T he year 2007 was a very eventful one for Tanzania and in particular for the media. The year came to a close with yet another delay in the introduction of the Right to Information Bill in the Parliament and a disappointing decision of acquittal of prison officers who were charged with offences under the penal code for beating two journalists, Christopher Kidanka and Mpoki Bukuku in 2005. After a series of consultations, media stakeholders had submitted the Right to Information Bill to the Government in August hoping it would meet its approval. But it was not to be. Now, it will probably be presented in Parliament in April 2008. On the journalists assault case, the court ruled in favour of the officials on the grounds that the prosecution was not explicit on the identity of the people charged. The year also witnessed the launching of the debate on the Media Services Bill in November. Although many more new institutions joined the industry in 2007, ownership remained vulnerable to manipulations by authorities and those who support them with adverts. The Editors Forum was resurrected after six years of inactivity, thanks to personal efforts of IPP Media Executive Chairperson Reginald Mengi. The Editors’ Forum of Tanzania (EFOTA) and Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) were founded in 2001. MOAT has since operated on a strong note but EFOTA went into the doldrums for lack of financial support. The Government did not demonstrate any support for manpower development, which it had promised during the launch of an initiative to raise funds for female journalists by Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), two years ago. Journalists in private universities are yet to have firm commitments of Government’s financial support apart from the blanket assistance given through the Higher Learning Students’ Loans Board. Development partners contribution in this regard was limited to week-long ‘seminars’. The celebrated investigative journalism courses under the United States Agency for International Development support require a concrete needs assessment exercise across media outlets. Media ownership remains vulnerable to manipulation by the authorities. Media entrepreneurs have single-handedly embarked on investing in an industry that was a monopoly of the state. Most of them started off undercapitalised hoping a friendly environment would enable them recoup their outlays. Several years later, media owners still have to tread carefully between exhibiting professionalism in the course of their duties and loyalty to authorities. The liberalisation of the media in Tanzania as a process has never been backed by appropriate financial infrastructure. This leaves control of national newspapers, radio and television in the hands of powerful and politically partisan proprietors. Under such conditions, efforts to make journalism more professional face an uphill climb. Media-government relationship The media remained captive to a ploy involving its partnership with the state. The Government continues to have an upper hand through inclusion of journalists in Presidential entourages overseas and tours by senior Government officials around the country. Many journalists jump on the ‘privileges’ because their organizations cannot meet such expenses. As earlier, the relationship is still characterised by professional compromise and ‘captive friendship’ with authorities. Media outlets have treaded with extreme care in their coverage of the President and the Prime Minister lest they sever the cordial relations that exist between owners and those in high places. Several interesting incidents were poorly covered or went almost unreported in the media during the year. When reports of dubious dealings involving cabinet ministers and other government officials came to light mid-year, the public expected swift action by the President to discipline the culprits. But nothing happened. The media did not follow through. Similarly, the media was So This Is Democracy? 2007 -100- Media Institute of Southern Africa