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Govt wants `Tanzania Daima` to apologise over Kiteto reports
2008-03-05 09:16:50
By Judica Tarimo
The government yesterday gave a three-day ultimatum to the publisher and editor of a Kiswahili tabloid, `Tanzania Daima`, to apologise or face punishment, for what it described as distorting information and grossly violating laws and code of ethics in its reports on the just-concluded by-elections in Kiteto Constituency, Manyara Region.
In a statement issued by the Tanzania Information Services (Maelezo) in Dar es Salaam, the government said the newspaper printed two editions with the same issue number (1179), on the same day, when reporting the election results, contrary to the Newspaper Act Number 3 of 1976.
In first edition bearing number 1179, printed on February 25, this year, the tabloid reported that Chadema`s parliamentary aspirant was leading by 71.8 per cent, and that the ruling CCM`s candidate scooped votes in one ward only.
According to the government statement, the elections results printed in the same newspaper issue reported that CCM had won Kiteto elections, scooping votes in 13 wards out of 15, as opposition (Chadema) leaders accepted the defeat.
``The newspaper had grossly violated the Newspaper Act of 1976 by printing a special edition without permission or informing the Newspapers Registrar. Tanzania Daima did not present copies of the two editions to the registrar as required by the law,`` said the statement.
On the other hand, the Tanzania Information Services said the tabloid distorted reports on the election results by publishing results without consulting the relevant authorities--National Election Commission (NEC).
Authorities said the newspaper breached code of ethics by printing and circulating information that confused members of the public on the election results, which could fuel civil unrest.
``On top of that, the editor of the newspaper was called by the registrar to clarify on the confusion, but refused to pay heed,`` said the statement.
``We are giving `Tanzania Daima` three days to apologise for distorting information, violating newspaper laws, information code of ethics and disrespecting order of the registrar…otherwise, the newspaper will be punished in accordance with the Act,`` said the statement.
In a quick response yesterday, Tanzania Daima Managing Editor, Absalom Kibanda, refuted claims that they printed two editions on the same day.
He explained that they printed some copies for up-country regions which showed that chadema was leading in seven wards out of 15, as the paper went to press at around 8.00 pm.
``We sent the copies, but continued to monitor the election trend in various wards. At around 11pm we got the election results, and other copies for Dar es Salaam that showed that CCM had won elections by scoping votes in 13 wards out of 15,`` said Kibanda.
``We asked Chadema leaders who accepted that chances to win the election were minimal. These were clearly reported in our reports. In fact, we did not print two editions but we were forced to produce copies for Dar es Salaam and upcountry customers, because of transport problems.``
The editor admitted that they failed to communicate with the registrar on the problem, but insisted that they published only one edition on that day and not two as claimed by Maelezo.
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