelled
selectively to state-owned and progovernment private press.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION13
and ITV to run the forum. The government-owned 2.3 Financial Independence of Moreover, the government’s position as the
newspaper, the Daily News, on the other hand, main advertiser makes the media vulnerable to
News Media Organisations
organises regional business forums to attract unwarranted editorial influence from state and
sponsors as an additional revenue stream. However, The media in Tanzania, though diverse, vibrant and government officials. MCT (2019b) further notes
a lot needs to be done to guarantee financial plural; face a number of emergent challenges that that more support, especially on innovation and the
stability and sustainability. Key among the strategies compromise the financial independence of NMOs. capacity to innovate around business models and
is NMOs’ need to invest in reliable ways to collect The major challenges include a dearth of investment revenue generation, seems like the best pathway
audience data which would inform strategies that capital and declining advertising revenues, which to make media outlets independent and financially
will widen their revenue sources and enable them to coupled with high taxation and an unfriendly legal sustainable.
better meet the needs of their readers. framework not only make the media vulnerable
The legal framework does not provide for an
to undue influence, but also threaten the media’s
enabling environment for foreign organisations to
survival (Gicheru, 2014). NMOs that are struggling
support NMOs towards financial independence.
for capital injection and revenues are forced to
Different pieces of legislation, such as the Political
run with the government position, sometimes at
Parties Amendment Act (2019), make it fairly difficult
the expense of public interest. This is because the
for foreign organisations to support the media,
government uses advertising as a bait to rally the
either financially or through content subsidies
media to run with the government agenda. The AMB
and capacity building. Nevertheless, the media
(2019) and the State of the Media Report (Spurk &
continues to receive support from organisations
Katunzi, 2019) established that the government uses
such as Internews, TMF, Journalists Environmental
adverts as a whip against critical media outlets and
Association of Tanzania (JET), Tanzania Media
that the director of ISD dictates which media houses
Women’s Association (TAMWA), United Nations
get advertisements, consequently, interfering with
Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation
editorial content and decisions. Tanzania Media
(UNESCO), MISA-Tanzania, Union of Tanzania Press
Foundation (TMF, 2015) further noted that media
Clubs (UTPC), Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) and
outlets that depend on advertisers and sponsors
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
News media organisations that are struggling and secure advertising easily from the government
for capital injection and revenues are forced to and other big businesses, tend to compromise The NMOs have opportunities to work towards
run with the government position, sometimes their editorial autonomy, as they adopt editorial financial independence and TMF (2015), for instance,
at the expense of public interest. This is approaches that do not cover these advertisers and notes that NMOs need to address the dearth of
because the government uses advertising sponsors critically. marketing and advertising strategies as this is the
as a bait to rally the media to run with the most significant challenge media houses face in
government agenda. approaching and convincing advertisers.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSION14
2.4 Competition newspapers and magazines are news producing 2.5 Audience demand and
publications. In Zanzibar, there are 25 radio stations,
The changing media environment has caused stiff quality of journalism
12 TV stations and two newspapers (Interview with
competition from entrants who have leveraged Literature on the extent to which audiences value
TCRA officials).
on the digital platform. In addition, private media quality journalism content to be willing to pay
organisations with limited capital are unable to for it is scarce. But since a majority of the media
compete with state subsidized competitors in audience is rural and have limited disposable
Tanzania. They are also unable to overcome the income, subscription as a revenue source is yet to
challenges resulting from business regulations gain traction in Tanzania. Most traditional media
such as taxes on media-related equipment and the outlets have established online versions and are
lack of an enabling legal environment (Gicheru, increasingly packaging their news content to target
2014). The 2019 AMB report on Tanzania indicates different audiences, sponsors and advertisers.
that existing legal and regulatory frameworks work They have also initiated collaborations with mobile
against the emergence of economically sustainable, phone companies to facilitate subscriptions to news
competitive and independent media, and this content (MCT, 2017; MCT, 2019b; Spurk & Katunzi,
hinders citizens from benefiting from the country’s 2019). Despite all these efforts to reach a wider
diverse media landscape. Furthermore, the high audience through the digital platform, the online
and prohibitive license fees for all media put them audience is accustomed to free content and the
on shaky ground in a media environment that has media is struggling with monetisation of content
been disrupted by technology and hard hit by the on digital platforms. In addition, these efforts to
COVID-19 pandemic. leverage on the growing online platforms depend
As of March 2020, there were 183 radio stations, 37 on the internet and access remains relatively low at
Free to Air TV stations, two Satellite TV stations and 37.6 percent (Internet World Stats, 2020).
four Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and Digital The majority of citizens consume mostly news
to Home (DTH) TV stations (Katunzi & Spurk, 2020). from legacy media platforms, which they perceive
The print sector in Tanzania is the most diverse in The 2019 AMB report on Tanzania indicates to be impartial in coverage of issues and reflective
East Africa and Katunzi and Spurk note that there that existing legal and regulatory frameworks of multiple perspectives. Therefore, even though
are 229 newspapers and magazines in Tanzania work against the emergence of economically there is increased consumption from multiple
Mainland, 78 percent being privately owned and the sustainable, competitive and independent sources and perspectives including social media
rest owned by the government and its parastatals. media, and this hinders citizens from that is predominantly used by citizen journalists,
A media mapping by a consortium of researchers benefiting from the country’s diverse media most consumers still find legacy platforms more
in this study, however, found that not all these landscape.
OVERVIEW METHODOLOGY POLITICS ECONOMICS COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CONTENT CONCLUSIONYou can also read
