Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has urged journalists and media practitioners to avoid inflammatory or divisive language as the country heads towards the 2025 General Election campaigns.
ZEC Chairman, Judge George Kazi, made the appeal recently while opening a oneday training session for editors, journalists, photographers and social media content creators held at Maisara.
He cautioned that misinformation and unverified reporting could have serious consequences during elections, underscoring the need for professionalism, fact-checking and resisting propaganda or personal bias.
“Your profession is a pillar of democracy. At this time, the nation looks to you with great hope. Your pens, cameras and microphones will help write history,” Judge Kazi told participants.
He stressed that the language used by the media can either promote peace or incite conflict and urged journalists to serve as ambassadors of peace, justice and responsibility.
ZEC Director of Elections, Mr Thabit Idarous Faina, noted key updates ahead of the polls, including reforms to the 2020 election regulations, new campaign broadcast guidelines for public media and revised codes of conduct for both local and international election observers.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Ms Nassra Khatib of the Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) called on ZEC to provide special identification vests for accredited journalists to avoid misunderstandings with police officers at polling stations.
The training covered preparations for the 2025 elections, media guidelines for campaign coverage, broadcasting regulations and professional ethics during elections.
Meanwhile, the Zanzibar Broadcasting Commission (ZBC) has cautioned radio stations to strictly adhere to broadcasting guidelines, laws and journalistic ethics as the nation prepares for the October polls.
ZBC Executive Secretary, Mr Hijji Dadi Shajak, said during inspection visits to licensed radio stations that compliance is essential to ensuring peaceful elections, warning that irresponsible broadcasting could undermine national stability.
“This is a moment of responsibility. We urge you to be extra careful with your content so as not to compromise national peace,” he said.
Radio station managers pledged compliance. Zenj FM’s Acting Manager, Mr Fahmi Makame Mussa, said his station had received the guidelines and would implement them, while AM 24’s Manager, Mr Baraka Sinkala, noted that they would cover campaign programmes and carefully monitor compliance with ZBC standards.
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