TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
Tarehe: 03 Febuari, 2026.
WADAU WA HABARI WAISHAURI MAMLAKA KUZINGATIA MAPENDEKEZO YA
WADAU KUHUSU MSWADA WA SHERIA YA HUDUMA ZA HABARI ZANZIBAR.
Taasisi za kihabari, wadau wa haki za binadamu pamoja na waandishi wa habari wabobevu
Zanzibar zimeishauri Wizara ya Habari kuzingatia kikamilifu mapendekezo yaliyotolewa na wadau
kuhusu Mswada wa Sheria Mpya ya Huduma za Habari Zanzibar, wakisisitiza kuwa maoni hayo
ni muhimu katika kulinda uhuru wa vyombo vya habari na haki ya wananchi kupata taarifa.
Wadau hao wameeleza kuwa kupuuza mapendekezo hayo kutazidi kudhoofisha mazingira ya kazi
za kihabari na kuhatarisha misingi ya uwazi, uwajibikaji na demokrasia. Hivyo, wameitaka Wizara
ya Habari kuendelea na mashauriano ya wazi na shirikishi ili kuhakikisha upatikanaji wa sheria
mpya ya habari inayokidhi vigezo muhimu vya kukuza na kuendeleza tasnia ya habari Zanzibar.
Wamesema kauli ya Mheshimiwa Waziri wa Habari, Sanaa, Utamaduni na Michezo Dkt. Riziki
Pembe Juma aliyoitoa katika Mkutano na wadau wa habari mnamo tarehe 28 Januari 2026
kwamba Wizara yake imejizatiti kuendelea na mchakato wa mabadiliko ya sheria mpya ya
huduma za habari imetoa mwanga wa matumaini kwa tasnia nzima ya habari kwavile hicho ni
kilio cha muda mrefu.
Hata hivyo, wadau hao wameeleza wasiwasi wao kuhusu mchakato wa marekebisho ya sheria
ya hiyo ulioanza tangu mwaka 2008, wakibainisha kuwa hadi sasa bado haijawekwa wazi ni
mabadiliko gani mahsusi yamefanyika na kama mapungufu yaliyoainishwa na wadau kwa kipindi
chote yamezingatiwa ipasavyo. Wamesema kuwa mchakato huo umekumbwa na changamoto za
ushirikishwaji hafifu, ukosefu wa taarifa za mara kwa mara, pamoja na kutokuwepo kwa mrejesho
wa wazi juu ya mapendekezo yaliyotolewa, hali inayozua mashaka kuhusu mwelekeo na dhamira
ya muswada huo.
Aidha, wadau wameeleza kuwa sheria zinazotumika kwa sasa, hususan Sheria ya Usajili wa
Wakala wa Habari, Magazeti na Vitabu Na. 5 ya mwaka 1988 pamoja na Sheria ya Tume ya
Utangazaji Zanzibar Na. 7 ya mwaka 1997, zimepitwa na wakati na zinatoa mamlaka makubwa
kwa Viongozi wa Serikali na kuruhusu vyombo vya dola kuingilia shughuli za kihabari. Wakitoa
mfano wamesema, Waziri wa habari amepewa mamlaka ya kufungia gazeti na kutoa au kusitishaleseni kwa chombo cha Habari kazi ambayo inapaswa kufanywa na Chombo cha Habari
kinachojitegemea na ikishindwa suluhu basi malalamiko yote yapelekwe Mahakamani. Pia sheria
hizo hazitoi ulinzi kwa waandishi wa Habari na haki ya kupata taarifa hali ambayo imeathiri uhuru
wa kujieleza, usalama wa waandishi wa habari na uwezo wa vyombo vya habari kutekeleza
wajibu wao wa kuuhabarisha umma kwa weledi na uwajibikaji.
Wadau pia wameonesha wasiwasi wao kuwa mswaada huo umetia maanani mabadiliko makubwa
ya teknolojia ikiwemo matumizi ya majukwaa ya kidijitali, uandishi wa habari mtandaoni,
maendeleo ya akili mnemba (Artificial Intelligence) ambayo yanazidi kuonesha kuwa sheria za
Habari zimepitwa na wakati katika maeneo mengi yakiwemo ya kisiasa, kijamii, kiuchumi na
kiteknolojia.
Imane Duwe Mkufunzi toka chuo kikuu cha Zanzibar SUZA alisema kuwa “Sheria zilizopo kwa
sasa zimepitwa na wakati na zinatoa mamlaka makubwa kwa vyombo vya dola bila ulinzi wa
kutosha kwa waandishi wa habari, jambo linalohatarisha uhuru wa kujieleza na usalama wao.”
Salim Said Salim mwandishi mkongwe na mkufunzi katika masuala ya habari alisema
“Hatuhitaji tena ahadi; tunahitaji sheria itakayolinda uhuru wetu, usalama wetu na haki ya
wananchi kupata taarifa bila hofu.” Aliongeza kuwa katika kipindi cha hivi karibuni
kumepitishwa zaidi ya sheria 285 hivyo vitendo vinahitajika katika kukamiisha sheria nzuri ya
habari.
Jabir Idriss mwandishi mwandamizi alisema “Sheria za sasa zimepitwa na wakati na zimekuwa
chombo cha kutunyamazisha badala ya kutulinda kama waandishi wa habari.”
Maryam Hamdan mwandishi mkongwe ambaye ametumikia tasnia ya habari kwa muda mrefu
amesema kuwa sheria za habari ni muhimu katika kuimarisha kada ya habari na hivyo kilio cha
muda mrefu cha waandishi wa habari kunahitajika hatua za vitendo katika kuimarisha kada ya
habari na mojawapo ni kuwa na sheria rafiki na nzuri kwa waandishi wa habari.
Katika ripoti ya kamati ya wataalamu wa habari (ZAMECO) ya mwaka jana 2025, ambayo
imetolewa hivi karibuni imeonesha kuwa sheria za habari zimekuwa moja ya vikwazo katika
kuimarisha uhuru wa habari lakini waandishi wamekuwa wanashindwa kufanya kazi zao kwa
weledi na umahiri.
Pamoja na changamoto hizo, wadau wa habari wameeleza kuridhishwa kwao na hatua ya Serikali
ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar, kupitia Waziri wa Habari, Sanaa, Utamaduni na Michezo, Mheshimiwa
Dkt. Riziki Pembe Juma, ya kuandaa mkutano wa pamoja na wadau wa habari kwa ajili ya kujadili
masuala ya tasnia ya habari, wakieleza kuwa kwa muda mrefu mikutano ya aina hiyo ilikuwa
nadra kufanyika.
Wadau pia wamesisitiza umuhimu wa utekelezaji wa ahadi ya kuuwasilisha Mswada wa Sheria
ya Huduma za Habari Zanzibar katika kikao cha Baraza la Wawakilishi (BLW) cha mwezi Septemba
2026, wakieleza kuwa hatua hiyo ni muhimu katika kuimarisha mazingira huru, salama na
wezeshi ya utendaji wa waandishi wa habari na vyombo vya habari Zanzibar. Wamesema kuwakuwasilishwa kwa Mswada huo BLW kutafungua fursa ya mjadala mpana, ushirikishwaji wa
wadau na maboresho yatakayolenga kulinda uhuru wa vyombo vya habari, usawa wa kupata
taarifa, uwajibikaji wa kitaaluma na maslahi ya umma.
Katika mkutano huo, wadau walijadili pia changamoto mbalimbali zinazoikabili tasnia ya habari
Zanzibar, ikiwemo unyanyasaji na vitisho dhidi ya waandishi wa habari, maslahi duni, kodi na
gharama kubwa za uendeshaji hususan kwa redio za kijamii, pamoja na ukosefu wa mifumo
madhubuti ya kuwawezesha waandishi chipukizi na vyombo vya habari vinavyoanzishwa
mtandaoni.
Sambamba na hilo, wadau walisisitiza wajibu wa vyombo vya habari kufanya utafiti wa kina na
kutoa sauti za makundi ya pembezoni ikiwemo wanawake, watu wenye ulemavu, vijana na
wananchi wa vijijini, ili kuhakikisha habari zinazotolewa zinawakilisha maslahi ya jamii yote.
Kwa pamoja, wadau wa tasnia ya habari wamesisitiza kuwa upatikanaji wa Sheria Mpya ya
Huduma za Habari Zanzibar ni hitaji la msingi na la dharura hivyo linahitaji kupewa uzito
unaostahiki.
IMETOLEWA NA:
Klabu ya Waandishi wa Habari Zanzibar (ZPC),
Chama Cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Tanzania, Zanzibar (TAMWA-ZNZ)
Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA)
Baraza la Habari Tanzania, Zanzibar (MCT, ZNZ)
Jukwaa la Watetezi wa Haki za Binadamu Tanzania, Zanzibar (THRDC, ZNZ)
MEDIA STAKEHOLDERS ADVISE AUTHORITIES TO CONSIDER STAKEHOLDERS’
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE ZANZIBAR MEDIA SERVICES BILL
Media institutions, human rights stakeholders, and veteran journalists in Zanzibar have called
upon the Ministry of Information to fully take into account the recommendations submitted by
stakeholders regarding the Draft Zanzibar Media Services Bill. They emphasized that these views
are critical for safeguarding media freedom and the public’s right to access information.
The stakeholders noted that disregarding these recommendations would further weaken the
media working environment and endanger the fundamental principles of transparency,
accountability, and democracy. They therefore urged the Ministry of Information to continueconducting open and inclusive consultations to ensure the enactment of a new media law that
meets essential standards for promoting and developing the media sector in Zanzibar.
They stated that remarks made by the Honorable Minister for Information, Arts, Culture and
Sports, Dr. Riziki Pembe Juma, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on 28th January 2026
affirming the Ministry’s commitment to continue the process of reforming the Media Services
Law, have brought renewed hope to the entire media fraternity, as this has been a long-standing
demand.
However, the stakeholders expressed serious concerns regarding the media law reform process,
which began in 2008, noting that to date it remains unclear what specific amendments have been
made and whether the shortcomings consistently raised by stakeholders over the years have
been adequately addressed. They observed that the process has been characterized by limited
stakeholder participation, lack of regular information updates, and the absence of clear feedback
on submitted proposals factors that raise doubts about the direction and intent of the draft bill.
Furthermore, the stakeholders pointed out that the laws currently in force particularly the News
Agencies, Newspapers and Books Registration Act No. 5 of 1988 and the Zanzibar Broadcasting
Commission Act No. 7 of 1997 are outdated and grant excessive powers to government
authorities, allowing state agencies to interfere in media operations. For example, the Minister of
Information is empowered to ban newspapers and issue or revoke media licenses functions that
should instead be performed by an independent media regulatory body, with disputes referred
to the courts where necessary. These laws also fail to provide adequate protection for journalists
and the right to access information, thereby undermining freedom of expression, journalists’
safety, and the media’s ability to serve the public professionally and responsibly.
Stakeholders also expressed concern that the draft bill might have not sufficiently taken into
account rapid technological changes, including the use of digital platforms, online journalism,
and developments in artificial intelligence (AI). These realities demonstrate that existing media
laws are outdated in many political, social, economic, and technological aspects.
Speaking at the meeting, Imane Duwe, a lecturer at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA),
stated that, “The existing laws are outdated and grant excessive powers to state authorities
without adequate protection for journalists, a situation that threatens freedom of expression and
their safety.”
Veteran journalist and media trainer Salim Said Salim remarked:
“We no longer need promises; we need a law that protects our freedom, our safety, and the
public’s right to access information without fear.”
He added that more than 285 laws have been passed in recent years, underscoring the need
for concrete action to enact a progressive media law.
Senior journalist Jabir Idriss stated that “The current laws are outdated and have become tools
for silencing us rather than protecting us as journalists.”Veteran journalist Maryam Hamdan, who has served the media sector at different capacity for
years, emphasized that media laws are crucial for strengthening the profession, noting that
journalists’ long-standing calls require practical steps one of which is the enactment of a
journalist-friendly and progressive media law.
A 2025 report by the Media Experts Committee (ZAMECO), released recently, revealed that media
laws have become one of the major obstacles to strengthening media freedom, as journalists are
often unable to perform their duties professionally and competently.
Despite these challenges, media stakeholders expressed their satisfaction with the initiative taken
by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, through the Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture
and Sports, to convene a joint meeting with media stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the
sector highlighting that such engagements had been rare for a long time.
Stakeholders further stressed the importance of honoring the commitment to table the Zanzibar
Media Services Bill during the House of Representatives session scheduled for September 2026.
They noted that this step is vital for strengthening a free, safe, and enabling environment for
journalists and media institutions in Zanzibar. The presentation of the bill to the House of
Representatives would open space for broader debate, stakeholder participation, and
improvements aimed at protecting media freedom, equitable access to information, professional
accountability, and the public interest.
During the meeting, stakeholders also discussed various challenges facing the media sector in
Zanzibar, including harassment and threats against journalists, poor remuneration, heavy
taxation and high operational costs particularly for community radio stations as well as the lack
of robust mechanisms to support emerging journalists and online media platforms.
At the same time, stakeholders emphasized the responsibility of media institutions to conduct in-
depth reporting and amplify the voices of marginalized groups, including women, persons with
disabilities, youth, and rural communities, to ensure that media content reflects the interests of
the entire society.
Collectively, media sector stakeholders reaffirmed that the enactment of a New Zanzibar Media
Services Law is a fundamental and urgent necessity that must be accorded the priority it
deserves.
ISSUED BY:
Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC)
Tanzania Media Women’s Association – Zanzibar (TAMWA-ZNZ)
Zanzibar Development Journalists Association (WAHAMAZA)
Media Council of Tanzania – Zanzibar (MCT-ZNZ)
Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition – Zanzibar (THRDC-ZNZ)