Samia provides 20bn/- to empower journalists, and content creators

DODOMA: THE MINISTER of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda has said that the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) in collaboration with the Tanzania Culture and Arts Fund, will ensure that they empower young people who are self-employed in the media sector by providing them with capital to promote, develop and produce their work in a quality that meets market needs through soft loans.

Presenting the Ministry’s revenue and expenditure estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year, Makonda said that in implementing this, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has provided  20bn/-  for the Culture and Arts Fund, of which  2bn/-  has already been provided for loans to content creators.

He said the funds are aimed at helping Content Creators obtain tools and increase their productivity.

“The move is being touted as a savior for young people who are self-employed in the information and creative sectors, as it opens up new opportunities for access to capital, modern equipment and to increase the production of quality content that meets the needs of the local and international market.

“These funds are aimed at enabling Content Creators to obtain tools, improve the quality of their work and increase competition in the digital market,” he said.

He said the move marks a change in mindset in the way the government recognizes and invests in the creative youth group, which has long been growing rapidly without effective systems to manage and develop it.

ALSO READ: BASATA sees artistry registration soar to 21,875 artists, groups and institutions

“This is a direct investment in youth creativity and the digital economy, aimed at increasing employment and income for Tanzanians,” he added.

According to industry stakeholders, access to capital is a major challenge hindering the growth of digital content, so the Government’s move is expected to increase the production of quality work, boost incomes and make Tanzania a hub for content innovation in the East African region.