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Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Mwanakwetu woke up and, after checking his calendar, realized it was World Press Freedom Day. Because of the importance of this day, Mwanakwetu, as a journalist, decided to write an article to mark the occasion.
He turned on his computer, but unfortunately it didn’t start because there was no electricity in the area that morning. So he went back to his bed, turned on his phone, increased the volume, and started listening to music. After about ten minutes, the power came back. He got up and returned to his computer to write his article for World Press Freedom Day. Suddenly, the electricity went off again, and even though his computer had powered on, it didn’t stay on for long.
Mwanakwetu went back to bed, continuing to listen to a program about World Press Freedom Day 2026. After a while, his phone battery died, and it switched off, causing him to fall asleep again.
While asleep, he had several dreams:
“In one dream, he was
reading a message from someone with the number +255782047971, who had quoted
one of Mwanakwetu’s articles in a WhatsApp group. The person greeted him,
saying, ‘Brother, are you well?’ Mwanakwetu replied, ‘I’m well.’ Then the
person wrote:
‘If there are any challenges in public service, submit your advice in writing
instead of using social media, boss.’
In the dream, Mwanakwetu wondered: What’s wrong with this person? You punish someone, then come from where you are and try to teach them how to express themselves? You may have the right to punish, but you don’t have the right to tell me how to cry—I will cry the way I want.
Another image appeared in his dream involving Ambassador Humphrey Polepole. Mwanakwetu wondered why Polepole was not abducted when he was a Member of Parliament, nor when he was Tanzania’s Ambassador to Malawi or Cuba, but only after leaving office and becoming active on social media, educating citizens on various societal issues.
He also questioned why judges or members of parliament are not abducted, but those targeted are often people active on social media—especially those educating the public through information technology.”
Among the many things he dreamed, two stood out:
“First, he dreamed he was attending a job interview at TBC headquarters in 2009. In the panel sat Tido Mhando as the chairperson.
Tido said:
‘You are a teacher with a teaching diploma and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. I’ve read your newspaper articles—they are good, as you attached them to your application. If you get a job here at TBC as a program producer, you will have a greater opportunity to expand your audience. A teacher reaches maybe 40, 80, or 100 students at a time, but here at TBC Taifa (formerly RTD), your voice reaches the entire nation. That means you’ll educate a much larger audience. That is journalism—the profession with the widest reach of public education in the world.’
In the dream, Mwanakwetu deeply reflected on why he left teaching—a job he did well for nearly ten years without threats or harassment—and entered journalism, which had brought him trouble: being fired, arrested, summoned by police, detained, threatened, and more. Meanwhile, people were being abducted and their whereabouts unknown.
He wondered: Why should I die in this profession, leaving my relatives in uncertainty, waiting and hoping I’ll return? Just because I chose to pursue the career I studied voluntarily?
He also questioned the idea that the media is the ‘fourth pillar’ after the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. If that were truly the case, why are judges, MPs, and leaders safe, while journalists face danger? Is this ‘fourth pillar’ just an illusion? A deceptive label?
He concluded in the dream: The media is a ‘pretend pillar.’
Suddenly, music started playing again, waking him up. He realized the electricity had returned. He turned on his computer and decided to write this article based on everything that had happened—the power outages and the dreams he had.”
Mwanakwetu’s message for today:
“Press freedom is the right of journalists and media (newspapers, radio, television, digital platforms) to gather, publish, and distribute information without interference, control, or fear of punishment from the government or any authority. This freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, enabling citizens to access accurate information and hold leaders accountable. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published an annual index since 2002 ranking 180 countries based on press freedom every May 3—World Press Freedom Day—established by UNESCO in 1991. Press freedom often faces challenges from governments, security agencies, and even media owners, including threats to journalists and content control, an issue still widely debated worldwide.”
He reminds the reader: this day is for journalists worldwide. The suppression of press freedom does not only harm journalists—it harms society by denying it the truth.
He recalls Tido Mhando’s words about the power of journalism to educate the masses.
He also reflects on the earlier message criticizing him for using social media to raise issues about public service budgeting. Mwanakwetu insists his article was constructive advice, questioning why a large budget allocation for recurrent expenditure shouldn’t instead go to development projects.
Given all these challenges, he argues that the media should not be grouped with the other three pillars of government—doing so risks making it merely a symbolic or ‘pretend’ pillar.
He concludes by affirming his commitment: despite everything, he will continue practicing journalism wholeheartedly, with the strength God grants him.
“Media: A Pretend Pillar.”
Have a good day.
makwadeladius @gmail.com
0717649257
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