THE Minister for Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Fenella Mukangara has stressed the need for cultural officers to ensure the quality and standard of artworks as the government prepares to formalize music and film industry.

Mukangara made the remarks when opening a four-day retreat for cultural officers country-wide held in Dar es Salaam. Mukangara said her ministry together with the Finance as well as Trade and Industry ministries were on the right track in ensuring that come next January, they put in place excise duty on music and film products.

"Currently the film and music industry is performing well in the market, with the formalization of the industry, artists will benefit from their works," she said.

She warned the formalization of film and music industry would only be possible with proper planning and cooperation among artistes and cultural officers. She said the formalization of the industry aims to prevent and fight against rampant piracy on both music and film products in the country.

She said the country boasts a lot of talented artists but most do not know the value of their works and as a result they sell their products at give away prizes, which hinder their development.