The Journalists' Workers Union of Tanzania (JOWUTA), in partnership with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), is set to launch a series of training sessions for journalists across the country, focusing on how to report safely during the upcoming general election.
Organized by JOWUTA, the first phase of the training will take place in three key regions: the Coast, Southern Highlands, and Northern Zones.
The sessions will coincide with the commemoration of International Press Freedom Day, which will be celebrated in Arusha.
JOWUTA’s National Chairperson, Mussa Juma, made the announcement on April 10, 2025, following a visit by JOWUTA leaders to the headquarters of THRDC in Dar es Salaam.
During the visit, they held discussions with THRDC’s National Coordinator, Advocate Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa.
Juma shared that during an African journalists' conference in Senegal, followed by another in Rwanda, he requested the support of IFJ and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) to help train Tanzanian journalists on how to report on the election in a fair and safe manner.
"I requested their assistance with training, and after discussions, IFJ agreed to partially fund the initiative," he explained.
However, Juma pointed out that the high cost of organizing the training led JOWUTA to seek additional partners, with THRDC stepping forward to collaborate.
Advocate Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa of THRDC confirmed that the Coalition would contribute to covering part of the training expenses to ensure that journalists nationwide benefit from this important initiative.
"As key stakeholders in the protection of human rights, including the rights of journalists, we are committed to supporting this training so that journalists can report the general election accurately, fairly, and safely," he said.
Ngurumwa further noted that THRDC has been providing various training programs for journalists, including on election laws and workplace safety, to help them work in secure environments.
Earlier, JOWUTA’s Secretary-General, Seleman Msuya, emphasized that JOWUTA is the only legally recognized union in the country advocating for media workers’ rights and better working conditions.
He added that THRDC’s agreement to partner with JOWUTA was a positive move and would contribute significantly to ensuring that human rights defenders, including journalists, can operate safely.
Msuya also called on other stakeholders to join the initiative and support Tanzanian journalists through JOWUTA, which currently boasts more than 400 members nationwide.
