|
Can media be exemplary in fighting against corruption?
2006-03-14 08:09:28
By Emmanuel Kihaule writing from Kampala
’Either make a tree good and its fruits good, or else make the tree bad and its fruits bad, for a tree is known by its fruits...how can you being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.’ Matthew 12:33,34
RECENTLY the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) organized a one-day seminar for print and electronic media editors that focused on the role the media could play in the fight against corruption.
In his key address the Chairman of Habari Corporation, Jenerali Ulimwengu, who was the Guest of Honour to the occasion urged the whole media fraternity in the country to help the government in the fight.
According to him, the need for such support is necessary this time around as the newly elected fourth phase government has already indicated its genuine commitment in that war.
Actually President Jakaya Kikwete has in several instances even before the elections vowed to fight the menace, which he says could plunge the country into socio-political chaos similar to those afflicting other developing countries.
For the first time after ten years, the country’s top leader has come out publicly to acknowledge that corruption has infested the machinery of the government and its leaders and that it should be fought against vigorously.
During his visits to various government institutions and ministries, soon after getting into power, Kikwete openly blasted against corrupt elements and ordered that corrupt officials should be taken to task.
A classical example is when he ordered the sacking of corrupt land officials in the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, who were implicated in double allocation of land parcels.
Mind you double allocation has been a long time cry among Tanzanians and some cases involving the same have been in the courts of law for over twenty years now!
He also asked for the names of the officials to be forwarded to the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) for legal action.
The president has also admitted that some of the contracts entered into by the government with foreign companies, including mining companies undermine national interests.
He pledged to revisit them for the purpose of renegotiation.
Ulimwengu says that now the government has shown its political will in the fight, it is upon the media to play its role by exposing all corrupt elements in the government and society as a whole.
While it is important to appreciate the great role that the media has played in reporting on various issues including corruption for many years, it is also important to note that the media itself has not been spared of corruption.
For instance, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Against Corruption of 1996, which was under the chairmanship of Judge (Rtd), Joseph Warioba, stated that journalists were also fond of corrupt practices.
According to the report, journalists receive corruption in form of kickbacks, airtime, tips and many other forms so that they could publish good stories on certain sources (people) or companies in the society.
It also says that certain politicians could use the same media especially during elections to tarnish the image of their opponents so as to win the confidence of the electorate at the expense of the latter.
This is after giving out ’something’ to the newsmen though.
The report also stated that some business entities in the country were enjoying good publicity in the media as if they never had dark sides mainly because of ’palm greasing’.
Though it’s not all journalists or editors that are corrupt, it is still important that the media start by fighting against such members of the profession who taint the image of the whole profession.
This is necessary as it will show the way to the rest in the society and it is upon it that we may get courage to point fingers at others.
If we don’t do that then people would wonder as to where we get the guts to expose others as corrupt while we ourselves are either corrupt or provide safe havens for the culprits.
For instance, nowadays it’s not uncommon to hear journalists openly asking for some money mshiko so that they could go and publish a story of the source in question.
Quite unfortunately the demand for mshiko cuts across both junior and senior reporters to the extent that it has become almost a must now for whoever is preparing a news event to put aside some money beforehand so as to ’facilitate’ the journalists.
Guess what will be the consequence of not doing that. Without the same, the latter risks a total blackout in the media notwithstanding how important the information is to the public and the nation as a whole!
Every time when this is brought forward for discussion, the defense has been low salaries from employers. The argument has been insistence on abiding by ethics should also emphasize on the need for bread and butter for journalists.
While it’s worth noting that low salaries could have a role in that, as it is alleged that a large number of journalists are lowly paid by employers, it is also important to note that the practise compromises with journalism ethics.
Journalists now become part of the story by cherishing the image of the source who ’facilitated’ them and the idea for objectivity goes out through the window.
This could be substantiated by good or public relation-like stories that some companies most especially cigarette and brewery industries, cell phone companies and banks enjoy in our media today.
It is as if such companies don’t have problems that are necessary to be exposed for the interest of the readers, society and the nation as a whole.
Though it is also important for media owners to make sure that their employees are well facilitated by the media houses for which they are working, journalists shouldn’t take low pay as an excuse for accepting bribes.
Warioba himself has now and then reiterated that it is greed and not poverty that fuels corruption.
So if the journalists are not satisfied with what they get from their employers, it is better for them to initiate dialogues with their employers for better pay instead of resorting to corruption.
I know that journalists aren’t angels but it is good to attempt reflecting ourselves and criticize the habit among us so that we are not labeled hypocrites who like preaching what they never practise.
This would do a great deal in commanding respect from the society and at the same time boost the government’s efforts in fighting against the menace.
|
