About The Chanzo
The Chanzo is a digital-first media initiative based in Tanzania, delivering trusted and independent public-interest journalism. We are owned and run by journalists, and founded on sound journalistic principles of veracity and accuracy. The Chanzo was established in July 2020 by its three founders; Tony Alfred K, Khalifa Said and Joel Ntile.
Since its founding, The Chanzo has built a reputation as a trustworthy news source in Tanzania, going beyond just reporting the news to also telling the meaning behind it. Our journalists, most of whom are fresh graduates, have earned various journalism accolades in Tanzania.
At the moment, The Chanzo is working toward establishing the first-of-its-kind Chanzo Media-Art and Tech Centre, embedded in our understanding of how the way we receive and process information, as well as pass it to the next generation, is changing in our present world. It’s part of our vision to contribute to Africa’s story of the future.
Our Approach
- We operate with integrity as a bedrock to earning the trust of our audiences and sources.
- We value collaboration – internal and external – in all our work
- We cultivate empathy, placing ourselves in the shoes of our subjects and our sources; with dignity underpinning all that we do.
- We encourage curiosity, always looking deeper to understand an issue, its causes and impacts.
- We prioritise accountability as a way of being and as an outcome of our work; we own our failures and see every mistake as an opportunity for us and our audience to learn.
- We live and breathe openness; with information as our currency, we seek and model transparency in all our work.
- We are inclusive and aim to reach and speak for all sectors of society, particularly the most powerless among us.
Mission and Vision
Mission
We produce analytical, people-driven stories that foster accountability and contribute to better decision-making.
Vision
We believe in an informed society, powered by high quality public interest journalism, in which people are engaged, active and inspired, and authorities are responsive and accountable to the people.
The Outcome We Seek
The Chanzo Initiative will seek to achieve the following outcomes:-
(i) A society in which every citizen’s voice is represented without regards to profit, fear of repression from the state or chastisement from the so-called cultural guards;
(ii) A citizenry actively engaged in using the media to fight for social justice and inclusive development as well as the violation of their key rights and fundamental freedoms;
(iii) An active cadre of public interest journalists inspired by their commitment to inclusive development and social justice and to optimally utilize the constitution in defence of key rights and fundamental freedoms;
(iv) Social justice and economic system that is responsive to the needs of the citizenry and guarantees the enjoyment of key rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the value chain.
Meet The Team
Tony Alfred K
Co-Founder and Managing Editor
Tony has worked with various national and international organizations. He has a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from the University of Dar es Salaam and has pursued a media diploma from the London School of Journalism.
Khalif Said Rashid
Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Khalifa has worked with various media organizations in Tanzania and internationally. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Tumaini University Dar Es Salaam College (TUDARCo)
Joel Ntile
Co-Founder, Editor and Admin Manager
Joel has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics from the University of Dar es Salaam and has pursued a media diploma from the London School of Journalism.
Joseph Kirati
Creative Cinematographer
Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television Arts from the Department of Creative Arts at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). In 2023, he was the runner-up for the Excellence in Journalism Awards in the Science and Technology reporting category
Shafii Mussa Hamisi
Multimedia Journalist and Creative Lead
Shafii holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Swahiba Nuru
Admin and Media Trainee
Swahiba holds a diploma from the School of Library Archives and Documentation Studies
Lukelo Francis Haule
Associate Editor
Lukelo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Lukelo has received several journalism awards, including two Excellence in Journalism Awards in Tanzania (EJAT) for his reporting on good governance and human rights
Jackline Kuwanda
Senior Correspondent, Dodoma
Jacline Kuwanda is an award-winning journalist working with The Chanzo as a Senior Correspondent based in Dodoma, Tanzania. She holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Joseph’s Institute of Business and Management. Jacline has received multiple Excellence in Journalism awards, she is also the overall winner of the 2024 Professional Integrity Award.
Najjat Omar
Senior Correspondent, Zanzibar and Staff Liaison.
Najjat Omar is an award-winning journalist working with The Chanzo as a Senior Correspondent based in Zanzibar and a Staff Liaison. She holds a Diploma in Journalism and Broadcasting. Najjat has received multiple Excellence in Journalism awards, along with several international accolades. She is a well-known figure in Tanzania, solidifying her reputation through investigative journalism