TANZANIA GENERAL ELECTION 2010

Journalists conducting their group discusion during the training course on Tanzania general elections reporting on Wednesday in Mbeya Region.

AS the country goes to general election this year, media professionals covering elections have called upon to remain ethical and professional but not to be used by candidates vying for various political positions.

The challenge was made on Wednesday by Jonas Mwasumbi, a facilitator during the training for 2010 Tanzania general elections reporting to journalists from Iringa, Rukwa and Mbeya regions held in Mbeya region.

He said that reporters will be covering elections should avoid corruption from candidates so that they can be given positive coverage during campaign rallies, because some candidates use corrupt means to win elections.

The three-day training course of experienced print journalists from three regions of Iringa, Rukwa and Mbeya (host), was organized by Media Council of Tanzania (MCT).

The many objectives were to equip reporters with ethical and professional techniques while covering forthcoming general elections.

Other objectives of the training was to facilitate for print media to perform its noble task in empowering citizens to make their right choices in electing leaders, and also to enhance free and fair elections.

.“The media has important roles to play during the election campaigns that’s, to allow voters to be well informed about their choices, to observe whether the election is free and fair and also to report strategies used by political parties to win voters” Mwasumbi has observed.

The media should help electorates to make the right choice of leaders who can bring economic and social development hence improve living standard of people.

“Journalists need to do in-depth election reporting by employing a mind mapping strategy and seek for the truth. Corruption is rampant from candidates including presidential, parliamentary and civic aspirants and so far 18 registered political parties are going into polls this year. ”

Furthermore, the media should examine the electoral commission, considering if it is fully equipped to do its job and if it will be respected as honest.

The election commission should be a model of transparency by making sure the all electoral process goes well without unnecessary irregularities to happen hence free and fair elections.

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