Mazouna Tragedy: Journalists’ Syndicate Condemns ‘Poor Crisis Management and Lack of Communication Strategy

The National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) today, Tuesday, condemned what it described as the mismanagement of the crisis following the tragic death of three students after the collapse of a wall at the secondary school in Mazouna, as well as the absence of a communication strategy to provide the media and the public with accurate and timely information—therefore ensuring the public’s right to know the truth and to establish responsibility.

In its statement, the union said: “Journalists faced unlawful obstacles in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid as they attempted to inform the public about the reality of the situation.” It held the authorities responsible for the decline of conditions and tensions in the region due to the policy of secrecy that accompanied the tragedy and the spread of misleading information related to it.

The SNJT called on the Prime Minister’s office to revoke Circulars No. 4 and 19, arguing that they obstruct the right to access information and impose unlawful restrictions on public employees and the departments they work in, by requiring prior authorizations to speak to the media—permissions that are not stipulated by law.

It furthermore urged the Ministries of Health and Education to revise their communication policies and adopt the principles of crisis communication in managing such tragic events, in order to address the shortcomings observed so far.

The union extended its sincere condolences and solidarity to the people of Mazouna and to the families of the victims of this painful tragedy. It also called on field journalists to explain the difficulties they encounter in accessing information to both local residents and the broader public, and to expose these barriers in order to pressure authorities into resolving them.

(Source: Tunis Afrique Presse)