By Adonis Byemelwa
On May 5, 2025, Tanzanian journalists had a night to remember at the Samia Kalamu Awards, a grand event organized by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).
The evening was a celebration of excellence in journalism, but also a moment where the lines between media celebration, government patronage, and political symbolism became glaringly apparent.
The awards ceremony, which recognized outstanding stories across various sectors, saw 20 journalists receiving prestigious sectoral prizes, including land, motorcycles, smartphones, overseas trips, and a standard cash prize of TSh 5 million, alongside a certificate.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who graced the event, couldn’t contain her surprise at the scale of the rewards journalists were receiving. She had anticipated just certificates, but the significant prizes made a profound statement about the importance the government places on the media.
“I must congratulate my ministers,” she remarked, “It was as if you were competing among yourselves in awarding prizes. This will motivate journalists to write better, knowing that there’s a competition where they can win awards.”
The night’s high point came with the recognition of veteran journalists, including Absalomu Kibanda, Deodatus Balile, Mbaraka Islam, and Hawra Shamte, who received special recognition from the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports. These journalists were honored for their political stories that fostered unity rather than division, each receiving a hefty TSh 10 million cash prizes.
President Samia also presented awards herself, with notable highlights including Julius Maricha of The Citizen, who won the award for clean energy reporting, and Alfred Mushi of BBC Africa, who was crowned with the overall excellence in journalism award. In a rare gesture of respect for seasoned journalism, President Samia also handed TSh 20 million prizes to Tido Mhando and Maryam Hamdan.
While the night was full of fanfare and excitement, it raised important questions about the role of the media in Tanzania. The event, laden with rewards, spoke to the strong bond between government and media, yet it also felt curiously political.
At a time when Tanzania is approaching the 2025 elections, the implications of these awards, named after the sitting president, are hard to ignore. The question on many minds is: what does this mean for the media's independence, especially in a year of heightened political tension?
Critics are beginning to question whether the Samia Kalamu Awards, despite their prestige, could be seen as a tool to shape narratives ahead of the 2025 elections. The awards could be viewed as a means to inspire loyalty from journalists, subtly encouraging favorable coverage of the government. After all, it’s hard not to see the timing of this grand media event as politically strategic. With Tanzania heading into an election year, the President’s emphasis on “patriotic journalism” during her keynote address raised eyebrows.
Her call for journalists to avoid stories that tarnish the nation’s image could easily be perceived as a veiled warning, asking the press to align with government interests. President Samia explicitly urged local journalists to refrain from sharing stories that might “harm the nation,” specifically criticizing those who provided international outlets like Al Jazeera or BBC with stories that painted Tanzania in a negative light.
For some, this speech resonated with a call for responsible, nation-building journalism. For others, it sounded more like a plea for conformity. The risk here is not just the potential for self-censorship but a wider erosion of the freedom that allows the media to hold power accountable. How can journalists serve as the fourth estate if their work is seen as an extension of a political agenda?
The awards themselves—while undeniably generous and prestigious—also bring into focus the blurred lines between media recognition and political patronage. The cash prizes, the overseas trips, and the land parcels are undeniable incentives for journalists. But this raises the question: can a media outlet or journalist remain objective when their success is, in part, dependent on government favor?
Tanzania already has an established journalism award—the Excellence in Journalism Awards, organized by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT). This, unlike the Samia Kalamu Awards, is not affiliated with the government.
The MCT awards have long been recognized for their impartiality and their role in celebrating the best of Tanzanian journalism without any political strings attached. The MCT’s awards are seen as a more independent platform that celebrates journalistic excellence without the potential bias that comes with government involvement.
So, when comparing the two, the question arises: why has the government chosen to create its platform for awarding journalists, especially so close to an election?
The answer might be found in the growing influence of political narratives on the media landscape. The Samia Kalamu Awards represent a strategic move by the government to align the media landscape more closely with its own political goals.
The timing of this event cannot be overlooked, as it comes just months before the 2025 elections, a period when political discourse tends to become more polarized and contentious. In this light, the awards may be a subtle means to steer media coverage in a direction favorable to the ruling government, or at the very least, to ensure a level of compliance and goodwill among journalists.
Despite these concerns, it’s worth acknowledging that Tanzania’s media landscape faces significant challenges. Journalists work in a difficult environment, often under pressure, and with limited resources.
These awards, regardless of their political undertones, do provide recognition and financial support to deserving journalists. For many, the tangible rewards, such as the motorcycles and land, are more than just symbols of recognition—they are essential to their livelihoods. However, the question of whether these awards could potentially compromise the integrity of the media still lingers.
It’s essential to remember that journalism serves as the eyes and ears of the people, and its strength lies in its ability to act independently, free from government or corporate interference. As Tanzania’s media continues to evolve, the challenge will be finding ways to balance recognition and reward with editorial freedom and integrity.
When journalists are financially incentivized by the government, the question of independence inevitably arises: how can the media hold power to account if it is also financially dependent on those in power?
The Samia Kalamu Awards have shone a spotlight on the intersection of media, politics, and power. While it is undeniable that journalists deserve recognition for their hard work, the question of whether these awards foster a media landscape that is free from political influence is one that needs to be asked.
As Tanzania heads into the election year, it’s vital for the media to remain true to its role as a watchdog, ensuring that its work remains focused on the truth, and not shaped by political motives or rewards.
In the end, the true measure of journalistic excellence will not lie in the size of the cash prizes or the grandeur of the awards, but in the media’s ability to remain independent, truthful, and courageous—qualities that are needed now more than ever in a politically charged climate.
As the Samia Kalamu Awards and the MCT’s Excellence in Journalism Awards exist side by side, it will be up to the media to navigate these complex waters and ensure that their reporting continues to serve the public, not just the interests of the powerful few.
