Zanzibar- Sept 28, 2024
Siku ya haki ya kujua huadhimishwa kila mwaka ifikapo tarehe 28 Septemba, kwa
lengo la kukuza uelewa kwa wananchi na hata waandishi wa habari juu ya haki hii,
kwani imekuwa ni changamoto kupata taarifa muhimu pale wananchi au waandishi
wa habari wanapohoji masuala mbalimbali ya shughuli za serikali au taasisi za binafsi.
Katika kuadhimisha siku ya Haki ya Kujua, tunapenda kuangazia umuhimu wa haki
hii kama chombo cha kuimarisha demokrasia na uwajibikaji ambapo Kauli mbiu ya
mwaka huu, “Kuimarisha Upatikanaji wa Taarifa na Ushirikishwaji Katika Sekta za
Umma,” inaweka wazi hitaji hilo.
Siku hii haikuja kwa bahati mbaya bali ni muhimu iliyotambuliwa na kuridhiwa na na
umoja wa mataifa chini ya tamko la haki za binaadamu la (Universal Declaration of
Human Right) mwaka 1948 na tamko la umoja wa mataifa la haki za kisiasa na
kiraia(ICCPR) kama ni sehemu ya uhuru wa kujieleza kwa jamii.
Haki ya kujua inahusisha uwezo wa wananchi kupata taarifa kutoka kwa serikali na
taasisi za umma, hivyo kuwapa nguvu ya kushiriki kikamilifu katika mchakato wa
maamuzi yanayowagusa ambayo inachangia katika Uwazi na Uwajibikaji, Kupunguza
Ufisadi, na Kukuza Ushiriki wa Raia kufahamu kuhusu masuala muhimu ya umma .
Je ipo haja ya kuwepo haki ya kujua?
Itaongeza uwazi na uwajibikaji Serikalini
Kutambua maendeleo ya nchi yao.
Kuongeza ushiriki na ushikishwaji wa wanajamii kuleta maendeleo ya nchi
Katika muktadha huu , ZAMECO inasisitiza umuhimu wa serikali na taasisi husika
kuzingatia sheria na kanuni zinazohakikisha upatikanaji wa taarifa. Aidha wito kwaSerikali ni kuimarisha mifumo ya uwazi, kutoa mafunzo kwa watumishi wa umma, na
kuhamasisha jamii kuhusu haki ya kujua.
Katika maadhimisho haya, tunawataka wadau wote (mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali,
wanaharakati wa haki za binadamu, na wananchi) kuungana katika juhudi za
kuhakikisha haki ya kujua inatambulika na kuheshimiwa ambapo siyo haki tu ya
msingi bali pia ni chombo cha kujenga jamii yenye usawa, uwazi, na ushirikishwaji.
Aidha katika kuimarisha haki ya kujua tunatoa wito maalum wa kuzifanyia
marekebisho sheria za habari hususan sheria ya Sheria ya Usajili wa Wakala wa
Habari, Magazeti na Vitabu namba 5 ya mwaka 1988 iliyofanyiwa marekebisho na
Sheria No.8 ya 1997 na Sheria ya Tume ya Utangazaji ya Zanzibar namba 7 ya mwaka
1997 kama ilivyorekebishwa na sheria namba 1 ya mwaka 2010.
Iwapo sheria hizi zitabadilishwa waandishi wa habari wataweza kuzungumzia kuhusu
maendeleo na changamoto kwa uchambuzi na hivyo kuinua uwezo wa wananchi kujua
zaidi masuala muhimu ya nchi.
Itakumbukwa kuwa kumekuwa na harakati za kufanyiwa marekebisho sheria hii ya
habari kwa miongo miwili, hata hivyo pamoja na juhudi za wadau katika hili na
kupeleka maoni yao serikalini bado marekebisho ya sheria za habari Zanzibar
halijapatiwa ufumbuzi.
Wakati huu tunaadhimisha siku ya haki ya kujua tunatoa wito mahasusi kwa serikali
kulingalia kwa makini na kupata sheria mpya ya habari ambayo itakidhi haki na wajibu
kwa waandishi wa habari pamoja na kuwemo kipengele mahasusi kuhusu haki ya
kujua na kupata taarifa.
Mwisho tukumbuke kuwa haki ya kujua siyo tu juu ya kupata taarifa, bali ni kuhusu
kujenga mfumo wa utawala unaowezesha wananchi kushiriki kwa ufanisi katika
maisha yao ya kijamii na kisiasa.
Mwenyekiti ZPC
Abdalla Mfaume
Mkurugenzi TAMWA ZNZ
Dr. Mzuri Issa
*PRESS STATEMENT:
Commemoration of International Right to Know Day
Zanzibar – September 28, 2024.
International Right to Know Day is celebrated annually on September 28, aimed at
enhancing public and media awareness of this essential right. Accessing vital
information has proven challenging for citizens and journalists seeking clarity on
various governmental or private institutional matters.
In commemorating Right to Know Day, we wish to emphasize the importance of this
right as a tool for strengthening democracy and accountability. This year’s theme,
“Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.” clearly
highlights this need.
This day is not a coincidence; it is a significant recognition endorsed by the United
Nations through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) as part of the freedom of
expression within society.
The right to know encompasses citizens’ ability to access information from government
and public institutions, empowering them to engage fully in decision-making processes
that affect their lives. This contributes to transparency and accountability, reduces
corruption, and promotes civic participation in critical public issues.
Is there a need for the right to know?
It will increase transparency and accountability in government.
It allows citizens to recognize their country’s progress.
It fosters community engagement and participation in national development.
In this context, ZAMECO emphasizes the importance of government and relevant
institutions adhering to laws and regulations that ensure information accessibility.
Furthermore, we call on the government to strengthen transparency systems, provide
training for public servants, and raise community awareness about the right to know.
On this occasion, we urge all stakeholders (NGOs, human rights activists, and citizens)
to unite in efforts to ensure that the right to know is recognized and respected. It is not
only a fundamental right but also a tool for building a fair, transparent, and inclusive
society.Additionally, to enhance the right to know, we specifically call for amendments to
media laws, particularly the Registration of News Agents, Newspapers, and Books Act
No. 5 of 1988, which was amended by Act No. 8 of 1997, and the Zanzibar Broadcasting
Commission Act No. 7 of 1997, as amended by Act No. 1 of 2010.
If these laws are revised, journalists will be better positioned to discuss progresses and
challenges with analysis, thereby empowering citizens to understand critical national
issues more effectively.
It is important to note that there have been efforts to revise these media laws for two
decades. However, despite stakeholders’ initiatives and submissions to the government,
amendments to Zanzibar’s media laws remain unresolved.
As we celebrate Right to Know Day, we specifically urge the government to carefully
consider and adopt a new media law that will meet the rights and responsibilities of
journalists, including specific provisions regarding the right to know and access
information.
In conclusion, let us remember that the right to know is not solely about accessing
information; it is about creating a governance system that enables citizens to participate
effectively in their social and political lives.
Chairperson, ZPCDirector, TAMWA ZNZ
Abdalla MfaumeDr. Mzuri Issa
