OPENING REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, AT THE CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD CEREMONY, 18TH OCTOBER, 2014, DAR ES SALAAM
Dr. Fenella Mukangara, Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports,
Ms. Deborah Rayner, CNN SVP International News Gathering,
Mr. Nick Meyer, CEO of the MultiChoice Africa,
Ms. Julieth Kairuki, Executive Director, Tanzania Investment Centre,
Distinguished Judges of the Panel
Award Finalist and Nominees,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
I can’t find words good enough to express our gratitude to CNN and MultiChoice Africa for the honour they have bestowed on our dear country Tanzania of hosting this prestigious event is no small matter. It puts our country on the spotlight in a manner that is in incorporable with a lot of benefits to reap in future. I hope my fellow countrymen and women will take advantage of this event and make full use of it.
2014 CNN Journalist Awards
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I commend CNN and MultiChoice for conceiving the idea of presenting Awards to African journalists who have excelled in perfoming their duties ad functions. In many ways these Awards act as a major incentive for our journalist to observe professionalism, diligence, honesty and integrity. Sometimes these important attributes remain wanting among the practioners of this important profession in respective countries. In many ways these awards encourage our journalists to do better. I am particularly pleased to note that one of our own Mr. Dickson Ng’hilly, from the Guardian Newspaper is among those who have been nominated. I pray that it ends well for Dickson, and if otherwise it still remain a sense of pride for us for him to have come this for.
CNN and Africa
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I commend CNN for the wonderful work they are doing of providing news and information in Africa and the world. By all standards CNN is a global media power house with a big stake in Africa According to the EMS Africa Survey 2014, CNN is the undisputed number one international news brand in Africa and the Middle East reaching larger audience than all direct news competitors in every lucky across the region on TV, Digital and cross platform. The statistics show that, CNN reaches 59 percent of Africa’s upscale population every month, 71 percent of key business decision makers in Africa, 79 percent of Opinion Leaders and 10 percent of all the continent’s affluent people who use CNN mobile services every month. I hope these statistics will encourage CNN to consider having Swahili Service program.
Africa and Freedom of Press
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Undoubtedly, there has been a lot of improvement in the state of journalism and freedom of the press across Africa. In many ways this is very much a function and measure of the progress being made in democracy and good governance. I know, there are still countries where press freedom remains a challenge but overall the future looks prospective in Africa as democracy, good governance, rule of law, and respect for human rights are taking roots.
Freedom of Press in Tanzania
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Tanzania takes the freedom of press very dearly. I for one, have done a lot to promote press freedom in the country. I am happy to note that freedom of press continues to take roots in Tanzania as days pass by. Today, we have 29 television stations, 94 radio stations , 825 newspaper and publications compared to one television station, three radio stations, and three newspapers in year 1992. Mind you, the state owns only, one TV station, two newspapers and one radio. For one to read all the daily newspapers, he or she must be required to spend at least between 20 and 30 US dollars per day.
We are committed to do more to enhance freedom in the country. We are going to table before the parliament a Bill on Freedom of Information which will go a long way towards guaranteing access to information by general public and journalists. The purpose is to foster transparency and accountability on the part of government. Challenges notwithstanding, freedom of press and information remains important building block for a healthy democratic society. We will never waver nor renage in pursuit of the same.
A Call to Africa Journalists
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My brothers and sisters in the media please continue to do the good work. My humble appeal to you, be responsible journalists, be ethical, be professional and have integrity. Use the power of the media judiciously to promote unity and harmony. Shy away from promoting disorder and social tensions above all be free of corruption so that you can have the moral authority to point fingers at others.
Once again I thank and commend CNN and Multichoice for affording Tanzania this prestigeous honour. We will always cherish and remember this day.
Thank you for your kind attention.