Dodoma — THE government was on Tuesday hard pressed to closely monitor television content as some stations aired programmes that went against the country's tradition and culture much as they were downright immoral.

Kondoa South MP (CCM) Mr Juma Nkamia told the National Assembly that there were some films that were against Tanzanian culture aired out by some local TV stations, questioning government and position in monitoring media contents.

In response, the Deputy Minister for Information, Youths, Culture and Sports, Mr Amos Makala, said that all media content was being closely monitored as per regulations guiding media operations in the country.

Mr Makala mentioned Tanzania Information Services (TIS) and Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) as part of the monitoring machinery. "The government has been always monitoring media content to ensure that what goes out to the public is morally right and in accordance with our tradition and culture. We have a content committee under TCRA with full mandate to check all TV content," Mr Makala explained.

Earlier, the deputy minister refuted the allegations levelled against the government by Mr Mohamed Habib Mnyaa (Mkanyageni-CUF) that it was overlooking media contribution, especially when it pointed to such issues as lack of accountability. Mr Mnyaa had pointed out that there was a lot of debate on TV and through the radio on various issues relating to government accountability and responsibility to citizens; but surprisingly; such misdeeds went unheeded and unsolved.

He wondered whether there was an organ responsible for following up all such debates to enhance their impact in holding concerned government organs responsible. The deputy minister said that media's contribution in enhancing good governance was the primary reason for the existence of various TV and radio stations in the country. Mr Makala said that currently, there are 26 registered TV and 86 radio stations in the country with others being based in regions and zones.