JamiiForums
JamiiForums is a Social Enterprise based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania that advocates and promotes Civil and Digital Rights, Social Justice, Accountability, Democracy and Good Governance.
 | |
 Screenshot of the JamiiForums main page on September 07, 2023 | |
| Type of business | Non Government Organization |
|---|---|
Type of site | forums |
| Available in | Swahili, English |
| Founded | March 2006 as JamboForums |
| Headquarters | Plot 447, Avocado Street, Kawe, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Owner | Jamii Forums |
| Founder(s) | Maxence Melo Mubyazi |
| Key people | Maxence Melo Mubyazi (CEO and founder), |
| Services | Web communications |
| URL | www |
| Advertising | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | 2006 |
| Current status | Active |
Operates JamiiForums.com, Tanzania’s famous digital content platform, well known for Stories-of-Change with a proven track record over 20yrs in citizen participation around critical social issues.
Mission and Vision
Vision
JamiiForums' Vision is to have "Netizens making Informed Decisions"
Mission
Building an inclusive Digital Community while empowering Netizens and extending access to Quality and Credible Information.
Governance Structure
The top organ in decision making for JamiiForums is the Board of Directors while the operations are led by the Executive Director with five departments-Programs, Finance, Human Resources, Research & Development and Legal department
History
JamiiForums is a Tanzania-based social networking website in East Africa was founded in 2006. The online network is notable as the most popular social media website in Tanzania, according to AllAfrica.[1] The website emphasizes its use of user-generated content to avoid penalties faced by traditional media for reporting issues in Tanzania. According to Washington Post, recent Tanzanian bills have caused significant worry over potential media crackdown in Tanzania, though its founders faced several law charges over the years.[2]
JamiiForums was officially launched in March 2006 with the name JamboForums, and comprised several online subforums. In May 2008 they changed their name to JamiiForums due to copyright issues.[3] In March 2016, Jamii Media filed a lawsuit against the federal Tanzanian police force, alleging that the police force's power to demand personal information of individuals suspected of crimes was unconstitutional. The case will be processed through the High Court of Tanzania.[4]
Programs
JamiiForums has eight programs which are all linked
Citizen Participation
In promotion of Freedom of Expression and Access to the Right Information, JamiiForums operates JamiiForums.com platform through Content Curation and Value. This empowers Tanzanians online to exercise their constitutional rights guaranteed by article 18.
Citizen Voices Amplification
Another Project that JamiiForums runs in promotion of Freedom of Expression, through Strategic Public Engagement (including Voice Engagements) across major Social Media platforms and specifically Stories-of-Change program that empowers citizens journalists to go beyond reporting and suggest changes they want in their community.
Most stories that are published by citizen journalists through the Stories-of-Change platform have been taken by authorities in Tanzania to bring about change in several areas. Example TANESCO(Country energy supplier) changed their energy meters to smart ones[5][6]
Information Fact-Checking
In its efforts to fight mis- and disinformation in Tanzania, JamiiForums empowers citizens who are part of the information fact-checking process via JamiiCheck platform. The platform was launched in November 2022 and has gained popularity amongst Tanzanians online who use it to cross-verify information they receive.
JamiiForums Fact-Checking platform play a crucial role in verifying and providing accurate information about claims, statements, and news stories. JamiiForums investigate various claims, check their accuracy, and publish their findings to help the public make informed decisions.
Accountability
JamiiForums being known as ‘The Home of Whistleblowers” came up with a project that engages multiple stakeholders, including the government and created a tool that empowers whistleblowers called "Fichua Uovu" which allows anonymous submissions on corruption-related case in Tanzania.
Youth Engagements
In order to influence future leaders in Tanzania, JamiiForums runs a number of engagements with youth in Universities and Political parties on issues that raise their critical thinking around Governance, Democracy and Social Justice.
Data Protection/Privacy
JamiiForums managed to push for enactment of Tanzania’s Data Protection Act with its Regulations. JamiiForums started a Data Protection Academy, aiming at empowering Citizens other Stakeholders with knowledge on issues around right to privacy.
Media Empowerment
JamiiForums in partnership with Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC) Mentors Journalists on Investigative Journalism and Public Interest Journalism aiming at raising the quality of storytelling and Journalism in the country. JamiiForums also has ‘Change Project’ on Media Self-Regulation to empower journalists and Media on sustainability and self-regulation.
Digital and Cyber Safety
JamiiForums have series of Capacity building to Citizens, Civil servants, Law enforcers, CSOs, Journalists, Politicians and Judiciary on Digital Security and Cyber Safety aiming at having a resilient community on the digital space. Also, through Tanzania’s Digital Rights Coalition, awareness on Gender-based Violence is built through different approaches.
Controversy
According to The Daily Beast and The Guardian, the website became a whistle blowing platform focused on current events and news, placing the website in direct opposition with the leading Tanzanian political party Chama Cha Mapinduzi.[3][7][8] Tom Rhodes, a member of the Committee to Protect Journalists in East Africa, described the website as notable for its function as a "cathartic tool where even disgruntled politicians go and upload sensitive documents" in the Irish Times.[9]
Due to its use as a whistle blowing platform, BBC News characterized the website as an East African version of Wikileaks and noted concern over rumors that the website was being hacked by the Tanzanian government. BBC further indicated that Google's search engine had lowered the ranking of the site due to concern over government influence.[10]
Beyond user-generated content, the website advocates for freedom of media and digital rights in Tanzania. The director of the website spoke out against Tanzanian laws passed around 2016 that purportedly gave too much power to the Tanzanian National Bureau of Statistics.[11]
On December 16, 2016, its Director, Maxence Melo was arrested by Tanzania Police for allegedly refusing to disclose the identities of anonymous bloggers and contributors who, the Tanzanian authorities claim, posted sensitive information on his popular blogging site[12]
The 3 cases opened against Melo were concluded with one victory on April 8, 2020 when he was found not guilty but on the other two cases he was convicted and had to pay TZS 5million for his freedom on November 17, 2020 [13]
From June 11, 2018, JamiiForums service was shut down and the platform was temporarily unavailable online due to failure of its owners to comply with government requirements of exposing users information and delaying paying registration fees as due to announcement made by Tanzania Regulatory Authority (TCRA). However, it resumed operation 21 days later.
References
- "Tanzania: Jamiiforums Drags the Police to Court Over Whistleblowers". allAfrica.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- Attiah, Karen (May 15, 2015). "The U.S. needs to stop ignoring Tanzania's media crackdowns". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "The Tanzanian Online Community Forum Giving the Government Sleepless Nights". Techmtaa. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- Lamtey, Gadiosa (March 5, 2016). "Tanzania: Jamiiforums Drags the Police to Court Over Whistleblowers". The Citizen. AllAfrica. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- "Publication on JamiiForums authored by a user, detailing modifications to the present energy procurement mechanism of Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited". July 18, 2021.
- "TANESCO start trials for smart meters".
- Lopez, Oscar (October 24, 2015). "Tanzania's Election Crackdown on Dissent". The Daily Beast. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- McNeish, Hannah (July 8, 2015). "Tanzania accused of making laws on the hoof in 'Kafkaesque' curb on free speech". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "Mobile phones serve as conduit to freer media alternatives in Kenya". The Irish Times. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "African jitters over blogs and social media - BBC News". BBC News. June 16, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "Statistics Act, Cybercrime law unconstitutional - rights group". www.ippmedia.com. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- "Who is Maxence Melo, Tanzanian founder of JamiiForums arrested for not disclosing anonymous sources?". December 14, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- "Jamii Forums founder Maxence Melo convicted on obstruction charge, released in Tanzania". November 19, 2020.