House of Representatives set for new session

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar House of Representatives begins the Fourth Session of its Eleventh House today, bringing lawmakers together to deliberate on legislative bills, review a government report on drug abuse and address over 300 parliamentary questions.

Acting House Clerk Ramadhan Khamis Juma emphasised the legislature’s commitment to transparency, noting that collaborating with the media is vital to keeping citizens informed about parliamentary work.

He emphasised that working with the media to provide information to the public was an important part of the House’s responsibilities, noting that citizens had the right to know about activities planned and carried out during parliamentary sessions.

According to the official schedule, the session will run from September 9 to September 18, 2026. A central feature of the proceedings will be the question-and-answer period, with members submitting nearly 302 inquiries for response.

“The session will also consider two bills that received their first reading during the Third Session of the Eleventh House,” he said.

The first bill seeks to repeal the Establishment of the Corporation of Government Newspapers Act No 11 of 2008 and re-enact the Zanzibar Newspapers Corporation Act to provide for the administration and management of the corporation.

The second bill seeks to repeal the Fisheries Act No 7 of 2010 and enact a new law establishing the Fisheries Development and Marine Conservation Authority, with the objective of strengthening the management, development and sustainable utilisation of fisheries and marine resources in Zanzibar.

The proposed law seeks to establish a framework for managing and developing fisheries activities while ensuring the conservation of marine resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

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In addition to the two bills, the House is expected to debate revenue estimates and its budget, which will form part of the key business of the session.

Lawmakers will also receive and discuss a government report on the state of drug abuse in Zanzibar for 2021.