TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
Kamati ya maandalizi ya siku ya uhuru wa habari duniani Zanzibar imeeleza kuwa maadhimisho ya siku ya uhuru wa habari duniani yanategemewa kufanyika Alhamis tarehe 23 Mei, 2024 katika ukumbi wa ZSSF KARIAKOO kuanzia saa 2.30 asubuhi.
Maadhimisho hayo pia yatahudhuriwa pamoja na waandishi wa habari, wadau mbali mbali wa habari pamoja na wawakilishi kutoka asasi za Kiraia hapa Zanzibar.
Makamo mwenyekiti wa kamati hiyo DK. Mzuri Issa amesema kuwa maadhimisho ya mwaka huu yamebeba ujumbe muhimu na adhimu ambao ni “UHURU WA VYOMBO VYA HABARI NA MAGEUZI YA SERA NA SHERIA ZA HABARI ZANZIBAR. ”
Maadhimisho hayo ni muhimu katika kukuza na kuimarisha kada ya habari hapa nchini pamoja na kutoa wito maalum kwa wadau wa habari kuhusu umuhimu wa kuwa na Sera na Sheria rafiki zitakazowezesha utendaji kazi wa vyombo vya habari kuwa na ufanisi. Pia shughuli hiyo itaambatana na majadiliano katika mada mbali mbali zenye lengo la kuimarisha na kukuza kada ya habari hapa nchini.
Maadhimisho ya mwaka huu yatatanguliwa na shughuli za kukuza na kuimarisha kada ya habari ikiwemo kuandaa vipindi vya masuala ya uhuru wa habari pamoja na mikutano na mafunzo kwa waandishi wa habari katika masuala ya sheria za habari.
“Nia ya shughuli hizo ni kukuza weledi na umahiri wa waandishi wa habari katika masuala ya sheria za habari ili watumie kalamu zao katika kufanya uchechemuzi wa sheria hizo.
Kutakuwa na mijadala inayohusu mafanikio na changamoto, wapi tunatoka na upi mwelekeo wa kukuza na kuimarisha kada ya habari hasa ikizingatiwa umuhimu wa sekta ya habari katika kuleta maendeleo na kuibua kero za wananchi.
Alisema kuwa waandishi wa habari ni kada muhimu katika kukuza na kuendeleza demokrasia, uwazi na uwajibikaji hivyo waandishi hao hawana budi kuwa na sheria nzuri za habari ili ziweze kuwalinda katika kutekeleza majukumu yao kwa ukamilifu.
Vile vile suala la kuwa na sheria nzuri za habari hapa nchini pia litajadiliwa katika mjadala huo ambalo muda mrefu limekuwa likizungumzwa na wadau mbali mbali wa habari ambapo hadi hivi sasa kuna Sheria ya Usajili wa Mawakala wa Habari, Magazeti na Vitabu No. 5 ya 1988 na marekebisho yake mwaka 1997, na sharia ya Tume ya Utangazaji No 7 YA mwaka 1997 na marekebisho yake ya mwaka 2010.
Suala la kuwa na sheria mpya na nzuri ya habari limekuwa katika mchakato na hatua mbali mbali zimekuwa zikichukuliwa katika kukusanya maoni ya wadau hivyo Mswada huo umeshirikisha fikra na maoni tofauti.
Aidha masuala ya jinsia na vyombo vya habari yatakuwa na nafasi ya kipekee ikiwa ni sehemu muhimu ya kuimarisha masuala ya jinsia katika vyombo vya habari ili haki na usawa katika vyombo vya habari iweze kuimarishwa.
Kamati ya maadhimisho ya kuandaa siku ya uhuru wa habari hapa Zanzibar inaundwa na taasisi zifuatazo:
Baraza la habari Tanzania Ofisi ya Zanzibar (MCT ZNZ), Chama cha Waandshi wa Habari Tanzania Zanzibar (TAMWA,ZNZ)
Jumuiya ya Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo (WAHAMAZA) na Klabu ya Waandishi wa Wabari Zanzibar (ZPC)
PRESS RELEASE
The organizing committee for the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Zanzibar has stated that the event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the ZSSF Kariakoo hall, starting at 8:30 AM.
The celebration will be attended by journalists, media stakeholders, and representatives from Civil Society Organizations in Zanzibar. The committee’s vice-chairperson, Dr. Mzuri Issa, stated that this year’s celebration carries an important and significant message: “PRESS FREEDOM, MEDIA POLICY AND LAW REFORMS IN ZANZIBAR.”
These celebrations are crucial for promoting and strengthening the media sector in the country and will make a special appeal to media stakeholders about the importance of having friendly policies and laws that will enhance the efficiency of media operations. The event will also feature discussions on various topics aimed at strengthening the media sector in the country.
This year’s celebrations will be preceded by activities to promote and strengthen the media sector, including the preparation of programs on press freedom issues, meetings and training for journalists on media laws.
“The purpose of these activities is to enhance the skills and expertise of journalists in media laws so that they can use their pens to advocate for these laws. There will be discussions on achievements and challenges, where we are coming from, and the direction for promoting and strengthening the media sector, considering the importance of the media in fostering development and highlighting citizens’ concerns.
She emphasized that journalists are a crucial team in promoting and advancing democracy, transparency, and accountability, and thus they must have good media laws to protect them in performing their duties effectively.
Furthermore, the issue of having good media laws in the country will also be discussed in this forum, an issue that has long been discussed by various media stakeholders. Currently, there is Registration of News Agent, Newspapers and Books Act No. 5 of 1988 as amended by Act No. 7 of 1997 and the Zanzibar broadcasting commission Act, as Amended by Act No. 1 of 2010. The process of developing new and good media laws has been ongoing, with various steps taken to gather stakeholders’ opinions. Therefore, this bill has incorporated different thoughts and opinions.
Additionally, gender issues in the media will have a special place, being a crucial part of strengthening gender matters in the media to enhance justice and equality within media outlets.
The committee for organizing the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Zanzibar consists of the following institutions:
· Media Council of Tanzania, Zanzibar Office (MCT ZNZ)
· Tanzania Media Women’s Association, Zanzibar (TAMWA ZNZ)
· Development Journalists’ Association (WAHAMAZA)
· Zanzibar Press Club (ZPC)