Event Summary
On 3 March 2026, the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) gave senior journalist Paschal Mayalla 24 hours to verify a statement he made during the “Jambo Asubuhi” program on Jambo Television and cautioned Wilberforce Ngoto, a presenter. In the broadcast, Mayalla claimed that Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba was unhappy after mourners at the funeral mass of the late Cardinal Polycarp Pengo cheered several former national leaders, including Kassim Majaliwa, Dr. Philip Mpango, Joseph Warioba, and Mizengo Pinda, while he did not receive similar applause.
The Board said the remarks raised ethical concerns, as they appeared to draw unverified conclusions and present a personal claim without sufficient evidence. According to JAB, Mayalla acknowledged the issue, apologized, and pledged to exercise greater professionalism in future broadcasts. The Board subsequently issued him with a warning and reminded him to adhere to journalistic ethics and professional standards. In addition, Jambo TV, where the remarks were aired, was summoned by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and given a strong warning, while the station awaits any further regulatory action.
In a separate incident on 23 February 2026, JAB issued a warning to accredited journalist Kelvin Justine Raphael, popularly known as Zungu (Matejoo), for allegedly violating journalistic ethics in content he posted about an ATCL flight delay on 21 February 2026. The Board stated that the journalist used insulting and inappropriate language that lacked balance and did not comply with the principles of professional journalism. According to JAB, the remarks undermined the standards and reputation of the journalism profession. The Board ordered him to remove the content from all platforms, which was his personal social media accounts, and warned that repeated violations could lead to suspension or revocation of his accreditation.