A BIG SHAME ON THE TANZANIA BROADCASTING CORPORATION !
SUNDAY NEWS Reporters, 28th August 2010
Insults and hate speeches against CCM and other parties dominated the CHADEMA election campaign launch on Sunday, forcing the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation [TBC] to suspend live transmission of the event at Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam.
TBC Director General, Mr Tido Mhando said later that they cut off nationalwide broadcasting to remind the opposition party of its obligation to condact decent campaigns are required by a code of conduct signed by all political parties. There was also similar agreement between CHADEMA and the station.
"We suspended live broadcasting because CHADEMA went contrary to our agreement, which, among other issues, emphasizes decent conduct. We are glad that they realized their mistake and reformed, after which we immediately resumed our coverage,"clarified Mr Mhando in a telephone interview aftrewards.
The diatribe against the ruling party and its presidential candidate, President Jakaya Kikwete, was led by CHADEMA legal secretary Tundu Lissu, NCCR-Mageuzi defector Mabere Marando and CCM defectors turned the opposition party's parliamentary candidates Fred Mpendazoe and John Shibuda.
The attacked the government over grand corruption accusing the CCM candidate and his predecessors of endorsing dubious deals, including the siphoning of funds from Central Bank's External Payments Accounts [EPA].
Their messages urged workers, pastoralists, artisanal miners, midwives, teachers, higher learning students and retirees not to vote for CCM. They also attacked election coordinating bodies and their leadership, such as the National Electoral Commission [NEC], the office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau [PCCB], accusing them of favouring the ruling party.
After interruption of live coverage of the campaign, members of the TBC broadcasting teams at Jangwani were besieged by rowdy CHADEMA members and supporters, who insulted and told them to leave the grounds.
CHADEMA Chairman, Freeman Mbowe later pleaded for the crew but joined the attack on TBC management, threatening unleash the crowd on them.
"You should know that you go on air using tax-payers' money. If the crowd present here descends on you no armed force can save you," he said to TBC bosses.
Meanwhile, Dr Slaa on Sunday unveiled his party’s 2010 Election Manifesto which primarily focuses on nine priority areas, that include building of strong economy based on strong tertiary industries and provision of quality education and other social services as well as promotion of good governance.
He told the gathering that it was through sound tertiary industries that the country would be able to bring about agricultural development.
“We should not deceive ourselves that there can be any agriculture transformation by using power tillers which cannot till hard surfaces,” he argued.
He said that the country cannot just indulge in Kilimo Kwanza without first researching on other variables, such as comparative advantages and markets for the produce.
The presidential aspirant also said if elected to power his government would raise compulsory education to form six, which would be provided for free to all Tanzanian children.
He said he would also come up with new government structure which would be lean and less costly. The move, he said was aimed to minimize wastage as 75 per cent of the revenue was currently going into the running of the government.
The money to be saved, he said would go into financing development activities. Dr Slaa further promised to provide employment and decent work and raise the minimum wage to 315,000/- per month.
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