 |
| President Jakaya Kikwete opens a two-day Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2015 Africa Regional Meeting on 'Enhancing Accountability through Open Governance' in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. (Photo by State House). |
Officiating at the Open Government Partnership (OGP) 2015, Africa Regional Meeting, President Kikwete said presenting recommendations and views to the relevant authority and holding discussions is the only way to iron out the shortcomings in the two acts.
Citing an example, he said, the dialogue system and cooperation between the government and the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) has seen a lot of problems facing workers get solutions.
He noted that those faulting the two Acts should forward their recommendations, views or opinions to the Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa and hold discussions to iron out the shortcomings.
“Present your opinions then sit together and discuss this issue instead of sitting back and saying this is a draconian law that contravenes human.
Other people say if you do not change the laws we will not give you aid. “Once this argument gets to that point it becomes counterproductive and does not help anyone,” he said. Mr Kikwete stated that the government had on several occasions amended laws to improve them.
He stressed that threatening the state and giving the government unfriendly conditions will not help. “Governments do not like to be threatened.
They want to be respected. Those who use threats and unfair conditions to force the government do what they want will not succeed.
We will come to a point where we will tell them to stay with their aid. Threats will not work but discussions will provides solutions,” he said.
On the Access to Information and Media Bills, President Kikwete said they will be concluded before the end of the Parliamentary term this year.
He promised to find time before he leaves office to meet with civil societies (CSs) to chart out a special system for dialogue between the government and the societies.
Mr Kikwete also said that the civil societies should embrace transparency and accountability in their activities including making public financial statements that show where they get money and how they spend it.
Speaking on achievements since the country became a member of the OGP in 2011, President Kikwete said the nation is in its second work plan, after successful implementation of the first one.
The work plan includes transparency in the operations of government, including making public the Controller and Auditor General’s (CAG) reports.
“However this claim that we do not have freedom of expression is not fair. People are free to give their opinions in social media such as twitters.
We have a good example of an open government, but we do not allow anything that will plunge this nation into conflict. The freedom we have must have limitations,” he stressed.
Speaking on freedom of information, he said the nation has 825 newspapers and magazines out of which only two; the ‘Daily News’ and ‘HabariLeo’ are government owned.
The nation also has 28 Television stations out of which only one is government owned and 95 Radio stations out of which only one is government owned.
“In 1992 there were only two newspapers, one private TV station and one government owned radio station,” he said noting that there is no censorship of news but stressed that journalism ethics must be adhered to.
He said that those who flout the ethics should be penalised. President Kikwete said every ministry and government department has its own websites where government reports are placed for public consumption. He added: “I also have my own twitter account and I sometimes tweet” causing laughter.
Earlier, Twaweza Executive Director, Mr Aidan Eyakuze, called on the governments of the OGP participating countries to establish and ensure implementation of laws that recognise and protect freedom of expression.
He also called for freedom of association and assembly, freedom of information, freedom of the press, whistleblower protection and removal of unwarranted restrictions and control on civil society organisations.
“We call on the government of Tanzania to revisit recent legislations on Statistics, Cybercrime, Access to information and Media Services to ensure that space for open public debate, including room for dissenting voices, is protected.
Daily News
No comments:
Post a Comment