Joseph Isangura
The National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Tanzania has called on journalists covering the upcoming elections to ensure they have special identification cards on election day.
This is to guarantee smooth access to polling stations and maintain order during the voting process.
The announcement came during a one-day workshop held for media professionals and stakeholders from the Lake Zone region. The workshop aimed to strengthen collaboration for a peaceful, transparent, and professional election.
Dr. Egbert Mkoko, a lecturer at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC), explained that although journalists might already possess accreditation cards from the Tanzania Media Council, they will still be required to have a special permit issued by INEC to access polling centers.
He emphasized that these special election day IDs will be issued free of charge.
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Editors and media managers are encouraged to submit the names of their journalists ahead of time to make the distribution process efficient.
Andrew Kisaka, Manager of Broadcasting Services at the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), urged journalists to uphold high ethical standards. He called on the media to report election news with fairness, accuracy, transparency, and professionalism, highlighting the crucial role that journalism plays in fostering trust during elections.
The workshop underscored the media’s responsibility in promoting peaceful elections by providing balanced and credible information to the public. Such efforts help ensure voter confidence and the overall integrity of the electoral process.
