Press Releases

Graduation Ceremony of MAMET/Maarifa Media Trust

October 31, 2007

On October 31, Ambassador Green delivered the commencement address to 51 graduates of journalism at the MAMET/Maarifa Media Trust at Habari Corporation in Dar es Salaam. The Ambassador spoke about his service in public office and his family’s experience as editors of a newspaper in Queenstown, South Africa. Ambassador Green said, “journalism is a noble profession, one with great power and great responsibility. I urge you to grab on to that responsibility with both hands. Your country needs you.”

The Ambassador noted the significant role the press is playing in Tanzania saying, “there is a vibrant media fraternity here.” The Ambassador quoted Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice who said there is no more important pillar of democracy than a free and active press. He also related Thomas Jefferson’s sentiment about the press and democracy with his words “... were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Ambassador Green echoed “we believe that you cannot have true democracy and true freedom unless you have freedom of the press, and journalists who know how to use that freedom.

The Ambassador highlighted that over the last number of months, there have been many press stories about corruption and the need for greater transparency. Ambassador Green said, “there is a need to support President Kikwete in his push for reform and rooting out corruption. We must stand with him on this.” He added, “these stories mean that you live in a country that is free enough, and democratic enough, to talk about such things. You live in a place where the government respects press freedom and encourages scrutiny from journalists and, yes, even public criticism. There are countries where there are no stories like the ones we have been seeing . . . because the press dare not write them. Be proud of what you do, and be proud of a country that lets you do it!” He wished all the graduates hongera! congratulations and best wishes in their future endeavors.