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House reps skeptical about press freedom
2006-10-18 08:55:11
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
As the Zanzibar government tables a bill to establish media institution for discussion in the House of Representatives, some members are doubtful whether the introduction of the institution would widen the freedom of the press.
Presenting the bill ”to establish a media institution,” Zanzibar Minister of Information, Culture, and Sports Ali Juma Shamuhuna said the establishment of the media institution would improve media work on the Isles.
If the bill is approved by the members of the House, it would be the first time for Zanzibar to have a recognized media institution.
Debating the bill, CCM members Ali Suleiman Ali, Ali Denge Makame and Hajji Mkema Hajji (chairperson of the House committee for social welfare,) were of the opinion that the establishment of a media institution would upgrade media performance in Zanzibar .
”My Committee had a challenging task of editing the proposed bill, there were a lot of errors, probably because of being in a rush, but after the amendments of our proposals, the committee will support the bill,” Mkema said.
Mkema said that many journalists in Zanzibar have been doing shoddy work in reporting, because of lack of training, as ”some are just Form IV failures.
We hope with the introduction of recognized media institute, performance of the media will improve.”
But.
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