Remarks by Susan Ngongi Namondo, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Tanzania — 2nd Pan African Media Councils’ Summit 2025

H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, The President of the United Republic of Tanzania

Honourable Ministers, 

Members of the Diplomatic Corps, 

Fellow UN Colleagues,

Government Officials, 

Esteemed Partners, 

Invited guests,

Asalaam Aleikhum,

Habari za asubuhi 

It is a great honour to join you at this important Summit—convened at a pivotal time for journalism and communication in Africa. The theme, “Advancing Media and Communication Regulations for Journalism Excellence in Africa,” speaks directly to the evolving challenges and opportunities that define our media environment today.

Allow me to begin by extending sincere appreciation to the African Network of Information Commissions (ANIC), UNESCO, and all convening partners for their steadfast leadership in championing dialogue and cooperation across the continent. Your collective efforts reflect a shared vision: to safeguard media freedom, uphold professional standards, and foster inclusive, credible, and ethical journalism.

Over the past two decades, Africa has witnessed a transformative shift in its media and communication landscape. The widespread adoption of digital technologies and mobile platforms has diversified how information is created, consumed, and debated. From traditional radio to social media and citizen journalism, these developments have expanded civic space, empowered communities, and enabled greater public oversight of governance.

We have also seen the rise of independent media outlets, cross-border investigative journalism networks, and fact-checking initiatives that help strengthen the public’s trust in credible information. Importantly, this transformation has amplified voices historically underrepresented: women, young people, persons with disabilities, and rural communities bringing to the fore narratives of resilience, innovation, and cultural identity.

Across Tanzania and the wider region, journalists are shaping public discourse, celebrating identity, and demanding accountability. These are encouraging signs of a media landscape that is growing more vibrant, diverse, and impactful. However, we must also confront the persistent and emerging challenges that threaten these gains.

Across the continent, media practitioners continue to navigate a complex and, at times, volatile environment, particularly during election periods and political transitions. In some settings, journalists face legal constraints, threats to their safety, and pressure that undermines their independence. At the same time, digital platforms, while powerful tools for connection and expression, are increasingly being exploited to spread disinformation, incite division, and target journalists with online harassment. Women journalists, especially those in investigative or leadership roles, are disproportionately affected by this toxic digital climate.

Other concerns, including declining public trust, commercial incentives for misinformation, and media ownership concentration, further strain the credibility and pluralism of media institutions.

In this context, the question is not just how to respond, but how to lead.

Africa needs a new generation of media and communication regulations, designed not to restrict but to protect. Protect civic space. Protect journalistic integrity. And protect every citizen’s right to participate meaningfully in public discourse.

At the continental level, this involves promoting model laws rooted in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa. It means strengthening the independence and capacity of media regulatory bodies. And it requires sustained investment in cross-border media networks, digital innovation, and journalist safety mechanisms.

At the national level, Tanzania’s recent legal reforms, including amendments to the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Media Services Act of 2016, represent important progress. These reforms have helped decriminalize defamation and reopened space for independent media operations. As these efforts continue, there is potential to further align legal frameworks with regional and international standards, enhance the autonomy of institutions such as the Media Services Council, and integrate media and digital literacy in education to build informed and engaged societies.

Ensuring inclusive access to media, especially for women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities, remains fundamental, particularly in the lead-up to elections and during national dialogues.

The United Nations remains a dedicated partner in this journey. Through our technical cooperation, policy dialogue, and support for innovation, we stand ready to work alongside national actors and regional institutions to promote media freedom, professionalism, and inclusive governance.

Looking to the future, technological disruption, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, calls for forward-thinking and inclusive governance. As Tanzania and other African countries develop AI strategies, there is an opportunity to embed ethical, rights-based safeguards into national frameworks. Algorithms are already shaping public knowledge and perceptions; regulatory models must ensure these systems uphold transparency, accountability, and non-discrimination.

In conclusion, the goal before us is not merely regulatory reform, it is transformation. Transformation of systems, of norms, and of mindsets. Let us envision an Africa where journalism is fearless, inclusive, and ethical; where media is central to development; and where civic space is protected, nurtured, and celebrated.

That is the Africa we aspire to. And together, we can build it.

Asanteni sana!