A National Conversation: Governance and Media in Tanzania

This 2-page document shares research findings from BBC Media Action's governance project, A National Conversation, in Tanzania. Funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Governance Transparency Fund, A National Conversation operates in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania to increase government transparency, accountability, and public participation through the broadcast media. Since 2011, BBC Media Action has worked with the BBC Swahili service in Tanzania to produce the national radio talk show Haba Na Haba (Little By Little) and with six local partner radio stations to build capacity and programming at local level. The brief explains how audiences want an accountable, transparent government, as well as opportunities to participate in a state citizen dialogue, and how A National Conversation is helping to address this need.

In 2011-2012, BBC conducted research with audiences through a national survey and panel discussions, as well as in-depth interviews with partner station staff. This was designed to explore how media serves as a driver of domestic and/or institutional accountability and how the provision of platforms that provide information enable individuals, groups, communities, and societies to make more informed choices and hold government and other decision-makers to account. As stated in this brief, while Tanzania is a stable society, there is a lack of dialogue between officials and citizens. Many station managers commented that often leaders talk at the citizens, providing citizens with little or no opportunity to make their views known to their leaders or ask questions of them. However, there is a desire among audiences for programming that addresses issues that affect them.

In pre-testing groups for the Haba Na Haba radio talk show, many said they liked the programme for having real voices from different regions in Tanzania and for talking about issues relating to public services. After the broadcast of the third episode of Haba Na Haba, the programme received 120 messages from the public, many of which asked for the government to address infrastructure or public service delivery problems. This suggests that, despite a culture of public acquiescence, Tanzanians are eager for a more transparent and accountable government, and they seek to participate in a state-citizen dialogue.

BBC Media Action is also working to build the capacity of local partner stations to provide such programming and opportunities for citizens to participate in governance discussions. Trainers have focused on teaching station staff editorial and production skills. This has included a course on package making, which enables producers to broadcast the voices of ordinary people during the programme. Station staff reported an increase in confidence about making objective programming that acts as a roundtable for a discussion among all interested parties.

The brief concludes that, while audiences want accountable, transparent government and opportunities to participate, politicians are reluctant to participate in programming they feel will potentially embarrass them. Programming should focus on addressing issues of concern to ordinary citizens and incorporating real voices from the communities. As far as possible, programmers should aim to bring in politicians to speak around issues of governance but will need to assure politicians that the goal of the programmes is not to embarrass leaders but to bring them closer to their citizens.