It is advisable that the Zanzibar Information Service Act was passed before the next general election. – News

By Masanja Mabula, Pemba.

The Zanzibar House of Representatives is the authority to enact and revise the rules that seem to be outdated as well as the oppressive that deprives the freedom of some groups.

There are laws that the House of Representatives has enacted that undermine freedom of information and freedom of expression as section 30 that gives great authority the Minister of Information to shut down the media.

There are also other institutions whose function is to make an influence on legislative authorities to remove some of the laws that contradict the law that is the country's constitution.

The existence of opposition has prompted stakeholders and journalists to raise their voices to ask for some rules to be eliminated or amended to suit the current time.

The Zanzibar Constitution of 1984 Article 18 has given freedom of opinion, search, information, access and dissemination but some laws disagree with this provision of the Constitution.

In section 18 (1) it has stated that “without prejudice to other laws of the country, everyone has the right and freedom of opinion (expression) to seek, receive and disseminate their information and ideas through any media regardless of the boundaries of the country and also have the right and freedom to interfere with their communication”

There have been various efforts from stakeholders as well as journalists calling for some laws to be amended to remove the oppressive provisions that clearly oppose the freedom of the press in the country.

It has been a long time since the voices of stakeholders and journalists began to be heard complaining of the continuation of laws that are not in line with the constitutional requirements that advising the Information Services Bill to be sent to the House of Representatives to be quoted, to be discussed and fate should be passed on the new information law believing that you will be a challenge for the challenges they face.

Still the cry and voices of the media and journalists have not been resolved despite the relevant authorities hearing the cry that further weakens them while not knowing what to do.

It is about three years ago that media stakeholders and journalists were happy believing that their cries were going to get a tearful wiping, after the government began the process of passing the Information Act.

Various meetings of stakeholders and stakeholders have been held to gather the draft information law, in which journalists and stakeholders were filled with hope that this was a good start towards obtaining a new law that would be a law enforcement that impedes freedom of information.

Three human rights activist Abdalla Msellem has told the article that the delay in the passing of the Information Act is increasingly depriving journalists and stakeholders of their responsibilities effectively.

He has advised the Authority to have a third eye by looking at the costs used to organize the draft by organizing various conferences and conferences to gather stakeholder opinions but so far it is as if those efforts have been lost in vain.

“This is an economic problem, a lot of government funds have been spent on collecting the draft information law, so the failure to be approved is equivalent to the destruction of the country's taxpayers' money,” he said.

He added that during the period towards the General Election, the Information Act if passed will help journalists to fulfill their duties as they will be free to inform the community by following the principles of their profession.

“You know the author even we human rights defenders are in trouble as the authors fail to even write investigative information fearing the law to oppress them,” he informed.

Veteran Zanzibar Information Commissioner Farouk Karim said the delay in the passing of the Zanzibar Information Act also hampers employment for young people.

He said that there are many young people who have studied information on information and who are currently on the streets waiting for the law to be passed to self -employment by establishing social networks.

“This situation is also economical as it hampers the establishment of the media, as the community fails to establish in fear of the law that has given the Minister the Minister of Statement when he feels there is a need to do so,” he said.

Farouk said the minister's clause to shut down the media is not healthy for the information industry, this role should be court and not the Minister of Information.

Commenting on the draft Information Act, Farouk said that although it would not remove all the challenges together but would reduce and increase freedom of information.

“When you ask for one hundred shillings you are given seventy shillings you will have reduced it because to some extent you will be able to solve your problems, and this information law is not that it removes all the challenges directly but we are confident that it is going to reduce …” said Farouk.

Independent lawyer Khamis Shoka Ame said it was really delayed in passing the Zanzibar Information Act, increasingly depriving stakeholders and journalists because the current law is outdated.

He added that the current Information Act has many shortcomings including the minister's authority that if he abuses, can affect the freedom of information and the work of journalists in general.

He also said that if the law had to identify the components that could be used by the Minister to make decisions to shut down the media, and should not be used to protect the concept of public interest.

“I propose or suggest that the board should be established in which the chairman should be qualified to be a journalist, who will be able to advise the minister based on the principles and profession of information to do so. I believe the authors will be safe in your work,” he suggested.

Ali Mbwana Khatib The owner of JT Online TV has said that despite responding to the government's self -employment call, but he fails to hire a law, because he does not know how the minister will wake up and thus fails to provide better service to the community.

“The first time I heard the law was changed I was really happy because I believed the liberation of journalists and media stakeholders had arrived, but so far we have remained in a heavy cloud,” he informed.

Zanzibar Women's Media Association Director Dr Good Issa speaking at the Media Independence Day celebrations in 2024 said the process had begun in the past but had not yet been completed.

He said for the rest of the time Zanzibar media stakeholders have been shouting to ask the government to complete the process of amendment of the media laws made by stakeholders to provide a friendly environment for journalists to carry out their responsibilities without restrictions.

“The rest of us since we were journalists are talking about getting new information rules, since 2008 it is actually a long time, we need to manage this in our unity and eventually get a new Zanzibar Information Act,” he emphasized.

He argues that, the risk of section 30 of the Information Agency Act, Newspapers and Newspapers. 5 of 1988 is to give the minister the authority to shut down the newspaper in the interest of the nation when he deems fit. The minister can abuse such powers for personal or political interests.

January 18, 2024 Zanzibar ZAMECO's Information Committee met to discuss issues related to the development of the Information Sector, the challenges and steps taken to develop the sector which is essential to the construction of a society based on equality and the principles of good governance and democracy.

The special session discussed in detail the Zanzibar Information Law Challenges and the actions taken by the media who made their comments especially in conducting a detailed analysis of those laws that offend journalists to perform their duties effectively.

“We congratulate and thank the stakeholders and the Government for how they carried this important agenda and with his promise through the statements and hopes of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government leaders led by President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi who explained the time to fulfill his 100 days of presidency that he would ensure the new information law is passed but so far he has completed the term.

It is the hope of stakeholders and journalists that 2025 is the best and most appropriate time to ensure the goal of the new Zanzibar Information Act which will be friendly to journalists by creating a better working environment.

Members of the Zanzibar Stakeholder Committee – ZAMECO – discussing issues

relating to the information industry