THE Coalition on the Right to Information (CoRI) is in the final stages of formulating a robust advocacy strategy to protect journalists’ safety, promote media freedom and ensure accountability in the lead-up to Tanzania’s general election scheduled for late October.

Ernest Sungura, the CoRI chairman who is also executive secretary for the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) unveiled this initiative during a CEOs’ strategy meeting held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, designed to address mounting concerns about press freedom, access to information and the ability of journalists to operate without restrictions during the politically sensitive election period.

The strategy is aligned with the coalition’s long-standing mission of safeguarding the right to information and supporting a media environment that is independent, transparent and accountable, he stated.

“This strategy will enhance the coalition’s efforts to uphold the right to information while encouraging independent, transparent and accountable media practices,” he further noted.

Stakeholders deliberated on a number of critical issues, particularly legal and regulatory constraints that may hinder election coverage, he said, affirming that one such concern is the regulation barring election supervisors from speaking to journalists without prior clearance from relevant authorities.

This measure raises worries as to its potential ability to stifle the flow of essential information to the public, he said, underlining that the advocacy strategy will include engagement with policy makers, awareness campaigns and coordinated action among member organizations.

The idea is to promote a safer and more enabling environment for journalists, whereas a key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) among CoRI members.

The text will serve as a cohesive framework for collaboration and joint action in the run-up to and beyond the polls, expected to define operational priorities, roles as the coalition’s voice in championing media rights, he said.

Founded in 2006, CoRI is a coalition of civil society and media organizations committed to advancing the right to access public information, a principle central to democratic governance.

The coalition comprises about 16 organizations, including the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), the Tanzania Media Foundation (TMF), Twaweza, Sikika, Jamii Africa plus the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).

Others include Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT), the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), and the Media Institute of Southern Africa – Tanzania Chapter (MISA-Tan).

The much anticipated polls present both an opportunity and a test for Tanzania’s democratic space, with CoRI’s renewed effort seeking to ensure that journalists can inform the public effectively and safely during this critical period, the organizer intoned.