Tanzania

Zanzibar

Current Work

Supporting National Unity in Zanzibar

SFCG is committed to the Government of National Unity’s (GNU’s) success. Since October 2010, we have been using an innovative top-down, bottom-up approach to strengthen the GNU. The goal of this approach is to enable the political leadership to overcome the political differences that have divided Zanzibar for decades and to strengthen the local media’s ability to bridge the divides among the people. Supported by the US State Department, USAID, and the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam, this strategy involves four Leadership Support Missions and three Media Training and Production Missions.

Leadership Support Missions – During these missions, the Leadership Facilitator, drawing on experiences from around Africa and the world, will meet regularly with senior-level members of the GNU, Members of the House, and high-ranking officials within the public service and political parties in order to develop and strengthen their leadership skills.

One such support session took place with officials from the Ministry of Good Governance in Pemba.

The session had two underlying objectives. These were to:

1. Provide an open space for participants to engage in dialogue around the concepts of governance and good governance; and
   
   
2. Allow participants to reinforce their existing skills and gain new attitudes regarding governance and good governance.

Participants in group discussion in Pemba

This discussion of good governance allowed participants to pinpoint potential stakeholders and influential decision-makers in evolving governance networks. The session also allowed participants to suggest ways to improve governance in Pemba. A theme that gained broad agreement was that of equal participation and, specifically, participation from the grass roots level in law-making. Accountability and transparency were also common themes discussed. Upon completion, participants said they appreciated the positive and inclusive exchange of ideas and that the seminar would have a positive impact on their work.

Media Training and Production Missions – SFCG is presently working with five radio stations to help encourage them to cover political and social issues in an impartial and responsible manner. The initial seminar held during the post-election period brought together members of these radio stations. They agreed on several objectives: 

1. Reporting all positive efforts of reconciliation;
2. Broadcasting messages of peace and harmony;
3. Clarifying next steps after the election to the citizens; and
4. Giving voice to marginalized groups.

We found that the vast majority of the radio stations in Zanzibar do not produce any programming that involves citizen input, interviews outside of the radio station, or interactive participation. Yet all of the stations expressed an interest in improving their capacity to undertake this type of programming to support dialogue, intergroup understanding, and citizen engagement.

Radio Workshop on reporting on good governance in Unguja Island /Zanzibar

One of these media workshops was carried out in March 2012 in Unguja on Media and Governance.

The feedback from the evaluation of this event was positive. The participants appreciated the ability to help one another define objectives for their radio programs, noting potential improvements in both their old and new programs, such as increased structure and focus. Radio Hits FM asserted that, as a result of producing eight talk shows in partnership with us, they went on to produce and air a new weekly program involving youth – ‘Sauti za vijana’.