Reporters should not be influenced by foreign media - Sania

DAR ES SALAAM - World Press Freedom Day has been marked here in Arusha, Tanzania, with journalists and media figures from more than 50 African countries calling on governments to allow greater freedom of expression on the continent.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was the chief guest, reiterated her government’s position that journalists should be allowed to operate freely. She however said that African reporters must aim for positive reportage.

"We should make our African media platforms cherish our development goals and promote Africa’s rich resources, rather than stereotypical reporting under the influence of foreign media," President Samia insisted.

Journalists in Tanzania have been complaining about the different laws and regulations that they say stifle media freedom. But President Samia said a review is in progress and amendments will happen soon. The president said her administration is now in dialogue with media stakeholders following complaints that the laws were hindering media development in Tanzania.

Most reporters agree that the situation for journalists has improved since President Samia came to power in March last year following the death in office of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

Meanwhile, looking at the continent as a whole there are too often "cases of arbitrary censorship, especially on the internet with occasional network shutdowns in some countries, arrests of journalists and violent attacks."

In its annual report, released on World Press Freedom Day, RSF says there is a wide variety of experiences for journalists across Africa.

Seychelles is the top-ranking African nation in RSF's global index - at number 13 out of 180 countries.

It says that the island nation "is one of the very rare African countries in which most journalists are women."

Namibia is next on this list - at number 18. Both Seychelles and Namibia are placed higher than the UK (24), France (26) and the US (42). – BBC.