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Tanzania: Premier Praises the Media
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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Rodgers Luhwago
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has praised the media for the job they were doing but called upon their practitioners to adhere to professional ethics to gain public credibility and confidence.
Speaking to editors in Dar es Salaam yesterday he said of late the government has been even more careful in whatever it was doing after the media became more investigative and made close follow-ups.
"Now everybody in the government is very careful in whatever he/she is doing. This has helped some of us avoid committing evil deeds such as involvement in corruption," he said.
However, Mr Pinda called on the media to ensure that reports they disseminate are correctly written and balanced to avoid unnecessary harm to those associated with them.
"Media are a powerful tool. They can foster development or be a tool of destruction. The only important thing here is to do your best to adhere to your code of conduct and professional ethics," he told the editors.
He explained: "In fact the media have now brought us to a tight corner, especially in this war against corruption. Every government official now thinks twice or thrice before taking a bribe".
He said though President Jakaya Kikwete had confidence in those appointed to be ministers he (Mr Pinda) could not say if all were clean.
"Yes, the president has confidence in us but remember ministers are human beings. However, if we find out that any of us has betrayed the government we will deal with him/her accordingly," he said.
On the freedom of the press, Mr Pinda said the government would accord full cooperation to media practitioners. He said the Freedom of Information Bill may also be sent to Parliament next September.
Meanwhile, Mr Pinda appeared to be uncomfortable with the current trend of government officials accused of corruption being accorded warm receptions in their constituencies.
Said he: "The kind of reception accorded to those individuals depicts the perception their people have on them.
"However, I think that is not their (voters) problem, rather the problem is in the government. We need to do our job," he said.
The prime minister raised concern over press reports that five Kawe residents in Dar es Salaam were recently arrested by the police in connection with yelling at former president Benjamin Mkapa.
Mr Pinda said though he was not sure about the arrests made, if the reports were true, he was not supporting the action of the young men against the former head of state.
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"Mr Mkapa is a former head of state. Besides that he is an individual who deserves to be respected just like any other person. If there are accusations against him then we have to follow proper procedures," he said.
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