By Lake Zone Watch Writer
The challenge facing Tanzanian journalists who believe in the world of developmental as well as constructive journalism is to ensure that the public get accurate information to enable them make informed decisions in their day-today-day development activities.
This is the view expressed by Mara Regional Commissioner, Col Evans Mtambi, when he opened a conference that yesterday Friday, July 5, 2024, discussed Mara region’s available potential investment opportunities in various sectors of the economy.

“The challenge that we’ve is that we who write from Mara region are not doing enough to promote our region. Mara region has so many national as well as international investment opportunities which the media can promote and attract investors globally,” Col Mtambi said.
Mara region boasts of the World Heritage Site of Serengeti National Park, the Grumeti-Ikorongo Game Reserves in western Serengeti, Lake Victoria, among others, which are tourist attractions generating a huge chunk of foreign exchange from holidaymakers from across the world.
Not only does the region boast of tourist attractions, but also the Lake Victoria-bordering area is also famous for gold mining, Arabica coffee growing, fishing and livestock keeping as key dependable sectors of economic growth.
Inviting Col Mtambi to open the conference, attended by journalists, development stakeholders, government officials, religious leaders and other professionals, Mara Regional Press Club (MRPC) chairman, Jacob Mugini, announced the launch of a Journalism Quality Award for its members, who will excel in promoting the region as the best destination for investment and living beginning this December, 2024.
“The awards will be in the form of certificates and cash to recognize and promote quality journalism which will project Mara region as the best place for investment and living,” Mugini told the Regional Commissioner in his introductory message.
Selected sectors for the Journalism Quality Award include agriculture, livestock development, mining, tourism, conservation, infrastructure development wildlife conservation, sustainable fishing and gender-based violence, Mugini said.
“”We believe that quality journalism in these areas will support President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government accelerate the pace of Mara region’s development and the nation at large,” the Mara press club leader, who also owns the Sauti ya Mara newspaper, said.
He paid glowing tribute to development stakeholders who contributed towards the organisation of the conference. They include B North Mara Gold Mine, Grumeti Reserves, Grumeti Fund, Swala Solutions, Wakulima wa Mara Cooperatives Union (WAMACU), HAIPPA, Nyihita Sunflower Oil Production, the Regional Commissioner’s Office, Sauti ya Mara newspaper, Mara Regional Press Club and MK Hotel Ltd.