A look at Tanzania’s current media situation

The media – radio and TV stations, magazines and newspaper play a vital and influential part in daily life in Tanzania. They inform and educate, question challenge and entertain.

Media outlets are trying to satisfy a very demanding audience. Radio listening remains by far the most popular home based pastime among the people in Tanzania. This is reflected by the fact that 60 percent of households have a radio.

Tanzania has in place both statutory and constitutional provisions, providing several aspects of the media industry. The 1977 constitution guarantees in Article 18 a free and independent media.

While the government respects the freedom of the press, it does not entertain the ‘’free freedom’’. It advocates press freedom with obligation.

RADIO

A couple of weeks ago I had an excursion to my motherland Songea. Hardly believe my ears when I heard my favourite jingle ‘’Clouds fm’’
Astonishingly I bumped into ‘’boda boda’’ rider who have had tuned his bike radio set. He told me that Clouds fm hit the waves at Songea a couple of years ago through 105.9 frequency.

Understandably this is another milestone as far as broadcasting faction is concerned bearing in mind that even very remote areas are now enjoying the fruits of digital terrestrial.

Prior to that milieu only 2 radio stations were rigorously accessible in Songea, Jogoo fm a local one and RFA respectively.
For the past four years radio stations especially those centered at Dar es salaam had made resilient commitment towards spreading their wings countryside.

Clouds fm is so far most accredited for that as it is now available in almost all regions in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. The same applies to Radio One, RFA, East Africa Radio, Capital Radio, Tbc fm to name just a few.

According to the latest statistics from TCRA over 100 radio stations are officially registered in Tanzania (aside to illegal operated one). The number keeps on growing each day.

This makes Tanzania being the second country south of Saharan desert to have a plethora of media outlets after South Africa. Employment opportunities are thus created as different personnel are working in either production, technical and advertising crew.

By Johnbosco Mbapila