THE Zanzibar Media Committee (ZAMECO) has urged the government to increase pace in the review and amendment of various laws governing the industry in order to intensify access to information and stimulate development.

Currently, the government is reviewing the Zanzibar Broadcasting Commission Act, 1997.

Last week, the committee visited the Law Reforms Commission of Zanzibar office in order to conduct follow-up on what stage the review process had reached.

Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) - Zanzibar coordinator Shifaa Said stated that the committee submitted its views on the review of the laws and it has continued to make follow on the development of the review process.

“We want to ensure that we get new laws which will promote development of the media industry while allowing practitioners to fulfil their duties freely,” she said.

Salim Said, a veteran journalist, said that the media has always been cooperating with the government in order to bring development to the nation.

“We are not seeking hostility with the government, we are good partners and with good intentions for society and the country in general, considering the media is a pillar of economic development,” Salim said.

Mussa Kombo Bakari, secretary of the Law Reforms Commission of Zanzibar  assured that the government will work on all the recommendations submitted by the stakeholders.

“The commission received the recommendations and submitted them to the relevant authorities, we hope that the recommendations will be taken seriously and later have the draft of the law,” Bakari explained.

Dr Mzuri Issa, director of the Tanzania Media Women’s Association in Zanzibar (TAMWA Zanzibar) insisted on the importance of increased cooperation between practitioners and the Law Reforms Commission in order to get the new laws for Zanzibar’s development.

Media stakeholders have for over 20 years been campaigning for the improvement of various laws governing the industry which most of them are out-dated.

The legislations include the Registration of News Agents, Newspapers and Books Act, 1988 and the Zanzibar Broadcasting Commission Act, 1997.