MEDIA Council of Tanzania (MCT) executive secretary Ernest Sungura has been elected World Association of Press Councils (WAPC) secretary general.

A statement by the media body said yesterday that the second conference of independent media councils in Africa (NIMCA) in Arusha from Monday to Thursday this week also elected the MCT leader vice chairman for East African Press Councils (EAPC), a body attached to WAPC.

This election chiefly arose from his successful leadership in organizing the pivotal international conference which attracted over 500 participants from Africa along with parts of Asia and Europe.

MCT said in the statement that the CEO’s appointment to the two important positions reflects the confidence that media stakeholders within and beyond Africa have in Tanzania and in his leadership.

“As the first WAPC secretary general from this region and vice chairman of EAPC, Sungura represents Tanzania in shaping the future of journalism and press councils across Africa and globally,” it said.

He will work alongside David Omwoyo, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), who has been elected president of WAPC and also serves as chairperson of EAPC.

Peter Okello from the Media Council of Uganda was elected secretary of EAPC, and Habiba Alasow Mohamed from the Federation of Somali Journalists was elected EAPC treasurer, the statement indicated.

Ali Hancerli from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was appointed first vice president of WAPC, while its second vice president is Kishor Shrestha from the Press Council of Nepal.

Dr Tamer Ataburut of the Press Council of Turkey will serve as treasurer of WAPC, it further noted.

The MCT administrator has also served as inaugural MIMCA chairman from May 2024 to July 2025, laying the foundation for future leadership and now hands over the NIMCA role to Pathiswa Magopeni, director general of the Press Council of South Africa.

The MCT board of directors congratulated Sungura on his appointments, asserting that he will fulfill his international duties effectively and contribute to the development of policies and regulations that support journalists in WAPC member states.

This is based on efforts to ensure that such regulations are grounded in transparency, resilience and strong journalistic ethics,” the board statement affirmed

 WAPC was initiated in 2004 as a dynamic global forum dedicated to upholding the highest standards of ethical journalism, standing for press freedom, integrity and accountability across media landscapes worldwide.

The WAPC secretariat is based in the Turkish commercial capital of Istanbul, where the WPAC treasurer plays a pivotal role in managing key administrative and coordination functions, ensuring smooth operations and strategic alignment, officials noted.