Zanzibar: Lawmakers Call for Free Media
Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives have advised the government to stop interfering with editorial independence of private and public-owned media
SOME members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives have advised the government to stop interfering with editorial independence of private and public-owned media. Contributing to a debate on a bill for the establishment of the Zanzibar School of Journalism in the House here yesterday, Mr Said Ali Mbarouk (Gando-CUF) said the Isles did not enjoy any press freedom.
He accused the government of interfering and harassing practising journalists who dare say the truth.
This, he argued, was against the
Mr Mbarouk cited a case where, three journalists were barred from collecting and disseminating news about famine in Micheweni District in
The legislator suggested that the government stop interfering with the work of journalists but instead empower them to practise objective journalism for the benefit of people of
He backed the idea of establishing a school of journalism in the Isles saying it would help train competent reporters to work in both rural and urban areas.
But he cautioned the establishment of the institution would be useless if the government doesnÕt stop muzzling the media.
Mr Ali Suleiman Ali (Kwahani, CCM) said the institution would help turn around the state of journalism in
Presenting the bill, Deputy Chief Minister Ali Shamuhuna said the government was committed towards improving the standard of journalism in
He said the establishment of the
