Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, has issued a stern reminder that engaging in journalistic work without official accreditation constitutes a breach of national law.
Speaking at the opening of the African Press Councils Conference in Arusha, Prof. Kabudi stated that under the Media Services Act, individuals practicing journalism without a Press Card issued by the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) are operating illegally.
“This is my Press Card,” said Prof. Kabudi, holding up his badge before the audience. “I was not given this out of courtesy. I submitted my academic credentials in journalism and followed all the necessary procedures through the TAI-HABARI system. I expect every journalist to do the same.”
The Minister emphasised that the Press Card is more than a formality it is a legal requirement and a benchmark of professional integrity.
He called on all media practitioners to regularise their accreditation status to protect both their rights and the credibility of the media sector.
In a moment of levity, Prof. Kabudi turned to the host of the conference, Mr. Kajubi Mukajanga, the retired Executive Secretary of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), asking whether he had obtained his own Press Card.
Mr. Mukajanga responded that he had not yet done so but intended to complete the process once his documentation was finalised.
The African Press Councils Conference, now in its second edition, is being hosted in Tanzania for the first time, following its inaugural event last year in South Africa.
The gathering brings together key stakeholders in media regulation, press freedom, and ethical journalism from across the continent.
The event was officiated by the Vice President of Tanzania, Dr. Philip Mpango, who underscored the government’s commitment to supporting an independent and responsible media environment.