Cope with Magufuli speed, Nape directs his ministry

The minister, Mr Nape Nnauye, made the directive on Saturday evening during a live programme aired by state-run broadcaster TBC1, insisting that for effective service delivery, all public servants are obliged to embrace patriotism, professionalism and hard work spirit.

He noted that since the Magufuli Administration started late last year, there have been both administrative and institutional changes in various departments to increase efficiency.

The minister, who is also CCM Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, hinted that as they have just made changes in some institutions, other departments that will prove to be less result-oriented would follow the same course.

The Minister for information, Culture, Sports and Arts Mr Nape Nauye

Speaking on the achievements so far registered by the ministry in the 100 days of Dr Magufuli’s leadership, Mr Nnauye noted that they have instituted a number of measures to address challenges facing the media industry and other sectors, which are under the ministry’s jurisdiction.

“In the first 100 days, the ministry has started to take measures to improve the allied sectors. I have met with the Tanzania Editors’ Forum (TEF) and some other media stakeholders to discuss and look for solutions on challenges that have been facing the sector,” he said.

Mr Nnauye said they managed to form the special committee that analyzed challenges and proposed some resolutions that have also been included in the media bill to be presented in the parliament.

“All these have been done for the sake of promoting press freedom in our country, we want media to be free but the first thing is to put forward the national interest,” he added.

He went on to explain that all government and public institutions that owe state-owned media houses -- TBC and Tanzania Standard (Newspapers) Limited (TSN), the publishers of ‘Daily News’, ‘Sunday News’, ‘HabariLeo’, HabariLeo Jumapili’ and ‘Spoti Leo’, are supposed to immediately clear their outstanding dues. By so doing, Mr Nnauye said, the government media will be financially strong and able to operate independently without needing subsidy.

The minister also revealed that Tanzania is set to be the headquarters of the East African Kiswahili Council. “The process started last December and is thus on the right footing,” he said.

According to him, the focus is to ensure the development of Kiswahili for regional and international interaction for political, economic, social, cultural, educational, scientific and technological development of East Africa.

“The government is serious and committed to serve in the best interests of the public. There is no way for us to tamper with trust that we have been honoured by majority of Tanzanians,” explained Mr Nnauye, who is also MP for Mtama.