Africa-Press – Tanzania. AS Tanzania prepares for the 2025 General Election, with campaigns having officially begun on 28 August and voting scheduled for 29 October, attention is not only on political parties and their candidates but also on the media.
Far more than just transmitting campaign messages, the media will determine whether Tanzanians go to the polls well informed, whether peace is safeguarded during this critical moment and whether the integrity of the process is preserved in the eyes of the citizens and the general international community.
Here, the media acts as the bridge between political parties, institutions and the people. For many Tanzanians, especially those in rural areas, it is the only means through which they can understand what is at stake.
Newspapers, radio, television and digital platforms are the channels through which manifestos are communicated, promises interrogated and competing visions of the future debated. Journalists are, therefore, custodians of the public interest.
Elections belong to the people and through the media their voices and concerns are reflected in the national conversation. Yet challenges loom large. In the digital age, misinformation and disinformation have emerged as global threats and Tanzania is not immune.
WhatsApp, TikTok and Facebook have enabled unverified claims to spread in minutes, often stoking suspicion and divisions. During the 2020 election, civil society raised alarm over fake news circulating online, much of it designed to distort public perception.
Going into 2025, the risk has grown with artificial intelligence tools capable of producing fabricated images and videos.
This makes traditional media all the more important. By fact-checking, contextualising and balancing information, it provides a corrective against the flood of falsehoods. Without this role, Tanzanians could go to the polls misinformed, undermining both trust in institutions and the legitimacy of the process.
The Tanzanian media has travelled a long road since multiparty politics was restored in 1992. The first multiparty election in 1995 exposed weaknesses, with the press accused of lacking professional capacity and tilting coverage towards dominant political forces. By 2005, a growing number of private broadcasters had introduced greater diversity, though polarisation also became visible.
In 2010, televised debates between presidential candidates marked progress in democratic engagement. The 2015 campaign season brought unprecedented coverage, including vibrant social media debates, but accusations of bias persisted. Experts insist the media’s role is not only to inform but also to protect peace.
University of Dar es Salaam researcher Abdallah Katunzi has reminded journalists that silence in the face of actors seeking to disrupt harmony is dangerous.
Across Africa, examples exist of reckless reporting fuelling unrest. Kenya’s 2007 election stands as a stark warning of how inflammatory radio broadcasts contributed to deadly violence.
For Tanzania, long admired for its stability, the lesson is clear: The media must avoid such pitfalls. Editorial choices should reduce tensions, not inflame them. By emphasising issues that unite Tanzanians namely in jobs, health, education and infrastructure, journalists can direct attention away from divisive rhetoric.
Peace is also safeguarded through accuracy. In volatile times, a false report, a premature declaration or a misquote can trigger unrest.
Responsible journalism means verifying before publishing, even if that means being slower than social media. Providing space for official institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission to communicate clearly also helps reduce confusion.
This is not censorship but responsibility. Beyond watchdog functions, the media is an educator. Many citizens, especially firsttime voters, may not fully understand electoral laws, registration requirements or voting procedures. Journalists bridge this gap by simplifying complex processes and running civic education programmes.
Mr Katunzi has stressed that journalists themselves must first master election laws and party manifestos before teaching others. In this dual role as both student and teacher, they build an informed electorate. Lessons from other African democracies are instructive.
Ghana has used community radio to reduce invalid votes through civic education. South Africa’s televised debates have forced politicians to defend their policies under public scrutiny. Nigeria has developed fact-checking networks to combat online disinformation during elections.
Tanzania can learn from these approaches, especially by using local-language radio to reach rural voters. The media also creates platforms for debate. Elections should not be confined to rallies but should involve open dialogue where citizens can question leaders.
Through interviews, talk shows and opinion columns, journalism ensures that policies are tested and visions contested. Dr Egbert Mkoko of the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication has argued that fairness, equality and professionalism must guide these debates.
When done responsibly, they strengthen democracy by holding leaders accountable and including citizens in the conversation. Regulation of the media is another dimension. Freedom of expression is guaranteed, but it exists within laws designed to prevent abuse.
Overregulation risks silencing critical voices, while under-regulation can allow hate speech and dangerous rumours to flourish. International standards, from the African Union’s declaration on media freedom to SADC election guidelines, emphasise independence and responsibility in equal measure.
For Tanzania, aligning with these principles will help secure confidence both at home and abroad. The international community often assesses elections partly on media performance. Balanced airtime, fair access for opposition voices and diverse representation are key benchmarks.
Ensuring these conditions in 2025 will strengthen trust in the outcome. Ultimately, the Tanzanian media’s responsibility in this election goes far beyond covering rallies or announcing results. It is about safeguarding democracy itself.
Journalists must be educators, peacebuilders, watchdogs and moderators all at once. This requires courage, independence and strict ethical standards. Partisanship, sensationalism and carelessness must be resisted.
The cost of failure is high: Misinformed voters, polarisation and even unrest. If the media succeeds, Tanzanians will vote with confidence and unity and the election will strengthen democracy.
If it fails, the damage could be lasting. The countdown to 29 October is therefore not only a test for parties and candidates but also for the press. Whether Tanzanian journalism can rise to the occasion will determine not just the credibility of the election but also the strength of democratic institutions in the years ahead.
At stake is not only who wins power but also whether the democratic process is protected. In that task, the media holds one of the most decisive responsibilities of all.
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