His Excellency Mr. Ali Hassan Mwinyi
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Office of the President
P.O. Box 9120
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania

Vienna, 11 August 1993

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI) is most concerned about the recent publication in Tanzania of the Media Council Act and its implications for freedom of the press.

IPI understands that the new legislation, which is due to be considered in parliament this October, is regarded by many journalists as an attempt to stifle Tanzania’s fledgling independent press. We are informed that the Media Council Act places stringent restrictions on who is permitted to practice journalism in Tanzania and allows authorities sweeping powers to fine and imprison those in breach of the law.

We regard the Media Council Act to be in clear violation of the Charter for a Free Press, which was approved by IPI and the other major international organisations of journalists and publishers. The Charter states that “restrictions on the free entry to the field of journalism or over its practice, through licensing or other certification procedures, must be eliminated.

The Act is also at variance with the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, which was adopted by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and states that “an independent, pluralistic and free press is essential to the development and maintenance of democracy in a nation.”

IPI, representing over 2000 journalists and editors from leading newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and news agencies in 68 countries, urges the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to re-draft the Media Council Act in consultation with the country’s media organisations and to allow journalists to exercise their rights as guaranteed by international standards.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director

CC: His Excellency Dr. John Samuel Malecela
First Vice-President and Prime Minster
of the United Republic of Tanzania
P.O. Box 980
Dodoma
Tanzania

His Excellency Dr. William Shija
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania