SECTOR 1 to parliament an alternative draft Right to Information Bill, dating to 2008, as well as a draft Media Services Bill (2007), but to date government has not yet agreed to these drafts. The state-compiled FOI Bill was criticized for being too restrictive in terms of access to information of certain state-held documents. The Tanzanian government is currently collecting opinions on the constitution with the intention to review and rewrite it. “It is high time that we had a new constitution that is clear on the role of the media and the rights that the media will enjoy. Once freedoms of the media and access to information are enshrined in the constitution, it will be easier to have a Freedom of Information Act.” Tanzania has different laws that encroach upon freedom of media. These include the Newspaper Act of 1976, the Penal Code (1945), the National Security Act (1970), the Public Service Act (1962) and the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act (1995). 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: 2.5 (2010 = 2.7; 2008 = 2.4; 2006 = 2.8) 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. Generally, there is wide freedom of expression within the media in Tanzania and the state shows some tolerance in this regard. Panellists felt that this space to express oneself was expanding. “On the whole, ours is one of the most free societies in Africa, compared to where we have been, historically. Freedom of expression has improved so much… it is a positive, upward trend.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2012 13