SECTOR 3 3.4 The state/public broadcaster is accountable to the public through an independent board which is representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner The TBC was established in 2007 by an Order under the Public Corporation Act (2018). It is headed by a director-general and overseen by a board of directors. Both the director-general and the board chair are appointed by the president, while other board members are appointed by the minister, each for three-year terms. Board members lack security of tenure as the appointing authority can revoke their appointment prior to the completion of their term. Panellists were of the view that given the procedures for appointment, the TBC board could not be considered independent. The current board was appointed in 2016.24 Despite their unfavourable assessment of its independence, panellists were not familiar with most members of the current board and could, therefore, not tell if they represented society at large. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ 1.6 2006: 1.5; 2008: 1.7; 2010: 1.9; 2012: 2.3; 2015: 2.1 3.5 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by law and practised to ensure balanced and fair news and current affairs programmes The Order creating the TBC states that it ‘shall encourage Tanzanian expression by offering a wide range of programmes’. In Section 7 (1-2), the TBC Order grants the broadcaster a public broadcasting duty and editorial independence. It states that: Subject to provisions of the Tanzanian Communication Regulatory Authority Act, there shall be a Charter between the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation and the Minister empowering Tanzania 40 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019