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- Jul 30, 2008
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TCRA Content Committee Chairperson Margaret Mnyagi
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has applauded broadcasting stations in the country for good coverage and reporting elections campaigns.
TCRA Content Committee Chairperson Margaret Mnyagi said this on Monday in Dar es Salaam when she was briefing reporters on the ongoing campaigns and media coverage.
Actually for the last two weeks broadcasting media have done a good job in campaigns reporting so I commend them for the job, she said.
She said the progress follows the recent warning by TCRA to some broadcasting stations which violated broadcasting regulations.
She also cautioned the media to continue observing professionalism all the time, especially during this critical moment in the countrys history.
Mnyagi said the authority will not hesitate to deregister any media outlets that violate regulations or given guidelines.
She also reminded that the one to announce the elections results is the National Electro Commission only and not otherwise, urging media outlets to keep that in mind.
No one has the authority to announce election results other than the NEC the media should observe this, she added.
Recently, TCRA penalised three television stations for violating the countrys broadcasting regulations.
TCRA director general Dr Ally Simba giving the warning argued that media have an important role in any election but if used badly can cause chaos.
In countries that have had chaotic elections media is always on the top list of those who contributed to such sorry states and we are not ready to allow the media to take that wrong path in Tanzania, he said.
Speaking at the event to present broadcasting a license to Dodoma based Alternative-Fm (A-FM) radio, he warned that the authority will not tolerate any violations.
Dr Simba noted that so far the authority has penalised five media houses for violation of license conditions, adding that that should serve as a warning to other media houses.
The media outlets that were penalised include Channel Ten which was ordered pay 2.5m/-, while TBC1 and Star TV were ordered to pay 500,000/- each.
According to TCRA, the TV stations were penalised for airing programmes whose contents were of bad taste. In the recent past, the government owned TBC1 was caution by the communication watchdog on how it handled campaign stories.
He reminded media owners to use their power to educate the public on important issues as far elections are concerned now that the country is in an election mood.
It is very important to let the public to use the media for the betterment of their lives instead of focusing on benefiting politicians, argued the TCRA boss.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
