Zanzibar Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is the official state broadcaster of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, covering both Unguja and Pemba islands, as well as parts of Dar es Salaam on mainland Tanzania. ZBC operates two main arms: Zanzibar TV and Zanzibar Radio, delivering news, public service announcements, and cultural programming.
Media assets
Television: Television Zanzibar
Radio: ZBC Radio, Spice FM
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
ZBC operates under the framework of the Public Investment Act of 2002, which governs the management of state-owned enterprises in Zanzibar. According to this legislation, the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar holds the authority to appoint both the Chief Executive Officer (Director General) and the Chairperson of the Board for all public corporations.
Simultaneously, the Treasurer Registrar at the Ministry of Finance—as the representative of the owning institution—retains the power to appoint the remaining members of the Board of Directors. This dual mechanism of appointments reinforces tight government oversight over ZBC’s leadership and strategic direction.
In April 2023, President Hussein Ali Mwinyi appointed Ramadhani Bukini as ZBC’s Director General. Prior to this role, Bukini served as the head of Plus Networks, a private media company. His appointment was seen by many observers as consolidating political influence over the broadcaster’s leadership.
Source of funding and budget
ZBC is entirely reliant on state funding, with no substantial commercial revenue reported. According to local journalists and regional media experts interviewed for this report, the broadcaster’s operations are fully financed through government allocations, supplemented occasionally by funds from development partners or NGOs. However, no publicly available financial statements or audited reports are released by the institution, leaving the scope and structure of its budget shrouded in opacity.
Editorial independence
ZBC is widely perceived as a government-aligned outlet, with its editorial line closely echoing the priorities and messaging of the ruling party in Zanzibar. Independent journalists and civil society organizations regard the broadcaster with skepticism, often citing its lack of editorial autonomy and its role in reinforcing state narratives.
There is no internal editorial statute that guarantees impartiality, and no independent oversight mechanism exists to evaluate or enforce editorial standards. In practice, ZBC serves more as an instrument of state communication than as a platform for balanced public discourse.
June 2025