Challenges facing Investigative Journalism in Tanzania,by Salehe Kifea

For more than two decades post political independece achieved in 1961, Tanzania had a party or state-controlled-press which provided no fertile land for the growth of the independent press.

Under such circumstsnces, Journalism was shaped in the slavish manner to satisfy the actual demands of the state irrespective of the majority disapproval of what the media presented to the mass.

Satisfaction of the minority vested with power was what the role of the press was determined by. The question of ivestigative Journalism, throughtout the stated period, had to be dependant on the approval of the Party or Government.

So, the primary challenge of the investigave Journalism in Tanzania is to master the carage to stand for The total transformation of the circumstances under which it works in order that nothing even the ruling party or the state should be a stumbling block to its operative process.

Thanks to the existing democratic system that has, at least, minimised some slavish attitude in the mind of some Journalists. But still, there is another challenge of freeing the mind of others whose working style is reminiscent of past-slavish way of playing their role in the society.

In other words, that is a challenge of getting the crew in the field of Journalism fully adapted to the one of the democratic requirements namely Freedom of Expression.

While audacity is of necesssity in the comprehensiveness of democratic Press, the political pressure is indispensable towards completely changing the mind set of the ruling class into allowing the smooth operation of Journalism, investigative in particular.

Because without this, the term ‘inestigative’ will, in some cases, face hardship in its contextual execution. The outcome of investigation is always of nagative and positive nature.

While ‘positive’ is easy to accept, ‘negative’ is often repudiated. That’s why you can see, sometimes, some Journalists being harrassed (Ulimwengu case), beaten (Ukonga Quarters), arrested, interrogated, charged and even jailed (Adam Mwaibabile).

The doors are always not open for investigative Journalism where negative outcome is not unexpected of a related person or entity. This person can do whatever even harm anyone intending to pen an investigative story about him/it or his/its affairs.

It becomes more dangerous when a person in question, is a holder of any post of authority. Therefore, the role of Journalists in the political changes is of paramount importance to themselves.

Unfortunately, however, the part Journalists have actually been playing in political matters, does not indicate their being fare-minded enough to help push efficiently the political wheel of development. It might be due to either slavish mentality or cowardice.

Take, for instance, the case of media-participation in the multi-party General Elections. In most cases they played a biased role in news-writing, publishing and broadcasting. One would find difficult to distinguish between the ruling party or state owned press and the independent private press.

Their role was openly to make sure that the ruling party won elections. This was not a good way of directing the new democratic course that is important in putting aright the media-balance in all fields. By having media of fair category, the society including the ruling class will be accustomed to Investigative Journalism.

Party, Government and individual reports should be treated equally by the Media. If the Journalist happens to be pro-certain party or candidate, he cannot conduct investigative survey when dealing with something negative on it or him.

This is, highly, a defficiency in process of investigative process. So, another challenge is for the media mens to stop being willing slaves before anybody regardless of his social status.

Moreover, Fighting against corruption within themselves and within their career is another big challenge facing the process of Investigative Journalism. If a Journalist is not unwilling to have his pen stopped or mouth muzzled by ‘something’, then the whole process of Investigative Journalism will be null and void.

If a Journalist is tempted to corruption, he may give up his ambition of investigation only at the begining of his efforts. Take for example certain bank is robbed, losing abundunt money then a Journalist is assigned the task of looking into the matter and come up with a deeply investigative report.

But once he begins the work, he is secretly assured of his package forty times of his diminutive monthly salary. Or he may be expensively bought to distort the truth about the matter. He will write according to his customers.

That is how corruption is harmful to investigative Journalism. The challenge can be faced morally by not agreeing to be bought at any cost. Under the current harsh economoic circumstances, This is a very tough challenge

Another challenge is related to the profession. Journalists have to be professional enough to efficiently deal with each and every area. Since Journalism has to cover all areas of life, profession in various aspects is very important.

One wanting to write a story on the banking misconduct, must have a profession in the banking affairs. Or if one wants to deal with the court issues, one has to possess a related knowledge in Laws. In this way, correct and complete information can be obtained.

Otherwise incorrect or incomplete information may lead to the dangerous information that may tarnish the image of the Journalist and the media he is working with, charge to the court of Law and even compensation.

Most of the stakeholders in the field of Journalism lack profession, Some have just found themselves Journalists only under Employment Pressure without any creativity in advance. Therefore, the challenge is for their media to provide them with access to profession.

Generally, Investigative Journalism faces such challenges at the moment in Tanzania.