We are Not Fighting Media, Government Spokesperson
Deputy Government spokesman Mwanaisha Chidzuga (Photo/ Courtesy)
By The COAST Team
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The deputy government spokesman Mwanaisha Chidzuga has asked journalists to execute their mandate and stop from engaging in media ‘activism’.
The spokesperson alleges that in recent times the media has been drifting to activism especially in its coverage of anti-government protests.
According to her there are instances where the media breaches its own code of ethics without an iota of the impact of its reporting to the country.
“Tufanye kazi lakini tusipite mipaka,lazima sisi sekta ya wanahabari tujiulize sisi ni wanahabari ama wanaharakati (Let’s do our job without going beyond our positions, we must refrain from activism as journalists).”
In her view, journalists are spreading propaganda that is denting the government’s image saying individual journalists should take responsibility of their negative reporting.
“We have letters written to individual media houses warning them against going against their mandate. We thank Comunication Authorit of Kenya (CAK) for doing so to ensue te media platform i not used to burn the country.”
However, she says her sentiments should not be construed to mean that the government is fighting the media.
“The government respects the role played by the media in building the nation.
We have no business kupigana na wanahabari, maswala ambayo wanahabari wa taifa hili wanzungumzia, mataifa mengine hapa Tanzania na Uanda hawawezi.”
Responding to media queries on security agents shooting at journalists, she questioned the authenticity ofvideo doing rounds online about the Nakuru-based journalist Catherine Wanjeri who is still recuperating from bullet wounds.
Chidzuga said that investigations were underway on those lost their lives that were lost during the protest adding that the government would follow the law to ensure sanity was back in the country.
“We have an obligation to protect the lives and property of Kenyns.It’s unfortunate that some people lost their lives, but investigations are ongoing t establish those who were injured and killed how it happened.”
However, the spokesperson was quick to point out that there was no excuse for the vandalism and looting of property witnessed during the protests.
“What we are asking is that lets us cooperate and protect the country, even as we engage on our constitutional right of picketing, let’s do it in a way that does not leave others losing property.”
