Abbas picked new Information Director

INFORMATION, Culture, Arts and Sports Minister Nape Nnauye has appointed Mr Hassan Abbas the Director of Tanzania Information Services, MAELEZO, and Chief Government Spokesperson.

Mr Nnauye told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the appointment follows the transfer of the former Director, Mr Assah Mwambene, who was shifted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation on March 7.

“The appointment of Mr Abbas was carried out as per the Public Service Act No 8 Section 6(1) (b) and became effective on August 5, this year,” said Mr Nnauye. Before his appointment, Mr Abbas was the Manager of Information and Communications at the President’s Delivery Bureau, which is responsible for the implementation of the Big Results Now (Project) BRN.

Mr Nnauye took the opportunity to extend recognition to Ms Zamaradi Kawawa, who was acting on the position “for the well-done job, which she carried out with the highest degree of commitment and integrity’’.

He called on media stakeholders and members of the public to work together with the newly-appointed director in his role as the Chief Government Spokesperson “We have great hopes with him and we believe the media will make major reforms to take us where we want to go,” he said.

On his part, Mr Abbas thanked the minister for the appointment, pledging major reforms in the department in accordance with changed times. “I will need time to plan and come up with a strategic plan along with creating mechanisms that would allow for feedback by the people. Expect changes in the department and the release of timely information,” pledged the new TIS director.

Mr Abbas called for cooperation, saying he has been in the media for about ten years beginning as a correspondent and rising to the top as a managing editor in addition to serving the government for about seven years in different positions.

“After identifying my priorities, I will call you to come and hear my strategies,” Mr Abbas pledged. Responding to a question on some of the infringing media laws in the country, the minister said much as efforts are being done in pioneering media bills, media outlets ought to respect and adhere to the existing laws.

“If the media carries inciting news, the government will act for the sake of maintaining law and order because there is no law without boundaries,” Mr Nnauye pointed out.