Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Samia appoints Mkunda new CDF
Tanzanian Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces, President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday promoted Major General Jacob John Mkunda to become a General before she appointed him to become the east African nation’s new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Mkunda is replacing General Venance Mabeyo who has been Tanzania’s CDF since 2017 following an appointment by then-President John Magufuli. Prior to the new appointment, Mkunda was the Chief of Operations and Training.
A statement by the Director of Presidential Communications Zuhura Yunus said that Mkunda will be sworn in today. He will be sworn in alongside other officials that President Samia appointed and promoted on Wednesday.
They include Major General Salum Haji Othman who has been promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed him as new Chief of Staff of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).
Prior to the appointment, Othman was Commissioner for Research and Military Development at the ministry of defence and national services.
There is also Lieutenant General Mathew Edward Mkingule who has been appointed as ambassador. Before the appointment, Mkingule was the chief of staff of TPDF.
Govt reiterates commitments to promote press freedom in Tanzania
Minister for Information, Communications and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye on Wednesday reiterated the government’s commitments to promote press freedom in Tanzania, pointing out that the media has an important role to play in Tanzania’s development initiatives.
The Mtama MP (Chama cha Mapinduzi – CCM) was speaking during the 60th anniversary of the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC). The anniversary highlighted the contribution made by the school toward the development of journalism and the media sector in Tanzania.
“The sixth-phase government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is taking various efforts aimed at opening up opportunities in order to improve the media sector,” Mr Nnaue said. “These efforts seek to make sure there is more press freedom as well as freedom of expression.”
He mentioned the decision to suspend a ban on media outlets and the initiation of stakeholders’ discussion around the controversial and much-criticised Media Services Act of 2016 as examples of such commitments.
On February 10, 2022, the government lifted a ban previously imposed on four newspapers while referring to the media as an “important development stakeholder.”
The newspapers – MwanaHALISI, Mawio, Mseto and Tanzania Daima – were banned at different times on various grounds under the administration of President John Magufuli who died on March 17, 2021, paving the way for then Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan to take the helm of Tanzania’s leadership.
Mr Nnauye also formed a committee that would collect stakeholders’ opinions on the Media Services Act of 2016, with many stakeholders signalling hope that the piece of legislation will be amended to reflect their opinions.
Mr Nnauye mentioned on Wednesday the behaviour of interpreting a journalist’s mistake as the mistake of the entire industry as one of “the persistent challenges” that face the media industry in Tanzania.
He also expressed concern over the failure of the journalism profession to attract the respect and prestige that other professions in Tanzania have attracted.
Over 150 police cadets expelled over misconduct
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Simon Sirro revealed on Wednesday that the law enforcement agency has expelled a total of 156 police cadets over misconduct.
Sirro revealed this when he visited the Police Force’s battlefields located at West Kilimanjaro in Siha district, Kilimanjaro region.
He reminded the trainees to adhere to rules, regulations and procedures at the college of the school as well as maintain discipline within the Police Force.
Tanzania’s external debt profile
The latest data as of April 2022 shows that the Tanzania’s public debt is TZS 69.44 trillion (about USD 30.7 billion), this include domestic debt TZS 22.37 trillion and external public debt stock at TZS 47.07 trillion (about USD 20.8 billion). The Chanzo has profiled the Tanzania’s external debt as of the financial year 2020/2021, who are the biggest lenders? which bilateral loans does Tanzania have? you can read it here.
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