Evaluating Media Freedom in Tanzania Referring to Isaiah Berlins Two Concepts of Freedom

Introduction
The idea of freedom is broad. Through out the history many philosophers have been discussing about this
concept. However to date there is no single or clear understanding of the concept of freedom. Generally
many scholars have been defining freedom in presence of rights and individual ability to think, question,
decide, believe, act, prosper and protect him/herself
While it is true that freedom can mean many different things, in this paper the discussion will be centred on
evaluation of media freedom in Tanzania based on Sir. Isaiah Berlins two concepts of freedom. In this paper
the world freedom and Liberty will be used interchangeably to mean exactly the same thing.
Understanding the State of Media Freedom in Tanzania
Recent studies provide evidence that there is an decreasing media freedom in Tanzania, A report released in
2013 under review by the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters without borders 2013-Press freedom
Index-Indicates that Tanzania had had dropped 36 points since the previous year that is, from 34 to 70
(out of 179 countries) in terms of press freedom. According to State of Media Freedom in southern
Africa (2013) The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is deeply concerned about the rate at
which media freedom and freedom of expression violations are occurring within the southern African
region.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) referred the case of Chanel 10 TV journalist who was also a
chairperson of Iringa Press club Daudi Mwangosi who was brutally killed on September 2, 2013 while
on duty; they also referred the case of Absalom Kibanda, a senior Tanzanian editor who was brutally
attacked outside his Dar-es-Salaam home in March 2013. Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
treated the two events as the result of people who did not understand or chose to disrespect the
sacrosanct duty of a journalist in society.
In 2013Journalist were also Targeted in Mtwara during the May 2013 riots following public protests against
the construction of a pipeline to transport natural gas from southern town to Dar es salaam (Mzee, H.
2013). Letter in September 2013 Government announced the immediate suspension of Mwanannchi
and Mtanzania Newspaper for publishing what was referred to as inciting reports. This is also the
evidence that there is no freedom of media in Tanzania and if there is any it is limited.

Another good example is that of the National Assembly rejecting amendment in the Newspaper act, 1976.
For the last 9 (Since 2006) the government has been reluctant to ensure the national assembly endorses bills
meant to graduate into friendlier media bills (Thomas, J. 2013) unfortunately they proposed the Written
Laws Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2013 sought to increase the fine from fifteen hundred thousand to five
million shillings.
To prove that media freedom is still a challenge in Tanzania Mount Meru Declaration of 2013 calls upon
government, media owners, media council and professional associations and journalists to strive to create an
enabling environment for the media to operate. (Thomas, J. 2013)
However there are evidence that Tanzania as a country is making good progress toward improvements of
media freedom. There is unblinking commitment amongst all stakeholders when it comes to selfregulation; and the rate of compliance in cases adjudicated by the committee is now 100% (By Mukajanga
K, Media Council of Tanzania Executive Secretary). Other good indicator of good progress toward media
freedom includes President Jakaya Kikwete Commitment toward openness and freedom of information.
Isaiah Berlin Two Concepts of Freedom and Freedom of Media in Tanzania
Isaiah Berlin two concept of freedom refers to Negative freedom and positive freedom. According to Berlin
I (1969) Negative freedom refers freedom from: freedom from interference in personal matters, this is a
form of freedom individuals are left alone to do what they want, provided that their actions does not
interfere with the liberty of others while positive liberty is referred to as freedom to do something, literally
this is also considered as the freedom to lead one prescribed for of life. It is a freedom from certain things
not others.
In this sense mass media in Tanzania is considered not to be free because there are many limitations and
interference, which limit media from performing their tasks freely. Referring to evidences explained in the
previous chapter it is true that existing laws and regulations were not designed to increases media freedom
instead they were designed to limit media freedom and practitioners from accessing information.
For the case of mass media Negative liberty is best option to Positive liberty, This is due to the fact that
mass media will only be considered free if they are capable of covering anything they want to cover
considering that they do not interfere other peoples liberty and this is possible through adhering to ethical
practices.

Existing evidences proves that MCT is championing for self regulation, . To the system of selfregulation whose principle, the council has championed for 19 years now(Ndimara, T. 2013). Self-regulation
they are referring here is what Isaiah Berlin referred to as negative freedom. International right to know day
which was celebrated in Mwanza, Tanzania on September 28,2013 involved stakeholders call for breaking
down barriers to the citizens right to know
Although other scholars might propose positive liberty for mass media under the basis that positive liberty
enable rational being to live in harmony with each other then the state which is led by rational people
creates rational laws that put the boundaries for each individual not to overstep the rational interests of
others. All rational people accept these laws because they protect their interests. The state then creates a
harmonious state of affairs. This kind of state is a perfect state, like the Garden of Eden or the temple of
Sarastro (Berlin, I. 1969)
In positive liberty we expect media practitioners to be rational and understanding their limits (i.e. Adhering
to existing rules and regulations). In positive liberty we expect that media practitioner who are rational and
know their limits will stop desiring what they cannot realise or achieve. In this sense positive liberty help a
person remain a master of his own situation regardless of whether he is in prison or regardless of whatever
external obstacles that authorities put upon him, and this is not desired situation for the growth of mass
media (Berlin, L. 1969). Berlin concluded that an ultimate end of positive freedom is death since the more
you learn to survive in presence of limitations and obstacles the more obstacles increases until surviving
becomes impossible and for this survival of media depends a lot on absence of limitations and that is
negative freedom
Conclusion
Philosophers at least since Plato's time have put forward answering some critical questions about freedom.
Many questions are directly linked to what is the best form of freedom between Negative and positive
freedom. For example, what are limits of media freedom in a free state? Should individuals and government
tolerate unlimited freedom of speech, no matter how offensive the views expressed? Can the state ever be
justified in interfering with media practice? When, if ever, is coercion acceptable? It is also important to find
answers to questions like are all laws obstacles to freedom, or are they the very condition of achieving
freedom as it is identified in positive liberty?
Since mass media exist in a society, it is true that media should operate responding to social norms and
ethics. Ethical guidelines and laws should be designed in a way that they improve media performance

instead of functioning as an obstacle to media freedom. Since human desires often conflict, it could be
impossible for mass media to exist and survive in absence of regulations. It is therefore true that existence of
ethical guidelines, media laws and regulations that does not interfere media independence is important for
media development.

Published by
Benedicto Luvanda
BA. Public Relations & Advertising
MA. Mass Communication
0717549864

Reference
Berlin, I. 1969. Four Essays on Liberty.
Bernstenin, R et al, Handbook of arbitration Practice, Sweet and maxwell, London, 1998
Thomas, J. (2013). Media laws, policy reforms momentum renewal. State of Media Report. Media Council
of Tanzania (MCT). Dar es salaam
Tegambwage, N. (2013). Media CSOs no walk in the park. State of Media Report. Media Council of
Tanzania (MCT). Dar es salaam
Mzee H. (2013). Persistent threat to media freedom. State of Media Report. Media Council of Tanzania
(MCT). Dar es salaam
Mukajanga, M. (2013). [Interview with Ndimara Tegammbwage]
Positive and Negative Liberty entry by Ian Carter in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
http://www.misa.org/state-of-media-freedom-in-sadc-2013