2006 News

We must fight to develop education - Mayor

2006-12-27
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Poor learning environment remains a serious setback to the development of science in schools despite massive campaigns to improve students’ understanding of the subjects.

Education experts made the observation recently in Zanzibar during a forum that deliberated on education development in the Isles in the context of Zanzibar Education Development Programme (MKEZA).

The forum facilitator, Joseph Mmbando, underscored the need for improving science learning environment to boost up students’ performance in science subjects.

”Science camps alone are inadequate; we need standard facilities and learning tools in schools.

Most of schools lack science learning facilities. This is a serious problem in our endavours to improve students’ performance in science,” he said.

Participants pointed other problems associated with learning environment as limited resources � such as laboratory equipment, shortage of teachers and schools, lack of exposure amongst teachers, etc.

The meeting also dwelt on early childhood development, mobilizing local resources for quality learning, and implementation of advanced secondary teachers’ training programmes.

Other issues discussed included empowering girls through science camps, special needs education, and education policy implications, and promotion of reading culture through mobile library facilities.

Commissioner for Education in Zanzibar Mariam Abdulla Yussuf said at the workshop that despite the identified hitches, the MKEZA project has been going on well, and a number of developments in education have been recorded, thanks to the project.

Opening the workshop, Zanzibar Town Mayor Honourable Mahboub Juma Issa said MKEZA was an important tool in the realization of education objectives in the Isles.

”Today’s world needs education; we must fight to develop education,” he said.

”Through discussions, we can expose shortfalls facing the sector, and chart out modalities for the expansion and improvement of knowledge acquisition,” he added.

MKEZA is financed and coordinated by USAID and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation.

The programme focuses on upgrading teachers, organizing science camps for girl students, and education of physically challenged children.

Pemba Island hit by measles

2006-12-25 
By Suleiman Rashidi Omar, Pemba
Guardian

A measles outbreak has erupted in Pemba Island. Some 50 children aged less than five years have been admitted to Micheweni Government Hospital.

Dr Rashid Daud Mkasha, who is the medical officer in-charge, said the impact of the disease was first felt on Monday. He said the situation worsened on Friday, then eased after bed-riding 31 male under-fives and 19 females.�

He warned that the situation might still worsen if parents did not heed medical advice, especially by not keeping sick children at home. ’’They should take them to hospital,’’ he said.

’’As the condition deteriorated, we hurriedly decided to declare quarantine,’’ added Dr. Mkasha.

He said the situation was now under control. All medical staff who are on leave have been recalled and medical supplies at the measles camp are sufficient, he said.

Dr. Mkasha said the outbreak should not be seen as a surprise because it had resulted from non-inoculation of children against the disease.�

According to PST findings, dismal knowledge about the disease, poor clinic attendance, uncontrolled influx of visitors into the island, dependency on traditional treatment and non-observance of medical advice are the chief contributing factors to the fast spread of the disease.

Zanzibar coalition nowhere in sight

2006-12-28 09:51:33
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi in Zanzibar has said that talks being prepared on the Isles political impasse do not include an agenda for forming a government of national unity as speculated by some leaders of the opposition.

The remarks were made yesterday by CCM Zanzibar Publicity Secretary Vuai Ali Vuai, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian.

Vuai said the purpose of the discussion was to bring about cooperation between the people of Pemba and those of Unguja so as to enable them participate fully in bringing about their own development.

He said the issue of national unity would get the first priority.

’’The issue is so important. That is why all registered political parties will be involved in the talks which will be led by the Committee of Secretary Generals of all political parties,’’ he said.

Vuai said: ’’There is no such an issue as a coalition government. The government which is in power is the only one that will continue to rule until the next elections in 2010.”

He said what was remaining was preparing the timetable for the roundtable discussions, an activity that would be undertaken by CCM Secretary General Yussuf Makamba.

Vuai was responding to widespread rumours circulating in the Isles that there was a possibility of creating a national unity government and that the chief minister’s post would be taken over by the opposition CUF.

Recently, CUF Chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba said his party was ready to participate in talks aimed at ending Zanzibar’s political deadlock.

Prof Lipumba said CUF’s aim was to see the Isles’ political split resolved for the purpose of strengthening democracy and national unity.

Zanzibar welcome Democracy College

ASSAH MWAMBENE, Zanzibar
Daily News; Tuesday, December 19, 2006

THE Zanzibar Minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance and Constitutional Affairs), Mr Ramadhan Shaaban Abdallah, has said that people in the isles are still haunted by past history hence politics of hate and mistrust.


The minister, who was speaking at the launch of the Zanzibar Democracy College here yesterday, said history was being used wrongly by some politicians to divide Zanzibaris.

"We are not supposed to forget history but we should use it to forge our way forward with a view of creating a sustainable democracy rather than using history as a dividing factor," Mr Abdallah said.

The minister paid tribute to the Research and Education for Democracy (REDET) for its efforts in promoting democracy, saying REDET has always been a real partner in nurturing democracy in the country.

"REDET has been trying to solve a number of social problems in the country and I am more impressed by their resolve to establish a democracy college in Zanzibar," the minister said.

He said the institution will act as an agent for social change; especially in institutionalizing democracy in Zanzibar, where he said multi-party democracy has created hostilities and mistrust amongst members of the political parties.

The REDET associate chairman had earlier told the minister that the new Democracy College was aimed at empowering the youth free themselves from politics of mistrust and hostilities.

The launch ceremony was also attended by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Rwekaza Mkandala, and the Chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), Masauni Yusuf Masauni.

Shortage of petrol hits Zanzibar, again

2006-12-19 08:37:34
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

An acute shortage of petroleum products has hit the Island of Zanzibar, negatively impacting on various business sectors.

In the ensuing shortage, the price of petrol has spiraled high and now retails at 2,000/-per litre on the black market, according to taxi operators. Normally, petrol retails at 1,400/- per litre on the Isles.

The shortage has caused widespread condemnation from proprietors of commuter buses and taxi drivers.

They have accused the Isles government of failing to regulate the sector, which has in the recent past been hit by regulator shortages.

GAPCO Manager Farikudin Taibali has attributed the scarcity to a delay by an oil tanker from Mombasa, Kenya, to deliver a consignment of petroleum products.

”The ship has been docking at Mombassa Port to load the petroleum,” Taibali said, adding; ”we expect the shortage to end on Friday when the ship docks at the Port of Zanzibar.”

In the past, the island has been experiencing a biting shortage of petroleum ahead of festive seasons like Christmas, Eid-el Hajj, and New Year holidays.

Amid the protests, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Lands, Taffana Kassim Mzee, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure the shortage of petroleum products is resolved permanently.

Kassim regretted that Zanzibaris have for long been dogged by a regular shortage of petroleum products, which he contented adversely affects the business sector and the overall performance
of the economy.

Zanzibar has had a shortage of petroleum at least four times this year, prompting hiking of the prices of the commodity.

Last week, light aircrafts suspended flights to Zanzibar International Airport, following acute shortage of Avigas jet fuel.

The airport had run short of jet fuel for two weeks consecutively.

The shortage subjected the Isles’ aviation industry and passengers to unprecedented inconveniences.

Avigas jet fuel is imported into the country by British Petroleum (BP) and is used to power light airplanes.

A year ago, BP stopped the importation of jet fuel in Zanzibar, citing unfair competition.

The shortage of jet fuel adversely affected the aviation industry and the entire economy.

Several airlines such as Zan Air and Tropical Air, which render flight services to and from Unguja, Pemba and the Mainland suspended operations.

According to BP-Tanzania External Affairs Manager Frederick Kibodya, the shortage was triggered by the failure by an oil tanker from Durban, South Africa, to dock at the port of Dar es Salaam.

The vessel, he said, had instead docked and offloaded the consignment at the port of Mombasa in Kenya.

Zanzibar municipality eyes city status

ABDUEL KENGE in Zanzibar
Daily News; Monday, December 18, 2006

ZANZIBAR Municipality will soon apply for full city status, after having improved its services, including cleanness and drainage systems.

The Zanzibar Municipal Director, Mr Mabrouk Makame Jabu, told the 'Daily News' yesterday that though they are qualified to attain city status now, they should first make sure that their
services are delivered to the optimum standard.

"The question is whether to become a city or improve services. We do not want to become a city by name rather quantified by
best services offered," Mr Jabu said.

In September this year, the municipal embarked on a
9-month project, aimed at cleaning the area, that also educate people on how to clean their surroundings.

The project would later be extended to primary and secondary schools, to enable the pupils understand how to deal with solid waste.

"Peoples in Europe manage waste wherever they are. But here one cleans and another one throws cabbages at the same area. This primitive way of managing waste should be changed," Mr Jabu said.

The cleanliness project goes along with the municipality
drainage and sewage project, which both take two and half years to accomplish, costing roughly 9bn/-.

"These changes, to make the place neat, would automatically make people demand a city status. We don't want to rush before we have the required qualities," Mr Jabu said.

Another project is to build a 1.5bn/- state-of-theart wamachinga structure in Sateni area. The parking area construction has reached a tarmac level.

"We started with parking because we wanted machingas be removed from town centre," Mr Jabu added.

Zanzibar Municipality has removed all street hawkers from Stone Town and directed them to conduct their businesses at Mombassa and Sateni area.

Zanzibar: among Americans’ Top Destinations

2006-12-18
Travel Daily News

Zanzibar, also known as “the spice islands” has long conjured up a romantic image that has been a lure for American travelers. Located along the Indian Ocean, off the coast of mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar was named one of “24 Destinations of 2007” by the New York Times in its Sunday Travel Section.

Zanzibar, which is an autonomous state within The United Republic of Tanzania, consists of Unguja (also known as Zanzibar Island), Pemba and some 50 smaller surrounding islands and islets. Stone Town, the historic port city of Zanzibar Island, is a World Heritage Site and a major cultural attraction. Already popular for its beaches, water sports, scuba diving (using environmentally-friendly equipment), underwater photography, reef watching, dolphin watching and snorkeling, Zanzibar is now focusing on promoting its many year-round- festivals showcasing the diverse cultures and history of Tanzania’s Kiswahili coastal islands.

Streetcar From Zanzibar

New Film

Directed by Karen Yarosky
Wander Woman Productions
23 minutes • 2006
Also available on DVD

In the bustling streets of Stone Town, on the island state of Zanzibar, most people never leave their neighborhood, but 21-year-old Rukia is preparing to cross the ocean and start a new life in Toronto. She is arranged to be married to a stranger in Canada. Her younger sister Shemsa helps her to prepare and seems convinced that Canada will bring prosperity. Across the map, deep in Toronto’s winter, Nuru struggles to weather the boredom and cold she feels being locked in her new city. Two years new to Canada, she grew up in Zanzibar just streets away from Rukia and her sister. At 15, Nuru is in high school, hangs out at the mall, has ditched traditional garb for hip-hop gear and spends half her life in the Toronto Transit system. She yearns for the home she has left behind.
From the simple differences of cooking and clothes to the complicated rules of marriage and culture, this story studies the difference 13,000 kilometres make to two young Muslim women. It offers both a glimpse of a faraway world and a frank look at the dreams, expectations, discoveries and disappointments of those who want to call Canada home.

Tanzania: New Drive for the Environment in Zanzibar

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
December 18, 2006
Stone Town

Environmentalists in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar say lack of awareness and negligence have greatly hindered efforts to protect the environment, which is now threatened by soil erosion, deforestation and pollution.

"Zanzibar's environment is fragile; a lot of destruction has taken place, especially the ongoing use of sand, trees and rocks in construction works," Mberek Rashid, a commissioner in the island's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, told IRIN.

In a bid to control pollution, the island's authorities issued an ultimatum on 11 December to hotel owners and other investors to install sewage-treatment facilities on their premises or risk being barred from operating.

For years, Zanzibar had not put in place policies and laws to safeguard the environment. Only in the 1990s did the government establish an environmental department, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, which remained largely dormant. However, the island is now committed to environmental conservation.

Asha Khatib, a chief environmentalist in the ministry, said laws and policies to protect the environment were established in 1996, "but still there has been no joint effort in preventing environmental damage on the islands. We need urgent change.

"Construction of houses, tourist hotels close to the beaches, the uncontrolled disposal of waste oil, and unplanned expansion of the city have been some of the issues that need urgent attention to save the Zanzibar environment," Khatib said.

Issa Hassan, a resident of the island, said: "The majority of the people have had no idea of the importance of conserving the environment. Leaders know little, have no idea or they just neglect to conserve the environment."

The major environmental hazards in Zanzibar are soil erosion, deforestation and ocean pollution, coupled with the unchecked use of rocks and sand for construction.

Environmentalists warn that Zanzibar is now one of the world's most endangered islands because of increased destruction of water sources as well as the disposal of untreated liquid waste directly into the Indian Ocean.

To date, Zanzibar does not have environmental activist groups, nor does it have journalists specialised in environmental reporting.

"Healthy mangrove trees in most parts of Zanzibar are an indication of heavy pollution of the ocean," said Ali Juma, director of the Zanzibar Environment Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, adding: "Biologically, when mangroves receive more nutrients from untreated wastes, they become very healthy."

The environmentalist said: "There are a number of reasons that have contributed to the escalating environmental destruction in Zanzibar, including lax environmental policy and laws."

Hamzah Rijaal, head of the environmental education and documentation department in the ministry, said many Zanzibaris, including the authorities, had not been environmentally conscious, which was holding back efforts to protect the environment.

Ali Juma, the director of the environment department, added: "Environmental destruction in Zanzibar is becoming worse. We must now review our policies and laws with the aim of controlling the situation."

He says his department was committed to implementing environmental laws, which include prosecuting people found destroying forestry for firewood or construction purposes. The department would also issue orders halting environmentally unfriendly construction, such as hotels in beach areas.

According to the island's regulations, hotels should be built at least 30 metres away from the beach. Throwing of litter into the sea is also prohibited, but a number of tourist hotels have continued to disregard these regulations.

Juma said the collection of solid wastes in Zanzibar has been another problem. "Out of about 200 tonnes of solid waste produced daily in Stone Town, the Zanzibar Municipal Council workers are only able to collect about 60 tonnes."

While there are a few septic tanks in Unguja, there are none in Pemba and all the waste is deposited directly in the ocean. Hundreds of people, mainly children, who go swimming in the ocean, are at risk of lung infections, cancer and shortened life expectancy because they swim in polluted waters.

"The raw liquid wastes main contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury which once taken by fish or people while swimming may cause health problems," Omar Suleiman, head of the information policy and research department in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said.

Members of the Social Welfare Parliamentary Committee visited the University of Dar es Salaam's Institute of Marine Sciences in September this year, where they heard that almost 100 percent of untreated liquid wastes from Stone Town and other tourist hotels go direct into the ocean.

However, Zanzibar environmentalists say the German government has agreed to fund the major rehabilitation of the drainage system in Stone Town, including the construction of a solid waste treatment plant.

Moreover, the United Nations Habitat has been encouraging the authorities to join its Sustainable City Programme, which includes improvement of sanitary and drainage systems.

Briton dies in Zanzibar after drug-laced alcohol

15 December 2006
Peterborough

A British citizen died in Zanzibar and another was treated and discharged after apparently drinking alcohol laced with drugs, authorities said on Friday.
"The postmortem report showed that the foreigners had drunk beer containing drugs," said Ahmed Suleiman, an assistant administrator in charge of Mnazi Mmoja General Government Hospital.

He did not indicate what drugs were present and it was not clear when the incident occurred.

Zanzibar Town Police Commander Bakari Khatibu Shaaban said an investigation was under way.

"I cannot make more comments. I need time to investigate the matter," he said.

This is the second incident this year in which a foreigner has died in this semi-autonomous Indian Ocean islands.

Two months ago, an American was found dead in one of the hotels in Zanzibar's stone town.

Zanzibar Minister revokes 120 title deeds

ASSAH MWAMBENE in Zanzibar
Daily News On Saturday
December 09, 2006

THE Zanzibar Minister for Lands, Mr Mansoor Yusuf Himid, yesterday revoked 120 title deeds of plots at Tunguu area here, citing a gross misconduct in the whole exercise of allocating the plots to the people.

The visibly irked Minister said the Government has decided to revoke the title deeds following a revelation that a number of people were given more than one plot while others did not even qualify to have the plots.

The Minister formed a probe committee to investigate allegations that land officers allocated many plots to themselves and some Government officials in the 500 plots that were surveyed for settlement in Tunguu.

"I am forced to revoke the title deeds of these plots after discovering that there was a gross misconduct in the whole exercise to allocate the plots to the people", the Minister told reporters at the Zanzibar State Fuel Corporation at Saateni.

He said for example, some of the people who were given the plots were under 18-years of age, while others were not Zanzibaris as the law requires. The Minister denied reports that several Ministers were allocated more than 10 plots, adding that no single Minister has been affected by the exercise to repossess the plots.

The Minister has also ordered that from now on, that no investor would be allowed to invest in the tourism or manufacturing industry without first having an incinerator or sewerage treatment or disposing refuse plant.

He said those who have already invested in the Isles, have been given a two year ultimatum to have such facility, short of which they would be liable for a 2 to 3m/- fine or six month imprisonment respectively.

Isles authorities tough on habitat pollution

2006-12-09
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
SOURCE: Guardian


The Zanzibar government has issued a two-year ultimatum to owners of beach hotels and other investors to install sewage treatment facilities in their premises or risk being barred from operating in the Isles.

Talking to reporters yesterday, the Zanzibar Minister for Water, Works, Energy and Lands, Mansour Yussuf Himid, said effective this month, no prospective investor would be given a business license unless he has installed water treatment facilities.

As for those (investors) already in business, they are required between now and the coming two years to stop polluting the environment, he said.

”The government has discovered gross violation of regulations on environmental protection, especially along the coastal line of Zanzibar,” Mansour said.

He named tourism as the leading industry in environmental pollution. The minister said many beach hotels discharged untreated sewage into the sea.

”It is necessary that we (government) put in place corrective measures to avoid serious consequences on environmental degradation,” Mansour said.

He said Zanzibar Attorney General Iddi Pandu Hassan had endorsed the regulation that would monitor implementation of control measures on environmental management and prevention of pollution.

According to the new regulations, a hotel operator running business without an incinerator or other necessary facilities would be subjected to a penalty of not less than 2m/- fine plus six-month imprisonment.

The minister’s concern comes against the background that nearly all tourist hotels located on the eastern side of Zanzibar coastline lack water treatment plants and incinerators thus dump refuse into the ocean.

”The industry sector will also have to adhere to this regulation which has been practiced in many other countries and proved successful in the control of environmental pollution,” the minister said.

However, tourist stakeholders have persistently complained that the tax paid to the government did not match the services provided in return, especially in relation to general cleanliness.

Zanzibar: Oil Shortage Grounds Light Planes

2006-12-08
IPP Media

Light aircrafts have suspended flights to Zanzibar International Airport, following a serious shortage of Avigas jet fuel.

The airport has been running short of jet fuel for two weeks now. This has subjected the Isles’ aviation industry and passengers to untold suffering.

Avigas jet fuel, imported into the country by British Petroleum (BP), is used by light planes.

A year ago, BP stopped importing jet fuel in Zanzibar, citing unfair competition. BP had an operational branch at Zanzibar port.

The shortage has negatively impacted on several airlines such as Zan Air and Tropical Air, which render flight services to and from Unguja, Pemba and the Mainland.

During an interview, a senior official of Zan Air, Ashish Nagewadia, confirmed that they had been facing the shortage for almost two weeks now. ’’We have suspended the services due to lack of fuel,’’ he added.

Four Tropical Air airplanes were forced to suspend services, further increasing the magnitude of the problem.

Sources say the industry is left with a few Jet A1 propelled aircrafts which can hardly satisfy the fast-growing demand for aviation services.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and Transport, Salmin Senga, said: ’’As of yesterday, my ministry had no information about the jet fuel shortage.’’

He promised to investigate the issue and make a public statement.

But the BP-Tanzania External Affairs Manager, Frederick Kibodya, confirmed that the problem indeed existed.

The shortage was triggered by the failure by a fuel ship from Durban, South Africa, to dock at Dar es Salaam port, he said.

The vessel thus proceeded to offload the consignment at Mombasa port in Kenya.

’’The ship docked at Mombasa because of congestion of ships at the Dar es Salaam port. There was no space to offload the cargo,’’ said the BP official.

’’It’s true the problem has affected our clients. However, we hope to solve the problem after one week,” he added.

The BP management, he said, had deployed a small aircraft to Mombasa to ferry part of the consignment while arrangements are being made for the ship to return to Dar es Salaam.

Jetty earmarked for Zanzibar port construction

ABDUEL KENGE
Daily News; Friday,December 08, 2006

A JETTY, will now be constructed, instead of a pile at the Zanzibar Port, it has been decided.

The Senior Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Gray Mgonja told the 'Daily News' yesterday that the government, donor and contractor have agreed to construct the port using the original option that Isles government had earlier rejected.

The rehabilitation came to a standstill in March this year, after the Isles government said they preferred a jetty to a pile, but failed to meet over 30bn/- addition cost on top of 51bn/- earmarked earlier. European Union (EU) is the project financier.

The rehabilitation was halted for the six months after the client--government of Zanzibar--and donor--EU disagreed over what type of dock should be constructed.

A source within the contractor, Mssr E. Pihl & Son of Denmark, said they need three months for site mobilisation before the works on the Malindi wharves resumes.

"The deadline now has been set to the end of 2008," the source said. The construction works started last November.

The contractor gave the government 14 days in mid-October to respond to their plea or terminate the contract because rehabilitation works had been halted for six months and the cost were unbearable.

EU said in a release last month that the closed quay construction would reflect waves more directly than the existing construction on piles.

"The impact of this change would be that in the exceptional circumstance that extremely high tide coincides with the highest winds experienced in Zanzibar a theoretical chance exists that some waves may overtop the quay," the release said.

According to Danish Hydrological Institute, the number of waves that overtop the quay will be less than ten per year.

The tests, before the rehabilitation stopped, revealed that instead of 30 piles as per contract, in excess of 120 piles would have to be replaced. In addition, the consolidation of the remaining 420 piles requires costly corrosion protection, which was not anticipated.

Suspected armed robbers rounded in by Zanzibar police

Xinhua
December 08, 2006

Police in Zanzibar have rounded in 19 people suspected to have been involved in armed robberies in the Indian Ocean archipelago, according to reports on Thursday.

Zanzibar West/Urban Regional Police Commander Bakari Khatib Shaaban told reporters in the isles that the detainees had been suspected to be linked with five robberies that had occurred between May and October this year.

But the police officer said that three other armed robbery suspects are still at large and urged police forces in the isles to continue their man-hunt.

Bakari Khatib Shaaban said that the five armed robberies had led to a loss of 115.5 million Tanzanian shillings (92,400 U.S. dollars) in cash and such valuables as mobile phones.

The armed robbers have also killed one of their victims so as to get away with their loot.

The police officer said that the man-hunt was part of the Zanzibar crack-down on armed robberies that started harassing the Indian Ocean isles since September last year.

African Muslim clerics divided on condom use

8 December
By UN media PlusNews

Muslim clerics from 25 African countries failed to reach consensus on the use of condoms in preventing HIV/AIDS at a recent meeting on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.

The Network of African Islamic Faith-based Organisations met in November to discuss issues that included HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence, but could not to agree on a unified HIV/AIDS strategy.

When the network was launched in March 2005, in Abuja, Nigeria, the religious leaders stated in their declaration: "We support all appropriate methods of preventing HIV/AIDS. These include abstinence, being faithful and, when absolutely necessary, correct and consistent use of the condom between couples."

Nevertheless, many clerics at the meeting rejected the use of condoms on the grounds that they promoted promiscuity, particularly among the youth. "The majority still sticks to 'no promoting condoms', and believe in abstinence and being faithful as preventive measures - condoms can only be used by HIV-positive couples," said Zanzibar's Dr Issa Ziddy, deputy secretary of the network.

Other participants felt the organisation needed to make a clear statement in favour of condom use in the fight against HIV/AIDS. "I think it is high time we define the preventive measures. Let us strengthen advocacy in abstinence [A] and being faithful [B], but also promote the use of condoms [C] for those who fail to stick to A and B," said Ebyan Salah, a Gender Advisor to Somalia's Transitional Federal Government. "Every tool must be used, including promoting condoms," she said.

Despite the long political crisis in Somalia and current efforts to build a government, many people in the country were aware of HIV/AIDS. Activists, including Muslim leaders, spoke openly about the pandemic, but promoting condom use remained largely taboo, and they were difficult to find on the market, Ms Salah said.

Dr Hamid Suleiman, of the Zanzibar AIDS Commission, told delegates that condom use was not encouraged by the island's clerics either and they were not directly involved in the campaign against HIV/AIDS until 2002.

At the 2005 Abuja summit, Muslim religious leaders from Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania, among others, agreed that they should disseminate information on HIV/AIDS in sermons and at religious events.

"Fortunately, for the last three years Muslim leaders in Zanzibar have helped a lot in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS," Dr Suleiman said. "Since the majority population are Muslims, the message can spread well," he added.

Zanzibar's still relatively low HIV prevalence has by now reached 0.9 percent, but in 2002 it was estimated at just 0.6 percent. Health workers on the island say lack of information and worrying trends like increased injecting drug use could see the island's problem continue to grow unless urgent action is taken.

Cost sharing improves health service delivery in Zanzibar

ALI UKI in Zanzibar
Daily News; Thursday,December 07, 2006

COST sharing in Zanzibar's health sector has improved service delivery to the people. The Director of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Dr Abdalla Juma Saadalla, told Social Services Committee of the Zanzibar House of Representatives yesterday that the programme enabled the hospital management to generate more income.

As a result, they were able to buy hospital equipment as well as rehabilitate some of the hospital offices. Zanzibar began cost sharing system last year, as part of the health sector reforms in attempts to improve the services.

The House Committee made a visit to the hospital to evaluate development activities at the hospital and to advise how to improve delivery of services. Mr Saadalla underscored the importance of cost sharing at such hospitals because the Government was facing financial constraints to meet its recurrent and development expenditure.

He acknowledged the shortage of specialists, doctors and equipment, which contributed to poor delivery of services at the hospital.

Zanzibar's economy has been affected by population increase, low price of cloves in the world market and a decrease of revenue collection. This necessitated the need to find alternative mechanisms to fund health services in the Isles.

Chake Chake – the town that sleeps before sunset

Jiang Alipo
Leisure Magazine; Tuesday,December 05, 2006 @10:25

I am quite shocked as I walk quietly to my hotel at the centre of Chake Chake town. The shops and businesses are all closed, and it is just three in the afternoon, not even close to four pm.

Everything is quiet except for the few businessmen eager to stay up to the last hours of the noon. I can hardly recognize the street I was earlier in the mid morning so I walked past the hotel.

I reached the end of the street without realizing I have passed the hotel. Then my instinct told me that I was in the same street in the morning, so I went back and asked one of the last businessmen for directions to my hotel.

“Salaam allaykum,” I greet him.

“Allaykum salaam”

“I am looking for Annex Hotel, could you help me with the directions to get there.”

“You are already there, it is upstairs just above these shops,” he says to my disbelief. I look around and realize that it is the same building but at this time all shops in the building are closed, that was my sign of the hotel, and now that they are closed, I passed it.

Chake Chake or Chake as they call it, the centre town of Pemba Island is quite amazing. The town sleeps in broad daylight, at three in the afternoon. So I tell myself that there must be some explanation.

“You know most business people here come from villages far from town so they hurry back home before the dark sets in,” explains Omary Ramadhan Said, who owns a cloth shop in Chake.

He adds, “There is hardly anyone coming to town for shopping in those hours. After all, all buses cease coming to town at almost the same hours, so if one is going out of town it must before 3.30pm in order to get transport.”

But the thing I didn’t know the town that goes quiet at three comes to life again after dark. It is in early evening hours that the new kinds of businesses open up.

There is lots of food stuffs sold, something like a min-Forodhani. Not very surprising, a typical Zanzibar habit, where everyone goes to Forodhani for dinner.

There are all kinds of sea products especial the common fish and octopus. You are also sure to get Urojo at that time of the night as usual, without missing the sour but sweet tamarind juice.

Unlike what people say about the Island, it is rather fine with me. Before going there people kept telling me about how underdeveloped the place is. Ok, maybe it is not like Zanzibar. Zanzibar is the centre town of Unguja island, one wouldn’t expect the rest of the Island to be the same.

The public transport, it is quite like Unguja, the pick ups-turned-Daladala are the common public transport. They come from all places in the Island to the center, Chake.

But then, I saw an old-wrecked-lorry-turned-Daladala. It shocked me. It looks like it is about to fall into pieces in any minute, but who cares? After all it provides transport to the people and that is what really maters, I guess.

“This one goes to Ukutini. There are only two of them here, the other one goes to Kujini. The roads there are really bad so most people do not want to take their cars there,” Echa, a bus conductor tells me as the lorry-turned-daladala takes off looking like its body is going to remain behind.

Cattle pulled carts are common form of transport for carrying luggage in the Island. They are everywhere in Pemba, from Chake town to the farms.

The thing about Pemba is the road stops. The Island is just small with only few cars, but there are lots of road stops. One has to just stop at a road stop, even if a traffic police is nowhere to be seen.

It is harvest season time in Pemba, well as they call them, Zanzibar the Spice Islands, what else to harvest but cloves? Passing along the streets it looks like everyone is taking out their cloves to dry in the sun.

There are cloves drying out of every house in Pemba. For someone fond of the smell, there are villages you wouldn’t want to leave. It is all cloves smells in the whole island. Like it is the Pemba perfume of choice!

“Alhamdulillah, the sun is up today people can take their cloves out to dry,” comments a man sitting next to me when talking about the practice. The thing is, other people dry the spices on the road, which seems to bother no one.

A typical Islamic cultured society. For the three and a half days I spent there, I had not seen a woman walking her head uncovered. There are all covered with head scarf.

“It is not a must, I mean no one forces you to cover up, but I really can not walk without covering my head. I just feel so exposed,” comments Khadija Suleiman.

And before I leave, I just had to squeeze some time to have henna prints on my hands, legs and you know where. How else will people tell that I was in Pemba?

DPRK to finance Zanzibar agricultural projects

People's Daily Online
December 05, 2006

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has promised to offer Zanzibar financial assistance in the agricultural sector.

The pledge was made when Dar es Salaam-based DPRK Ambassador Soon Chun Lee met with President of Zanzibar Aman Abeid Karume in Zanzibar, according to reports reaching here on Tuesday.

Starting from early next year, the DPRK will finance with 1.3 billion Tanzanian shillings water projects and mango reservation projects in the isles.

The Asian country will dispatch agricultural experts to the Indian Ocean archipelago to assist in the implementation of these projects.

The Zanzibar president expressed his gratitude to the DPRK for its assistance in boosting the agricultural development of the isles.

Zanzibar keen to boost university education

ALI UKI in Zanzibar
Daily News; Monday,December 04,

ZANZIBAR has reiterated its resolve to boost university education to check the present shortage of experts in social, economic and scientific fields.

Officiating at the second graduation of the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) here on Saturday, Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume said the Isles did not have enough university graduates who could contribute and speed up development.

Mr Karume said a strategy must be drawn to encourage local people to take up further studies in various disciplines and take up teaching jobs at Zanzibar universities.

"We have to train our own people and expect them to come back home and pass on the knowledge to other people here," stressed the Isles leader who is the SUZA chancellor. SUZA was established in 1999.

The president urged the university management to establish new faculties, especially in engineering and medicine.
Currently, SUZA offers undergraduate programmes in Arts with Education, Science with Education, Computer Sciences and a university pre-entry programme.

Mr Karume cautioned the graduates against being complacent with the current academic qualifications, telling them to aim even higher.

He assured that the government would set up an environment in which it would encourage them to take up further studies.
The Isles leader also wanted the graduates to start productive projects as part of their commitment in poverty eradication.

The chancellor earlier conferred 96 graduates with degrees and diplomas in Bachelor of Arts with Education and in Languages and Education respectively.

Ship runs out of fuel in high sea

2006-12-02 10:12:04
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

About 350 passengers traveling from Pemba to Unguja aboard MV Mudathir were on Thursday stranded in the deep sea for the whole day after the vessel ran out of fuel.

Zanzibar Regional Police Commander Bakari Khatibu Shaaban said the ship ran out of fuel as it was approaching Tumbatu Island, forcing the captain to lower the anchor.

The incident occurred on Wednesday when the vessel was in high seas, and brought fears among the passengers.

’’The report we have received says that the ship ran short of fuel as it was approaching Northern Tumbatu, making the captain to apply an emergency anchor until assistance arrived from Malindi port some few hours later,’’ said Shaaban.

According to the RPC, investigations are underway to get the exact cause of the incident, if it was really lack of fuel or something else.

’’The investigation is being conducted under auspices of the Regional Criminal Investigative Officer,’’ he said.

He said the vessel, which had started its journey from Tanga to Zanzibar via Pemba island, apparently ran out of fuel at around 1100hrs on the northern waters of Tumbatu island near Zanzibar Island.

Captain Ally Machano, head of Malindi port, said marine safety regulations required all vessels to have sufficient fuel before they left the port. ’’This is to ensure that safety is maintained,’’ he said.

The Zanzibar port chief officer also confirmed that the incident indeed took place and they were following up the matter.

The ill-fated craft not only ran out of oil, but also food and water, such that some passengers began selling foodstuffs which were packed inside their luggage and were intended for their homes.

The incident has compelled the Zanzibar Port Authority to ban the MV Mudathir from sailing until investigations are completed.

It is not known how the ship managed to take off from Pemba port without making a prior check on its fuel level.

Quite a number of boats plying between Dar es Salaam, Unguja and Pemba islands, have recently experienced engine failure while in high sea, making their passengers terrified.

Cholera declines in Zanzibar

ASSAH MWAMBENE in Zanzibar
Daily News On Saturday;
Saturday, December 02, 2006

ZANZIBAR said here yesterday that cholera has declined, saying the trend indicated that the disease, which has so far claimed one life, was under control.

The Zanzibar Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Mohamed Seleh Jiddawi, said here yesterday that for the last one week they have only received seven cases in various cholera treatment camps in the Isles.

He said for the last one week, Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, which had registered more than 50 cases, was now nursing three cases and that Chumbuni remained with three cases. "All the patients were responding well to medications" he said.

Dr Jiddawi also noted that a number of Cholera treatment camps in various parts of Zanzibar have not registered even a single cases, adding that those hospitalised at Chumbuni were likely to be discharged today.

"Initially, we anticipated that there could be further an alarming spread of cholera but after a week campaign and treatment we managed to reduce the cases to a manageable scale," Dr Jiddawi, who was flanked with the director of prevention services at the ministry, said.

He also refuted claims that the government has also banned wedding and other public engagement, saying the ministry has only cautioned anyone staging a public engagement to observe health instruction.

It was reported widely in the media here that the Zanzibar has banned all the public engagements including wedding, something the ministry clarified that it was not true.

For the last two weeks, Zanzibar was gripped by an outbreak of cholera recording up to 56 cases but until yesterday there were only seven cases with no new case in the last five days.

Zanzibar attracts more investment this year

People's Daily
11/25/06

The Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar has witnessed increased investment as both foreign and local investors have enhanced their inputs in the first 10 months of this year.

Thirty-one investment projects worth 93 million U.S. dollars have been registered with the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA), according to reports reaching here on Saturday.

ZIPA Director Salum Khmis Nassor said 21 of the investment projects had been signed up by companies from such countries as Belgium, Britain, Kenya, Norway and South Africa while the remaining 10 investment projects had been signed by local investors from mainland Tanzania and from the isles.

The new investment projects cover areas including agriculture, fisheries, industries, tourism and air and marine transport.

Tourist hotels and restaurants drew the largest share of investment with 71 million dollars followed by industries (2.79 million dollars), air and marine transport (2.78 million dollars), fisheries (1.41 million dollars) and agriculture (910,004 dollars).

ZIPA is a government agency specializing in promoting foreign and local investment in the development of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Tanzania: Construction of Zanzibar Wharves Could Cost $24 Million More

The East African
November 21, 2006
Wilfred Edwin, Special Correspondent
Nairobi

Construction of the Malindi Wharves in Zanzibar, which has been stalled since April this year, could cost well over Tsh 31 billion ($24 million).

Work on the reconstruction of the wharves has stopped because the government of Zanzibar prefers a technical solution for which it has not been able to identify funding

"Obviously, putting a fully mobilised international contractor on hold comes at a substantial cost, which will keep escalating for as long as a decision on the way forward is postponed," the financier of the project, the European Union warned in a recent report through its commission in Dar es salaam .

An analysis by the financier, the EU shows that the works awarded last year to the Danish Contractor Pihl - who was the lowest bidder - cover, the solution of consolidating the existing foundation, the solution preferred by the government of Zanzibar, because it will not change the existing situation and therefore has no impact on the environment and the port's operations.

The contract, in addition, includes a price for the alternative solution as a contractual fallback position intended to come into play notably if the consolidation of the existing foundation proves to be technically and, or financially unfeasible.

The Malindi Wharves were reconstructed and extended in the early 1990s with European Commission financing.

But the workmanship was found to be poor and the structures deteriorated in less than 10 years. This necessitated introduction of loading restrictions.

The government of Zanzibar took legal action against both the contractor and supervision consultant and in the ensuing international arbitration proceeding, the government was awarded approximately $11.6 million or more than 75 per cent of the investment.

In parallel to the arbitration proceedings, agreement was reached on the rehabilitation of the Malindi Wharves, in which the European Commission would top up the expected arbitration awards to an amount sufficient to correct the poor workmanship of the previous contractor.

This amount was estimated at TSh 51 billion (Euro 31 million) and covers the cost of the works, engineering services and technical and legal expertise. As a result, the re-construction of the wharves started in October 2005.

The first phase of the works involved demolition of part of the concrete deck and investigation of the structural soundness of the existing pile foundation thus laid bare.

Several rehabilitation methods were designed and priced by external experts. The government eventually tendered for the two most promising solutions, one comprising the demolition of the condemned concrete deck of the wharves.

Further, there would be the consolidation of the existing foundation comprising in total 542 cast concrete piles in situ and the construction of a new reinforced concrete deck on the overhauled foundation and an alternative comprising the construction of a landfill behind an anchored steel sheet pile wall covered with a flexible hard surfacing.

According to the European Commission in Dar es Salaam, tests revealed that instead of 30 piles as stipulated in the contract, in excess of 120 piles would have to be replaced. In addition, the consolidation of the remaining 420 piles requires costly corrosion protection that was not anticipated.

However, this information "became available only progressively, and by mid February 2006, it was obvious that the preferred technical solution had run into very serious technical and financial problems," reads part of the analytical report of the European Commission in Dar es Salaam.

Meetings were called to decide on a way forward, which was in the given circumstances reverting to the contractual fallback solution or terminating the contract. All parties were in favour of activating the contractual fall back solution, except for Zanzibar Port Corporation.

The merits of the fallback solution were re-assessed on the basis of all information available. Experts say the the fallback solution is low risk as none of the works depends on existing structures.

Isle power firm opposes additional rationing

2006-11-21 09:11:05
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar

Zanzibar Electricity Company (ZECO) is opposed to further power rationing, which was introduced by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company(Tanesco) as the power crisis further worsened. Zanzibar gets its electricity from Tanzania mainland.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, ZECO Customer Service Manager Abdallah Haji Steni, said once Tanesco introduced additional rationing in the Isles, the management would discuss the issue because Zanzibar was not ready for that decision.

”Zanzibar had been consuming less electricity than Tanzania Mainland. Logic dictates that there is no need to institute further power rationing in the Isles,” he said.

Steni said ZECO had not been informed about the extension of the shedding into night hours.

”We shall stick to the previous time table as we are yet to be informed about the change,” he said.

The ZECO official said Zanzibar residents would be guided by the old time table, under which power cuts occurred between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm in three designated zones.

However, it is not known what the ZECO authorities shall do if Tanesco goes ahead to implement its decision. He added that Zanzibar had been spending 500m/- to purchase 36 megawatts of electricity from the national grid.

Recently, TANESCO public relations manager Daniel Mshana issued a statement saying that the national power utility company had decided to prolong power rationing to 10.00 at night due to further decline of water levels at the hydro electric power dams of Kidatu and Mtera.

Mshana said the new schedule would affect commercial, industrial and domestic consumers, with exception of key areas such as major referral hospitals and the State House.

Hotel outcry as power woes bite

2006-11-14
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The on-going power crisis has led to serious complaints by hoteliers against the Zanzibar Electric Company (ZECO), after 15 tourist hotels in Unguja have gone for more than a week without electricity.

’’The power blackout bites even more at this particular moment,” said one of the hoteliers, as Zanzibar marks a high season for tourists.

More than 150,000 tourists usually visit the Isles every year.

A tourist operator, who only gave his one name as Mussa, said that some of his visitors were demanding to be refunded, due to the intolerable heat in their hotel rooms.

”We know there is power-rationing taking place around the country, but those of us in Paje have been in total darkness since last week.

We have not even been informed about the cause of the problem. If power rationing is being exercised, how come that we don’t get it for all this time?’’ Mussa asked.

Asked for comments, the ZECO General Manager, Juma Is-haq Bakari, said that the situation was critical, adding that his company was working around the clock to resolve the matter.

Bakari said one of the main transformers that supplied power to Paje had blown up and technicians had already been deployed to repair it.
Tourism contributes 20 per cent of Zanzibar’s income.

Meanwhile, four ZECO electric engineers are travelling to Israel next Monday to learn methods of power generation from ocean waves.

ZECO Public Relations Officer Salum Abdallah said the trip was to take place last month but had been postponed to November 18, 2006.

”Israel has been supporting the government of Zanzibar to find out alternative and reliable sources of energy,” he said.

Zanzibar, which depends on hydro-power generation from Tanzania Mainland, like the rest of the country, has been experiencing a power crisis for quite sometime due to prolonged drought that has brought down water levels at the main hydro-power dams of Kidatu and Mtera.

CUF shower praise on President Kikwete

ASSAH MWAMBENE, Zanzibar
Daily News; Monday,November 13, 2006 @00:05

THE Civic United Front (CUF) yesterday praised the Union President, Mr Jakaya Kikwete, declaring confidence in his initiative to resolve the Zanzibar political standoff.

Addressing a public rally at Kibandamaiti here, CUF's Secretary General Maalim Seif Sharriff Hamad said that CUF fully supported the government efforts to resolve the political impasse.

"We have convened here to sincerely express our support to the union government in addressing the standoff and for recognizing that there is political problem here," Maalim Seif told party supporters.

He said Mr Kikwete's speech signified the readiness of the union government in finding a lasting solution, adding that CUF members must be patient as the president worked for a lasting solution.

The CUF boss also praised the Tanzania Police Force saying they have for the first time under the leadership of Inspector General Said Mwema demonstrated strict impartiality when leading a procession of party supporters.

"We must be very honest that the Police have shown a good example of how a security organization ought to operate," Maalim Seif told CUF supporters who braved the scorching midday sun yesterday.

Speaking at the same venue, the Tanzania Labour Party Chairman, Mr Agustine Lyatonga Mrema, said his party fully supported CUF and the Union President, Mr Kikwete, in addressing the problems in the isles.

Mrema also noted that CCM had a hidden agenda against the people of Pemba since, he said the Island had never produced neither a Union nor Zanzibar president claiming that failure by Maalim Seif to be the Isles president also stemmed from the fact that he was from Pemba.

Tanzania: Cholera outbreak reported in Dar es Salaam

DAR ES SALAAM, 13 November (IRIN) -

 A cholera outbreak in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, has killed five people and affected 820 others, mostly women and children, who have been hospitalised in the last few weeks, heath officials said on Monday.

"We call upon the public to observe health precautions by keeping their environment clean, boiling drinking water and making use of toilets," Tatu Mwaruka, a health officer in the city's Ilala Municipality, said.

Ilala is one of the districts forming the Dar es Salaam region with Kinondoni and Temeke. All combine to make the city of Dar es Salaam.

Cholera is a bacterial intestinal infection, transmitted through contaminated food and water. It has a short incubation period, from one to five days, with the main symptom being diarrhoea that quickly leads to severe dehydration and death if untreated.

Mwaruka said the outbreak was worse in the suburbs because of the public's "reluctance to observe hygiene".

The director of Ilala Municipality, John Lubuva, said measures had been imposed in the municipality to control the outbreak, including a ban on the sale of fresh food or juice in the streets.

Health officials in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar have also recorded the hospitalisation of least 16 people following an outbreak of dysentery and diarrhoea in Stone Town, capital of the island.

"We have cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, but no cases of cholera and deaths," Omar Suleiman, the director of information policy in Zanzibar's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said on Monday.

In August, health officials in Zanzibar reported that at least 454 children had been admitted to the main Mnazi-Mmoja Hospital, suffering from severe dysentery and diarrhoea.

Cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks started in March, resurfaced in late May and June and again in July and August in most areas of the Zanzibar Municipality and Pemba Island.

Waterborne diseases remain a problem in most areas of Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, which health officials attribute to a filthy environment and people's reluctance to observe and maintain health hygiene.

Why resolving Z’bar issues is an inevitable two-way traffic

2006-11-12 09:57:24
By Ani Jozeni
Sunday Observer

Varying ways of testing the temperature of solving Union dusputes were plentiful over the previous week as speculations and public statements paraded before the eyes of viewers in newspaper headlines.

At least two were noticeable, not only as important developments in their particular aspects of sorting out Union questions, but also as indicators of how sentiments are developing in various directions, in Zanzibar as well as on the Mainland. Where finally the dust settles and a clear picture of CCM positions emerges is unclear.

The first indication emerged from the Mainland, that well informed sources indicate that President Jakaya Kikwete is nearing fatigue with dialogue conducted with ’conservative’ CCM leaders in Zanzibar, as they don’t stand any revision to the victory in last year’s polls.

That however is the minimum that one needs to do so that some accomodation is made of opposition demands before the situation gets out of hand, as it is no longer an issue of CUF leadership positions. It is a matter of fulfilling the president’s own election vows.

Were it that it is a promise by the opposition party leadership that there will be changes and they aren’t in all evidence about to take place, it would be one thing.

But to rally around the now restless youths that we have been cheated again about something being done to resolve the stalemate is another, as it altogether convincing and sure of winning.

It will be up to the president to make sure that he doesn’t lose face, and on the basis of changes he has been orchestrating, it is unlikely he sits back as of old and just sends the police.

That is why a problem is emerging with ’conservatives’ in the sense that they have full confidence in the nearly unhelpful propaganda line that the polls are over, and issues relating to polls need to wait for another five years for CUF to try its chance again.

That means they will be held under the same conditions to ensure another CCM victory, since the level of manipulation was high by any standards, if one compares rules of polling on the Isles and on the Mainland. Here one votes from anywhere, without a five year residence rule.

CCM isn’t in a position to discuss trafficking of people during the polling, nor for that matter what difference it made that uniformed soldiers many of whom were on a tour of duty for keeping the peace, also joined the queues to have their say as to who is the better candidate for Representative, etc. It is this situation which the phase ’polls are over’ summarizes, that whatever methods were used, the matter cannot be discussed as it is out of place.

Foreign observer missions said it was free and fair, and that should suit simply everybody.

There is no doubt that the Union president will have a tough time seeking to shift the CCM Isles leadership from that position, as it is a learned sentiment or judgement uniting the entire leadership.

If anything, their own concerns are now directed elsewhere rather than on the polls issue, a tactic which was used earlier, that if one wishes to divide Zanzibaris on democracy, they come up with OIC, if perhaps ASP is a bit outdated.

It is also evident that the leader of the OIC fringe is President Amani Karume himself, thus a consensual view.

To a casual observer or those within CCM, this new demand - as to Zanzibar picking up its refused observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Conference - complicates the situation as it adds to problems that we though we were done with.

It is also likely to lead to a resurgence of the ’Tanganyika’ government issue, a situation that plays into the hands of Zanzibaris, for then the solution is to silence dissidence on both sides, in effect leaving the status quo intact. Briefly, if JK pushes the reform issue on the Isles, it seeks OIC status.

On another hand however, it provides an indication as to how the Isles identity needs to be rectified within the Union, and democratized at the same time.

This aspect about OIC unites both CCM and CUF supporters and puts Union authorities in a limbo, and by extension, seeks to cultivate a powerful wave on the Mainland in support of an Isles presence in the OIC.

It would with certain respects also help other organizations on the Mainland make use of contacts for activities that can be assisted on the basis of observer membership.

Part of the problem of course is that neither the Mainland nor Isles economy is as yet dynamic enough to feel free of external pressures to join a club of rich countries (oil producers) which can make a special effort of assisting Zanzibar.

The reason for Isles backwardness, like the Mainland, is outdated land ownership policies designed to keep out immigrant populations if local residents had freehold titles to plots of land, and could freely sell.

Thus no foreign capital flows to assets on land, but tourism or extractive industries.

But changing land policy and encouraging investment to reduce pressures to join OIC isn’t the framework on which the Union issues will be solved, and instead pressures to benefit by pushing Isles singularity will continue.

That is where the president could meet the Isles halfway, that they agree to democratize - abandon tricks and unequal regulations in registration for polls - and form a coalition government, in exchange for an observer status in OIC as well as an own seat in the East African Community.

But then chances are that with Karume’s third term bid, the Isles are planning splitting off, by making even negotiation virtually impossible.

Students in Isles sit national exams

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Daily News; Tuesday,November 07, 2006

A TOTAL of 40,210 government school pupils and students in Unguja and Pemba sat for the Zanzibar National Examinations that began here yesterday.

The Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mr Khamis Jabir Makame, said yesterday that sitting the examinations were primary pupils and secondary students who want to advance to different levels.

He said 15,719 students or 15.9 per cent increase over last year, sat for Form Two National Examinations in attempts to advance to Form Three. A total of 13,555 students sat for the same level last year, he said.

He added that 8,394 students out of the total were women and 7,325 were male.

A total of 24,491 pupils sat for the Standard Seven Primary School examinations for advancing to Form One, he said.
A 'Daily News' survey in different schools at the Zanzibar Municipality showed that the examinations started well and so far there were no hitches reported.

Previous cases of examination cheatings reported in different schools in Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland had forced the authorities in the Isles Ministry of Education to seek police assistance for invigilation.

A number of uniformed policemen and women were deployed at all examination centres to team up with invigilators apparently in efforts to control cheatings.

All examinations are expected to end next Friday.
The secondary examination candidates will have to sit again for the National Form Four Examinations in order to proceed to Form Five and specialised for agriculture and business.

Zanzibar bans plastic bags

ZANZIBAR, Nov 7 (Reuters) –

Zanzibar has banned the import and production of plastic bags to protect its environment and tourism industry.

Just off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar is on a major route for plastic bags heading for the east African mainland. It estimates more than 200 tonnes of bags pass through its port every month.

"We have to put the environment above everything," Zanzibar's Director of Environment Ali Juma said.

"Besides being an eyesore, plastic bags are very damaging to land and marine life and we are already threatened by the rapid pace of development."

Tourism is the backbone of the island's economy. Zanzibar has major problems managing sewage and rubbish. Less than 10 percent of sewage is treated and it can get rid of only about a third of the 200 tonnes of rubbish produced daily.

"While it is environmentally sound to ban the plastic bags, the government is going to lose $400,000 per month as revenue for bags on transit and destined for the local market," said businessman Salim Turky.

Karume: No plans to go beyond two terms

ALI UKI in Zanzibar

Daily News; Monday,November 06, 2006 @00:05

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume said here yesterday that he has no plans to go beyond the constitutional two terms of presidency.

He told a well-attended rally at Kibandamaiti playgrounds that two constitutional terms were enough. "No extension-- I will not go beyond 2010." He said he was serving his last five-year constitutional term in office and had no plans of initiating moves to change the constitution to continue with presidency after 2010.

The rally was organised by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) members to mark one year of their government in office.

Mr Karume, who is also the CCM Zanzibar Vice-Chairman, said a group of CCM elders requested him to consider changing the constitution to run for a third term after 2010.

But, he told the rally, he believed the present constitutional dictates on the terms of the presidency were perfect and should be upheld. He was re-elected last year for a second and last term.

He urged the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) to build a culture of accepting election results. "Accepting the election results is part of political sophistication," he stressed.

Mr Karume listed his government's achievements including establishment of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and appointment of CCM and CUF members to the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.

He asked journalists to present information objectively and refrain from using their profession to serve parochial interests championed by self-centred politicians.

He said some journalists were being used to portray CCM's top leadership in bad light.

Zanzibar officials visit SCSU to check on textbooks being developed there

By LEE HENDREN, T&D Staff Writer
Sunday, November 05, 2006

Two high-ranking education officials from Zanzibar recently visited South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.

The East Africans came especially to check on the progress of high school physics, biology and chemistry textbooks and materials that are being developed here for their school children.

Production of the materials – a minimum of 600,000 textbooks and other learning materials – is made possible by a $3 million grant that is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s $600 million Africa Education Initiative.

“When we got this grant, it was a Godsend,” said Mwanaidi Abdalla, deputy principal secretary of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.

Until now, Zanzibar – a semiautonomous region of Tanzania – had to buy textbooks that were not developed especially for their people, she said.

The new materials “will reflect the culture and values of our people in Zanzibar,” Abdalla said, adding that the goal is for every student to have his or her own textbook.

Delivery of the materials is set to occur by September 2008.

Madina Mwinyi, Zanzibar’s director of secondary curricula and examinations, said another major difference is that the Tanzanian educational system focuses more on preparing students for university studies, at the risk of leaving them less prepared for living.

She said she likes the American approach to curriculum because it is more holistic and more relevant as it includes more living and vocational skills.

The VIPs from Zanzibar arrived in the United States on Sept. 30 and spent some time visiting historic sites including the city of Charleston and Penn Center on St. Helena Island.

They visited Orangeburg-Calhoun and Midlands technical colleges, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Edisto high schools, The Technology Center in Orangeburg, several educational facilities in Charleston and Felton Laboratory School at S.C. State. They also attended the coronation of Miss SCSU.

Zanzibar had a partnership with Midlands Tech, but it had slid toward dormancy, and the visit was intended to help revive it.

Too, they had a series of meetings to discuss the program, meet the textbook authors, review draft manuscripts and map out the next steps toward publication of the materials.

Zanzibar has a separate education system in the elementary grades, and instruction is in Swahili. So, when they reach high school, students are not only learning the subject matter being taught; they are also learning a second language, English.

For this reason, the textbooks have to be written in basic English. Too, the manuscripts must address gender equity issues and health issues such as HIV/AIDS.

Abdalla said the manuscripts are “very good” and “reader friendly,” but still needed some revisions.

She said she will remember South Carolinians as a people who are friendly and not timid about expressing their friendliness. Also, she was impressed with the efforts that South Carolina has made to preserve its rich history.

Dr. Linda R. McIntyre, the assistant program coordinator and an assistant professor of educational leadership, said the project brings S.C. State money and opportunities to conduct research, to create publications and to build international relations.

But like anything worthwhile, it isn’t always easy, she said.

“A lot of people give lip service to globalization. You’ve got to work hard to get it done,” she said. “All of us have learned something about how to do this kind of collaboration. All of us have learned from each other.”

Karume resurrects Z’bar OIC agenda

2006-11-04 09:06:40
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume has said it is vital for Zanzibar to join the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).

Earlier moves by his predecessor, Dr Salmin Amour on the same issue, did not bear fruit.

Speaking during a media conference yesterday, Karume said it was prudent for Zanzibar to join the OIC not as a country, but as part of the United Republic of Tanzania.

”In my considered view, I think it is wise for Zanzibar to join OIC not as a state, but as part of the Union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika,” he said.

He said the issue of joining the OIC was still pending in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, where experts were working on it.

He said there were many advantages to be enjoyed if isles joined OIC through the United Republic of Tanzania.

He said despite the chronic concerns about Union problems, there had been remarkable achievements registered during all years of its existence.

”There has been greater productivity and gain than setbacks since 1964 when the Union was formed. The people of Zanzibar have gained a lot from the Union,” Karume said.

He however, said that the Union’s concerns could not be tackled easily as they were caused by changes triggered by global development of science and technology.

He also said that there had been remarkable achievements resulting from the formation of Joint Finance Council which tackles the problem of resource allocation.

Karume further commended the current procedure of routine consultations among national leaders from both parts of the Union, Premier Edward Lowassa and Chief Minister of Zanzibar, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha.

He appealed to Zanzibaris to shun people who stir religious sentiments because they are detrimental to peace, unity and security.

Karume issued the warning following the rise of a religious group known as Hizbu Tahriri.

He said while it was vital to uphold freedom of worship, it was also important to respect the religious denomination of others, so as to maintain peace and unity.

An earlier move to have Zanzibar join the OIC several years ago provoked a reaction among certain sectors of the Mainland population, who said that the constitution states that Tanzania is a secular state and therefore cannot join regional religious groupings as a state.

The debate occurred during the tenure of office of Karume’s predecessor, Dr Salmin Amour.

The Union government, under former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, ended up abandoning the move.

RP, 5 other countries sign pact on coral reef protection

By Yolanda Sotelo-Fuertes
Inquirer, Northern Luzon
11/02/2006

ALAMINOS CITY -- (UPDATE) Seven government officials from six countries, including two from the Philippines, signed a declaration calling on the scientific community to work with local governments and community networks for the management of coral reefs and tropical marine ecosystems.

Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza and Puerto Princesa City Vice Mayor Lucillo Bayron signed the declaration during the third international tropical marine ecosystems management symposium on October 16-20 in Cozumel, Mexico.

The other signatories were Mahboud Juma Issa, mayor of Zanzibar municipal council of Tanzania; Ann Bunnell, deputy mayor of Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Teariki Matenga, mayor of Takitumea, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; Gustavo Ortega Joaquin, mayor of Cozumel, Mexico; and Joseph Jerome Harris, former mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii.
……..

"The economic, social and cultural futures of people of tropical coasts and islands are linked to the health of coral reefs," the declaration said.

It added that local governments hold the key to the future of coral reefs and other tropical marine ecosystems. They are on the "front line of the issues that directly affect the future of coral reefs and associated ecosystems" but they "face huge and constantly changing challenges in providing for sustainability," the declaration said.

The signatories said they identified six major issues that should be addressed to develop the partnership between the coral reef management community and the local government.

These are empowerment, networks, capacity building, knowledge and communication, political will and recognition of achievement.

The symposium was attended by 300 delegates from 45 countries. One of its objectives was the mutual understanding of the roles of the local government and the technical and scientific management community in the management of coral reefs and related ecosystems.

Power blues: Isles seek Israeli expertise

2006-11-01 09:09:59
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Electrical engineers from Zanzibar Electricity Company (ZECO) are scheduled to visit Israel next week to undertake special training on generation of electricity from sea waves.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday, ZECO General Manager Juma Is-haka said the decision to dispatch the experts to Israel was in response to the imminent energy crisis facing Zanzibar and the entire country.

Both Zanzibar and Pemba islands have experienced acute power crisis in the wake of the drop in water levels at Mtera and Kidatu dams on the Mainland, forcing the closure of the latter, Is-haka said.

Is-haka confirmed the team of engineers is leaving for Israel on November 8.

”Currently our experts have been receiving on-the-job training before signing a training contract with Israel,” he said.

ZECO, he said, in collaboration with an Israeli company, SDE, would finance the training.
”This trip is very important for the country. If the project takes off, Zanzibar shall have reliable supply of electricity,” he said.

Is-haka gave the names of the engineers who would travel to Israel as ZECO Production Manager, Ahmed Sheikh, Deputy Production Manager, Salum Masoud and Production Manager for Pemba, Mohammed Suleiman Khatib.

The Zanzibar Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Water, Works, Energy and Land, Silima Mkindwi will accompany the ZECO delegation, he said.

He said preliminary feasibility study on power generation had shown that Zanzibar had strong sea waves, which were suitable for power generation.

He said the Isles power consumption stands at 36 megawatts, adding that Pemba Island was depending on thermal power stations installed at Wesha in Chake Chake District.

Zanzibar: Targeted by Pro-caliphate Group

2006-11-01
UNPO, Netherlands

Hizb ut Tahrir, a pan-Islamic group banned in several countries, has launched a new campaign in politically volatile Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania.
The new campaign began when the group put up a series of posters overnight on Monday on the main island of the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago. The posters read simply 'The Solution is Khilaffa'. The slogan refers to the group's aim of creating a worldwide caliphate - or Islamic state - led by a single Islamic leader.
"We are part of the international alliance calling and believing that Muslims should be led by one caliphate," Chande Khamis, a member of the group, said in Zanzibar's business district on Tuesday.
Zanzibar is 95 per cent Muslim, and its ties with mainland, mainly Christian, Tanzania have been strained in recent years. During elections in 2000 and 2005, there was widespread rioting in Zanzibar after allegations of vote-rigging by the ruling party.
"Democracy is the way of infidels, and we do not want it to be imposed on the Muslim society," Khamis said.
The archipelago's government is secular and does not endorse any religion. Under the deal that founded modern Tanzania in 1964 through a union of the islands and mainland Tanganyika, Zanzibar retains its own president and parliament.
Khamis told Reuters the group - whose size he refused to give - does not advocate violence.
"We want to lead peaceful transition from a secular state to an Islamic state," he said.
Police concerns
"We knew the existence of the group but it is for the first time that we see them doing flyers," Juma Khatib Suleiman, the commander of Zanzibar's urban regional police, said.
This was the first time the group had come out in the open and its activities were under investigation, he said.
Britain considered banning Hizb Ut Tahrir in August 2005 after the July 7 London bombings in which four Muslims killed themselves and 52 others, but later backed off without giving a reason.
Hizb ut Tahrir is a worldwide party founded in 1953, and much of its membership is believed to be underground after being banned in several Arab countries including Egypt and Syria, and in Russia.
Western analysis fear that a takeover in Zanzibar by radical Muslim groups could give militants a strategic toehold off the coast of east Africa - already a victim of al Qaeda bombings in 1998 in Tanzania and Kenya.

Zanzibar: Political parties differ

2006-10-28
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Political leaders across Zanzibar have sharply differed over the establishment of an interim transitional government and formation of a government of national unity.

In separate interviews conducted by The Guardian yesterday, leaders in the opposition camp were pessimistic, saying that the ongoing debate on the political destiny of the Isles was a precursor to disunity.

While some of them rejected the idea to establish an interim government that would govern the country through a transition period before the formation of a government of national unity, others were completely against it. Some have even threatened to take legal action.

The differing views over the end of the political stalemate in Zanzibar comes a few days after CUF General Secretary, Seif Sharif Hamad made proposals on measures to pacify the highly polarised political stage.

Hamad, among other things, had proposed the formation of a transitional government and establishment of the government of national unity.

NLD has strongly opposed the proposals and threatened to move to court, saying Zanzibar would be violating its own constitution, if it implemented the proposals.

NLD Deputy Secretary General Rashid Ahmed Rashid said since the elections were over, it was unconstitutional for a section of the society to question the integrity of a government that came to power, through a democratic process.

NCCR Mageuzi Vice chairman Ambar Khamis said the best approach to contain the current political friction in Zanzibar is for the Zanzibaris to sit together and resolve their differences for the sake of their country and posterity.

TADEA Publicity Secretary Juma Ali Khatib challenged the opposition camp, opposed to the formation of a coalition government in Zanzibar to prescribe the way forward.

Without mincing words, he called them unpatriotic and selfish individuals who were contemptuous of the socio-economic wellbeing of Zanzibar.

”It is not proper for people to spend hours, days and weeks discussing politics, instead of taking part in economic activities.

Those contradicting efforts by President Jakaya Kikwete to foster harmony and unity in Zanzibar have bad intentions,” Khatib said.

Seif Sharif Hamad himself deplored political parties opposed to the efforts to bring harmony in Zanzibar saying such parties had neither supporters nor offices on the Isles.

”Those opposing efforts by President Jakaya Kikwete to restore peace and unity in Zanzibar only work out plans to defend personal interests and not those of the nation,” Hamad said.

Zanzibar CCM Publicity Secretary, Vuai Ali Vuai said President Kikwete ought to be accorded an opportunity to try out strategies to end the political impasse.

Ten firms eye Zanzibar airport overhaul project

Sun Oct 29, 2006

ZANZIBAR (Reuters) - The Zanzibar government has announced that 10 foreign companies have shown interest in bidding for a project to overhaul and expand Zanzibar's international airport at a cost of $30 million.

The airport on the semi-autonomous islands is important in bringing in tourists, whose spending forms much of the archipelago's economy which also contributes significantly to mainland Tanzania's revenues.

Deputy Minister for Communication Machano Khamis Othman said the 10 companies were vying for the project after the Zanzibar government's decision to rescind a contract awarded to a Chinese company for poor performance in July.

"We are very far back on our schedule. It is hard to catch up but we want to start straight away," he told Reuters late on Friday. He did not give any deadlines.

The qualifying companies include Strabag AG of Germany, Koop B.V. of the Netherlands, Rumdel Construction (Pty) Limited and Group Five International, both of South Africa, and Sogea Satum of France.

Others are Stirling Civil Engineering, Cogel Spa, and Prismo Universal Italiana, of Italy. The others are China Road and Bridge Corporation and Beijing Construction Engineering Group, both from China, Othman said.

The Zanzibar airport runway is being extended to allow larger planes at a time the annual tourist target flow is expected to increase from the current 125,000 per year to 200,000 by 2010, according to government projections.

Zanzibar, U.S. to boost tourism cooperation: officials

Oct 28, 2006
People's Daily Online,

The Indian Ocean tourist resort of Zanzibar and the United States have promised each other to cooperate more in the field of tourism, according to reports reaching here on Saturday.

The promise was made when Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha met on Friday with Deborah Malac, deputy director of the East Africa office under the U.S. Department of State.

The Zanzibar chief minister said that his government would uplift the isles' tourist sector by constructing more and improving the tourism-related infrastructure in the isles so as to further boost the sector.

The U.S. official said that her country would continue assisting the Indian Ocean archipelago in its development of tourism so as to enable more U.S. tourists to visit the isles.

Zanzibar has just set up and opened a college specializing in training tourism-related personnel.

A total of 123,443 foreign tourists came to visit Zanzibar in 2005, registering an increase of foreign tourist influx by 26 percent as against the previous 12 months.

Most of the foreign tourists came from Italy, the United States as well as from Asian and African countries.

Tourism revenues already increased to account for one fifth of Zanzibar's gross domestic product last year and the Zanzibar Commission of Tourism expects the tourism revenue to account for up to 23 percent of the annual GDP by the year of 2010.

The tourism season in Zanzibar starts in June each year and lasts till after the Christmas holidays.

Zanzibar beaches threatened

23/10/2006

Zanzibar - Zanzibar's famed pristine, palm-fringed beaches are threatened by the unchecked disposal of raw sewage, development and deforestation, said officials.

They said the situation was such that the Indian Ocean archipelago risked becoming one of the world's most environmentally endangered island chains, urging stepped up enforcement of and toughened ecological protection laws.

Ali Juma, director of the environment department in the Tanzanian territory's semi-autonomous government, said: "Environmental destruction on Zanzibar is going from bad to worse.

"We must now review our policies and strengthen laws to control the situation." He was speaking to reporters after the release last week of a United Nations report highlighting coastal pollution as a serious threat to the world's islands.

Officials said one of the main threats was the piping of untreated sewage from urban areas into the ocean, particularly around the capital, where only 60 of the estimated 200 tons of solid waste produced daily were accounted for.

Disposals 'threaten marine life'

Last week, officials from the Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Dar es Salaam told Zanzibari parliamentarians that nearly 100% of raw liquid waste from Zanzibar town was being directed into the ocean.

They said that such disposals not only threatened marine life, but also damaged beaches that had become an economic lifeline for Zanzibar while the islands aimed to boost their reputation as an exotic world-class tourist destination.

The officials said in addition to waste dumping, Zanzibar's coastal areas were in danger from the loss of mangrove forests and other trees at the hands of illegal loggers and hotel and home development too close to beaches.

They said that regulations barring construction within 30 metres of beaches were routinely ignored and must be enforced and tightened if the islands were to avoid catastrophic damage.

A senior researcher with the environment department said: "The policies and laws have never been seriously implemented", lamenting that 1992 and 1996 legislation was inadequate to protect delicate eco-systems.

Healthy reefs 'essential'

He said that apart from infrequent nominal fines on locals for cutting down trees for firewood and rare cases of injunctions issued to stop beach-front construction, the government had not acted decisively to halt destruction.

On Thursday, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a new report saying that coastal pollution was threatening the recovery of coral reefs already damaged by rising sea temperatures blamed on climate change.

It said that healthy reefs were essential to maintaining the delicate environmental balance in the world's oceans and were estimated to bring in $30bn in revenue to local fishing and tourism industries.

Tourism on Zanzibar, renowned for its exotic history as a hub for the spice and slave trades, had grown to a $55m a year industry, representing 21% of the islands' gross domestic product.

The sector directly or indirectly employed nearly 45 000 of Zanzibar's some one million people and was hoped to surpass agriculture, currently 35% of gross domestic product, as its leading revenue earner by 2015.

Zanzibar destroys more eggs to keep bird flu at bay

October 24, 2006
By www.andnetwork .com

Authorities in Zanzibar have incinerated another consignment of chicken eggs smuggled from mainland Tanzania, in the hope of keeping their islands free of avian flu.

"We seized the egg consignment of about 11 boxes imported from the Tanzanian mainland commercial capital of Dar es Salaam," said Kassim Gharib, the head of a task force formed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Natural Resources and Environment.

The task force was establised to ensure that bird flu does not spread to Zanzibar, two semi-autonomous islands that form part of the Republic of Tanzania.

The consignment was seized after the importers disappeared, apparently fearing arrest, Gharib said on Tuesday. Gharib said the Zanzibari business community had continued to import poultry products despite a ban on them introduced in 2005.

According to the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), the H5N1 avian influenza virus can be found inside eggs, and on the surface of eggs laid by infected birds.

There is, however, no epidemiological evidence to suggest that people have been infected with avian influenza through eating eggs or egg products. Thorough cooking of eggs can inactivate the virus, according to WHO.

In August, Zanzibar's authorities incinerated 61,000 chicken eggs in a bid to check the threat of bird flu, but because of high demand during the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holidays this week, and the current high season for tourism in the islands, the price of eggs in Zanzibar has doubled.

The deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu has been found in several African countries. The poultry industry in Asia and in a few European countries has been affected by the disease, which has claimed dozens of human lives, mostly in Asia.

UAE to naturalize 10,000 stateless people

AFP
October 25, 2006

ABU DHABI -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to naturalize around 10,000 people who have been living without citizenship for more than three decades in the wealthy Gulf monarchy, the interior minister said Wednesday.

A commission "is about to finalize a preliminary list of stateless people who have the right to naturalization ... [and who] have lived in the country prior to the proclamation of the [UAE] Federation," Seif Ben Zayed Al Nahyane was quoted as saying by the official WAM news agency.

The UAE was established December 2, 1971.

Emir Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyane instructed the commission to "find a comprehensive solution to the question of stateless people in order to resolve the matter permanently," the minister added.

An interior ministry source said that there are around 10,000 stateless people in the UAE. They are mainly of Iranian or Asian origin, or from Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago that has a history of trade relations with the Gulf.

The commission, established last April, "has updated the list of stateless people with the right to naturalization to include their families in order to avoid any confusion," said its president Abdel Aziz Al Sharifi, who is also chief of preventive security in the interior ministry.

To be eligible for naturalization, a person must have lived permanently in the UAE prior to the creation of the federation in 1971, possess no documents proving former nationality, and have no criminal record, Sharifi said.

"Those who do not fulfill these conditions will not be treated as stateless people and the interior minister will treat them as illegal residents," he said.

Citizenship for stateless people - sometimes referred to by the term bidoun that means "without" in Arabic and Farsi - is an issue in several oil-rich Gulf monarchies where many of them have settled since the 1960s.

The seven-member UAE federation includes Dubai, a business and tourism hub, and Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich capital. According to official statistics, 4.1 million people live in the UAE and 21.9 percent of them are indigenous.

Surprise, peace as worshippers...

2006-10-24 08:59:06
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar


Ansar Sunna worshipers yesterday celebrated Eid el Fitr in various mosques in Zanzibar in peace and harmony compared to the previous years.

In the past years these celebrations were associated with some fracas including fighting with police and other people were arraigned to courts for allegedly marking the day before the sighting of the moon Zanzibar Kadhi Sheikh Mussa Makungu announced yesterday.

The mosques in which these worshipers prayed included Rahaleo, Kikwajuni, Kibweni or Kandahar the prayers started at 06:45 am and wound up at 07:15am.

Speaking to The Guardian some of the worshipers thanked the government for letting the citizens to worship in the religion of their choice.

”The government is non-religious but people have religion so we couldn’t find any reason for us to be punished when we prayed in Ansar Suna, I think the government now understands the freedom of worship,” said Sheikh Mohammed Khalfan from Kibweni mosque.

He said such a step was good in the implementation of good governance by letting them choose the religion they believe in.

On her part, one of the worshiper, Adha Masoud at Kikwajuni Mosque said that they were pleased when they reached the mosque premises and found it was calm, as compared to previous years.

”We couldn’t believe our eyes when we reached the mosque and found there were no police as in the previous years the police used tear gas to disperse us and our Sheikhs were arrested,” said Masoud Meanwhile, it was announced that the guest of honour for National Eid Council would be Zanzibar President, Amani Abeid Karume.

Eid prayer would be held at Mushawar Mosque in Mwembeshauri Street and the Eid council meeting would be held in Citizen building in Forodhani, Unguja.

Eid el Fitr celebrations has caused sharp rise in food items where by 1 kilogramme of meat was selling at between 3,500/- and 4,000/-, eggs per tray at 6,000/- and rice per kilogramme at 1200/- by yesterday.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

Fasting during Ramadan is one of five pillars that form the basis of Islam.

The timing of Eid, which lasts from one to four days, can vary from country to country depending on the sighting of the new moon, which marks the start of the month in Islam’s lunar calendar.

The first Eid was celebrated AD 624 by the Muslim prophet Mohammad in Medina in Saudi Arabia, two years after the founding of the first Muslim community there.

No plan to turn Kibwani state lodge into museum

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
October 13, 2006

ZANZIBAR has no plan to turn the famous historical state lodge at Kibwani into a national museum, the House of Representatives was told here yesterday.

Answering a question in the House, the Minister of State in the Isles President’s Office, Dr Mwinyihaji Makame said instead, the government would repair it and put it in good order.

He said efforts to repair the building had not come to fruition for sometime due to the financial constraints that the government faces.

However, he admitted that the lodge was in a deplorable state of disrepair. It is understood that the state lodge was used by former Arab rulers especially during weekends and holidays.

The minister was answering Mr Ali Suleiman Ali who wanted to know if the government had plans to repair the building before it was too late.

Tanzania's Zanzibar parliament sits in session

People's Daily Online
Xinhua
October 12, 2006

Lawmakers in Tanzania's Zanzibar started their second session of this year on Wednesday to discuss and approve four bills, according to reports.

The bills, to be discussed during the two-week session, include one on registering births and deaths of the isle's residents, one on creating studying and working opportunity for the disabled, one on setting up a mass media college on the Indian Ocean archipelago, and the other on vocational training.

The Zanzibar House of Representatives is in session under the chairmanship of Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha.

Though as a part of Tanzania, Zanzibar has its own parliament, apart from having some of its representatives sitting in the parliamentary sessions of the Tanzanian National Assembly.

Taxation worries Isles importers

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
October 12, 2006

IMPORTERS and other business people in Zanzibar have been asked to exercise tolerance as the Union and Zanzibar governments are looking for a solution to iron out administrative shortcomings on the taxation system of imported goods shipped through the Isles port.

The Zanzibar Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Finance and Planning, Dr Mwinyihaji Makame, acknowledged in the House of Representatives here yesterday that there were clearance problems of imported goods.

He said the government was aware of complaints that importers shipping in cargo through the Zanzibar port were experiencing problems in the Mainland ports as well but advised the importers to remain calm as a solution was in sight.

"Please give us time, we are working on the problem indefatigably,'' said the minister in response to a question asked by Mr Hamza Hassan (Kwamtipura-CCM).

The minister said the problems of clearance of Zanzibar imports had already been forwarded to a joint Zanzibar and Union Government committee and discussions have been held. He said the joint committee is led by the Union Prime Minister, Mr Edward Lowassa, and the Zanzibar Chief Minister, Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha.

He added that the joint committee held discussions with several stakeholders on the matter in the quest to get information from both sides of the Union before arriving at a solution.

It is understood that President Jakaya Kikwete had instructed Prime Minister Lowassa and Zanzibar Chief Minister Nahodha to meet regularly to iron out administrative and constitutional problems on the 42nd Union which was formed on April 26, 1964.

Several large-scale importers claim that harmonization of taxes between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland was the main hitch which causes a decline in the volume of imported goods to Zanzibar.

They claimed that as a result of the harmonization policy, a big number of Isles importers had moved to the Mainland.

In his question, Mr Hassan demanded to know the strategies the government was taking in solving the administrative snags on the taxation system.

Zanzibar: Winning Its Fight against Malaria

2006-10-11
Reuters

STONE TOWN, 10 October (IRIN) - Health clinics have reported a marked decrease in the incidence of malaria in Zanzibar with the completion of the first phase of an anti-malaria campaign.

Health Minister Sultani Mohammed Mugheiry said records from hospitals and health centres showed that malaria declined immediately following a 54-day Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) effort that ended on 9 September.

"I have visited some of the public health centres in Unguja and Pemba [the two main islands that make up Zanzibar]; I visited some wards without malaria patients. Before the campaign, such a situation would not be common," Mugheiry said.

The Health Ministry is expected to publish definitive results of the campaign in six months' time. By then, the second phase of the spraying campaign is expected to be under way.

Malaria is the biggest killer in Africa, with more than one million deaths attributed to it every year, most of whom are children under the age of five. Until recently, the virus was the leading health problem in Zanzibar.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States government have supported attempts to control the disease in Zanzibar in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s but all failed, Mugheiry said.

"We were not serious and committed, that is why malaria came back, but this time we are committed and so are the majority of Zanzibaris," he said.

However, the incidence of malaria in Zanzibar has fallen significantly over the past two years - from 54 percent in 2003 to 31 percent at the end of 2005, according to government records.

"It was the result of proper diagnosis and treatment, and the use of treated mosquito nets," Juma Muchi, a malaria health official in Zanzibar, said.

He added that the United States government had given more than 200,000 Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs) to pregnant mothers and children younger than five in Zanzibar.

The current anti-malaria programme aims to halve the previously recorded 31 percent incidence.

WHO officials visiting the islands at the end of the spraying campaign reported favourably on the initiative. "Political commitment and good planning have helped Zanzibar to move fast in controlling malaria in the island. Hopefully, at this pace malaria will soon disappear," Shiva Murugasampillay, the WHO representative, said.

The recent anti-malaria initiative cost at least US $2 million and reached 240,000 homes, or 90 percent of all homes on the island, according to the government.

Charles Llewellyn, an official with the USAID, which funded the project, says it was a great success. "In the past, the people of Zanzibar were worried about malaria whenever the rains came, but now the worry is over," he said.

Not everyone, however, shares the government's and international agencies' optimism. Paradoxically, despite a reduction in malaria cases following the spraying campaign, mosquitoes continue to multiply.

"We believed that after the spraying exercise, mosquito disturbances would end, but instead mosquitoes have increased drastically!" Rukia Mohammed, a resident of Unguja Island, said.

Mohammed is among the many mothers who received treated mosquito nets in May this year, and says that although there are more mosquitoes, "none of my family members, including children, have suffered from malaria since May this year".

The Health Ministry was keen to point out that the spraying campaign – using a 10-percent solution of the chemical lamda-cyhalothrin, known as ICON - was focussed only on those mosquitoes on walls inside people's homes. However, most mosquitoes are found outside.

Poor drainage and sanitation systems, coupled with the onset of the rainy season, may well have led to an increase in the numbers of mosquitoes on the islands, Health Minister Mugheiry said.

He said now the government was working with the population to get them to keep the environment clean, use treated nets, and to use the right treatment for malaria.

"Malaria is already becoming rare in Zanzibar. Now we need to unite and strengthen our efforts and we can eradicate it," Mugheiry said.

Pemba assured of Isles govt support

2006-10-10
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar has pledged continued support to development in Pemba, despite the general perception of rejection of the ruling party in last year’s general election.

Deputy Chief Minister, Ali Juma Shamhuna made the remarks at a meeting for CCM’s Central Executive Committee members held at Fukuchani, Unguja North district.

”We didn’t get a single seat in the last elections, but the Isles government will continue working for development in Pemba,” the minister said.

In their bid to strengthen the party at grassroots level, Shamhuna, himself a CCM Central Executive Committee member, said the government had recorded significant achievements in developing the area, which is an opposition stronghold.

He enumerated some of the projects the government had undertaken as roads, electricity, water, etc.

He told CCM branch leaders to prepare and sensitise youths who did not vote for the party last year to prepare for the next elections.

The CCM Central Executive Committee members denounced widely circulated reports that there was a split in the party on the Isles.

There were concerns that CCM members were divided following last year’s controversial elections, which led to calls for the formation of a government of national unity.

”If any leader comes up with a proposal for a government of national unity, we’ll walk out of the party,” said Hamdu Bakar.

Bakar said, it was against the Isles and Union constitutions to form a government of national unity.

Death penalty under spotlight in Isles

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

ISLES legal experts including judges and magistrates meet here today to discuss the merits and demerits of the Death Penalty that is enshrined in the Penal Code of both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

"The discussion, the first of its kind to take place here since the 1964 Revolution that ended the Sultanate oligarchy, has been organized 
by the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC) in collaboration with the Tanzania Legal and Human Rights Centre.

"The ZLSC chairman, Prof. Haroub Othman, told reporters here yesterday 
that the main objective of the discussion is to enlighten the islanders on 
the Death Penalty as part of celebrations to commemorate the annual World 
Day against the “harsh punishment”.

Zanzibar had its last execution in 1964. Since then, no executions have been carried out. But still the death penalty is upheld in the Zanzibar Penal Decree, raising fears that further executions could be made in future.

In the discussion, two Human Rights experts from the Tanzania Legal and 
Human Rights Centre would table the recently launched 2004 report on the Death Sentence.

It is further understood that members of the Nyalali Commission, which collected views on whether Tanzania should adopt or shun the 
multi-party system had different views on the Death Penalty.

Karume welcomes bid to resolve political differences

2006-10-09 12:27:26
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume yesterday welcomed Union President Jakaya Kikwete’s bid to find a solution to the Isles political problem.

Karume said some people had misinterpreted President Kikwete’s statement and imagined that he would form a government of national unity for Zanzibar.

”Some people, including the opposition think that the President intends to initiate a process of forming the government of national unity in Zanzibar. This is wrong.

The President is only bridging the rift between Pemba and Unguja, especially after the elections,” he said.

The issue had cropped up in the party meeting following a request for clarification by the Minister for Information, Culture and Sports in the Union government, Mohamed Seif Khatib.

The Deputy Chief Minister for Zanzibar Ali Juma Shamhuna was quoted as saying that there was no way a government of national unity could be formed in Zanzibar.

In another development, the meeting discussed the names of people vying for the East African Legislative Assembly posts.

The candidates include Dr Said Gharib Bilal, and Abdullah Ali Mwinyi, son of retired President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

The others are Mahfoudha Alley Hamid, Remidius Kisasi, and Nasor Juma Mugheiry, Sebtuu Mohammed Nassor,
Dr Yussuf Nuh Pandu, Dr Makame Mohammed Ussi, Issac Sepetu and Rajab Uweje Yakoub.

The meeting also made changes in the composition of the NEC secretariat in Zanzibar by appointing new members, including Asha Abdullah Juma, who becomes secretary for the special committee responsible for organisation.

The other appointees were Vuai Ali Vuai, who is the new secretary for ideology and publicity committee and Machano Othman Said, who is the secretary of a committee on political affairs and international relations.

Meanwhile, President Karume has banned early campaigns by CCM members for 2010 presidential nomination.

Karume, who is the vice-chairman of CCM, banned all meetings to identify his successor when he chaired a special CCM central committed meeting at the weekend.

He said some CCM members in Zanzibar had begun campaigning for nomination to vie for Zanzibar presidency, four years ahead of time.

’This is contrary to CCM procedures. People who have begun early campaigns for party presidential nomination should stop immediately,’ Karume said.

President Karume completes his second five-year tenure in 2010. Constitutionally, Karume is barred from seeking re-election.

Zanzibar proposes EALA candidates

DAILY NEWS Reporter, Zanzibar
October 09, 2006

CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Special Executive Committee in Zanzibar has forwarded to the party's Central Committee 10 names of members aspiring for the East African Legislative Assembly seats for further recommendations and scrutiny.

A statement issued by the party's Ideology and Publicity Committee here yesterday said the Committee under the party's Vice-Chairman for Zanzibar, President Amani Abeid Karume, has thoroughly discussed the aspirants and put down its recommendations on each of them.

We have forwarded all the 10 party aspirants to the Party's Central Committee for final approval," said the statement without making any further comments on the grades and marks awarded to each candidate for the posts.

The party's Central Committee is expected to hold its meeting this week to discuss all party aspirants from both the Mainland and Zanzibar who are seeking the regional legislatures' seats.

The Zanzibar aspirants seeking for the posts are Dr Said Gharib Bilal (the young brother of retired Zanzibar Chief Minister Mohammed Bilal), incumbent Mahfoudha Alley Hamid and Mr Abdullah Ali Hassan Mwinyi (the son of retired Tanzania president Alhaj Ali Hassan Mwinyi).

Others are Mr Remidius Kisasi, Mr Nassor Juma Mugheiry, Ms Sebtuu Mohammed Nassor, Dr Yusuph Pandu, Dr Makame Mohammed Ussi, Mr Issac Sepetu and Mr Rajab Uweje Yakoub.

The statement further explained that the party's special committee has reshuffled Zanzibar's Special Committee officials.

Ms Asha Abdulla Juma was picked the secretary to the special committee, Department of Organization in the party's sub head office here. Ms Juma is also the Isles Minister of Labour, Youth, Women and Children Development.

Mr Vuai Ali Vuai was picked secretary of the party's Ideology and Publicity Department.

Mr Machano Othman Said was picked the secretary of the special committees dealing with Politics and International Cooperation. He is also the Deputy Minister for Communications and Transport.

Mr Mansour Yussuf Himid was picked the secretary of the special committees responsible for Economics and Finance Department in the party's sub head office here.

Zanzibar dismisses anti-Tanzania suit

By A CORRESPONDENT
The EastAfrican
6 October 2006

The High Court of Zanzibar has dismissed a case challenging the legality of the 1964 Act of Union, which formed Tanzania out of the islands of Zanzibar and the mainland area formerly known as Tanganyika.

But the claimants say their fight had just began. "We will continue to struggle against this fake union," Rashid Addiy, leader of the anti-union group, said on Tuesday after the ruling.

He said his movement was growing and that at least 10,000 people had signed a petition calling for an appeal. "If the appeal doesn't work, we will find other means," he said.

During the hearing, the lawyer defending the union, Masumbuko Lamwai, said the claimants in the case were asking the court to commit treason. "Not only does this endanger the union, it incites the population to violence," Lamwai said.

In dismissing the case, Zanzibar High Court Judge Mbarouk Salim said the claim had not been properly filed.

The judge also said the time for challenging the union had expired. "The proper people to have been sued on this matter were the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere – who signed on behalf of Tanganyika – and the late Abeid Amani Karume – who signed on behalf of Zanzibar – because they are the union founders," Justice Mbarouk said.

Ten Zanzibaris filed the case on April 23, claiming the 42-year-old agreement signed by the two leaders had never been properly ratified.

They also said the agreement was invalid because Tanzania's attorney-general's office failed to produce the original agreement.

KMKM shoot two ‘smugglers’ to death

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
October 05, 2006

ZANZIBAR’S Anti-Smuggling Marine Force soldiers widely known here as “KMKM” shot dead two civilians in separate incidents in Unguja and Pemba last week.

The Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation here, Mr Ramadhan Kinyongo, confirmed the deaths of the civilians yesterday saying that the victims were fishermen.

He said the KMKM soldiers who were patrolling the seashores around Unguja and Pemba opened fire on the civilians after the victims defied an order to stop.

The deceased, according to Mr Kinyongo, are suspected to have been engaging in smuggling cloves to a neighbouring country.

The Pemba South Region Police Commander, Mr Ameir Makame named the late Makame Jaffar (32) who was shot and killed at Makombeni village in Mkoani District.

He said the body of the late Jaffar was found floating near the
Shoreline.

The Abdalla Mzee hospital postmortem report said the body of the late Jaffar was found with bullet injuries in the waist and stomach.

The body of the late Makame was buried at his home village in
Makombeni. He survived with a widow and six children.

In another incident, the KMKM soldiers shot dead a fisherman identified as Mr Siraju Omar (22) a villager in Unguja West District.

He too was suspected to have been involved in smuggling activities.

Zanzibar cancels plot allocated...

2006-10-04
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar has revoked the ownership of a beach plot that was meant for construction of an Omani consulate, citing security reasons, among others.

Minister for Construction, Water, Energy Resources and Land, Mansour Yussuf Himid, said the plot, located at the Forodhani seafront, was not ideal for the construction of the consulate.

”We repossessed the plot for purely security reasons,” he said. He said the government under former president, Dr Salmin Amour, erred when it allocated the plot to the consulate.

He said that for reasons that verged on insecurity, the government would not allow foreign missions to be built on the seashore.

He said the government would allocate the Omani consulate an alternative plot at Mazizini area and compensate it for the expenses incurred in constructing a fence around the property.

Reliable sources said the government had resold the plot. A leading tourist hotel owner based in Unguja North reportedly bought the plot to the tune of 150m/-.

Sources said the government had also directed the new owner to build a five-star tourist hotel to add to Zanzibar’s historical Stone Town ”beautiful landscape.”

However, the minister denied allegations that the plot had been sold to an investor.

Oman Acting Consular General Ahmed Humood Al-Habsi confirmed that the consulate had been instructed to stop construction, pending a decision to allocate it an alternative plot.

However, he declined to give details, saying he was not the spokesperson of the office and advised The Guardian to wait for the consular general, who was away on safari.

It is strictly prohibited, according to the Zanzibar Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority regulations, to build a new structure without adhering to the old architectural style in the town.

A number of diplomats expressed concerns over the government’s move, saying it might weaken bilateral relations between Tanzania and the Arab emirates.

The diplomats said, for example, that the offices of the Egyptian Consular General were also built on the seashore, just behind the Isles High Court.

'Tourists are polluting Zanzibar's culture'

September 29 2006
Sapa-AP
By Ali Sultan

Zanzibar, Tanzania - Zanzibar's authorities said Friday they are investigating a radical Islamic group who accused tourists of "polluting the culture" of the tropical island.

Officials said that they were unaware the fundamentalist Hizb ut-Tahrir had gained a foothold on the Zanzibar archipelago, a popular holiday destination that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, and were concerned by their presence.

"They pose a threat to national unity, peace and stability if they start putting out inflammatory statements," said Wambi Hasan Wambi, a senior official within the government's security unit. "The government will keep eyes on them."

Last year about 500 000 tourists travelled to Zanzibar, bringing vital foreign currency to the Indian Ocean islands. This semi-autonomous part of Tanzania is mostly Muslim.

But Abbas Hussein, leader of the hard-line group, said few locals had benefited.

"Tourism is the source of moral and religious decay in Zanzibar. Visitors are just coming here to pollute the culture and religion of Zanzibar." Hussein added: "We need to resume the Islamic way of life by establishing an Islamic state."

The newly emerged group has been on a massive recruitment drive in recent months and claims to have around 3 000 members on the archipelago.

Fadhil Soraga, spokesperson for Zanzibar's Islamic leader, condemned the group and said they were preaching hate.

"Hizb ut-Tahrir preaches inflammatory views against Islam, other religions, and societies. Their ideology is different from us. It spread radical views in the name of Islam. It's wrong," Soraga said.

Islamic militancy appears to be on the rise in East Africa, where a large discontented Muslim population has made it ripe for Islamic fundamentalism.

Hizb ut-Tahrir was founded in Jordan in 1953 and has branches in several Arab and foreign countries with sizable Muslim communities. It is banned in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Earlier this month another radical Islamic group on the archipelago, Uamsho, forced organisers to abandon plans to mark the 60th birthday of late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, saying he violated Islam with his openly gay lifestyle.

Z’bar scoffs at power rationing schedule

2006-09-28
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar has scoffed at the decision by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to include it in the power-rationing schedule without being consulted.

Zanzibar Electric Company (Zeco) customer services manager Abdallah Hajji said the isles have not been affected by ongoing load-shedding, despite the recent announcement by Tanesco.

When Tanesco announced last week that power rationing would be intensified nationwide, Zanzibar opposed the plan.

Hajji said Zanzibar found it difficult to accept power rationing, saying the decision lacked prior consent of the Isles authorities.

’’We will dispatch a delegation to Dar es Salaam to discuss with Tanesco the modalities of power rationing.

He said Zanzibar is Tanesco’s main client; therefore it must be consulted before all major decisions are made.

The delegation led by Zeco General Manager Juma Is-haka Bakr, includes Ministry of Water, Works, Lands and Energy officials.
Hajji said Zanzibar pays Tanesco 750m/- per month for the 36 megawatts it consumes.

With regard to the time set for power shedding, the official said Tanesco should have established the Isles’ power consumption prime time first before making its arbitrary decision.

’’Power is needed more at night but Tanesco wants to supply it during the day, which is inconvenient,’’ he said.

Commenting on revenue collection from power consumers, Hajji said Zeco had injected efficiency in the exercise, which grosses over 1.2bn/- per month, up from 950m/- at the beginning of the year.

The Culture Musical Club tours America!

After 5 trips to Europe and a recent successful collaboration with Tal Mahal, the worlds finest touring Taarab orchestra finally visits the USA. Favoring USA fans with just 10 days of performances, in only 6 cities, sellout crowds are expected.

The 14 musicians and singers are all stars of the larger home orchestra based in Zanzibar. They bring ancient beats and timeless melodies together in ways that will entrance any audience. During lengthy sets, the marvelous dexterity of the musicians is rivaled only by the emotional intensity of the singers. Lead by Amina, a startling natural talent from Kenya, the men and women of Taarab will sing of love and loss, and of rights and wrongs, in a language that speaks clearly to all. 

Culture Musical Club USA Schedule:

09/17/2006 Alverno College Milwaukee Wisconsin

09/18/2006 Chicago World Music Festival Chicago Illinois
(This is a three-day engagement.)

09/21/2006 The Arab American National Museum Dearborn Michigan

09/22/2006 World Music Festival Madison Wisconsin

09/24/2006 Town Hall Seattle Washington

09/27/2006 Makor Hall New York New York
 

A special note on the last two dates; these occur after the start of Ramadan.

This orchestra comes from Zanzibar, east African islands where the population is 96% Islamic. Many in the group will be performing on these last nights after fasting throughout the day, some will not even drink water. It can only be love of the music that causes these wonderful musicians to travel so far and endure so much in order to share their music, their Taarab, with America.

"The orchestra is set up in various sections that mirror the eventful cultural and social history of Zanzibar. First of all there’s a powerful Arabian section consisting of qanun (cittern), oud (Arabic lute), nai (flute) and a number of violins. Especially the latter allude to the tradition of Egyptian film orchestras and also the traditions of Western and Indian classical music. Accordions and double bass are in the mix as well and the percussion department mostly consists of dumbak and bongos. On top of all this instrumental richness, there are the voices: male and female solo singers and choruses. To this day, the Culture Musical Club plays an essential part in the island’s cultural and social life. It’s a sort of national orchestra.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orchestra blends global sounds

Group melds disparate musical styles in Humboldt Park show
By THACHER SCHMID
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sept. 17, 2006

What is this thing called "world music"? Sonic cross-pollination, perhaps, a synergy of cultures in a shrinking globe. Whatever the truth, the Global Union festival this past weekend at the Humboldt Park band shell showcased the infinite diversity of human sound.

Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar represents an island where the trade winds gust with sounds from disparate regions such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, East Africa and India. During the 14-piece orchestra's North American debut Sunday, the group played two delightful sets that had a crowd of hundreds transfixed: one spiritual, classical and formal, and a second looser, secular and romantic.
……….

Z’bar seeks autonomous civil aviation authority

2006-09-26
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Despite annual income of about 750m/-, Zanzibar Airport direct dependency on treasury for all its expenditures has been a setback in the development of aviation industry in the isles.

Director of Zanzibar Civil Aviation (ZCA) Malik Mohamed said lack of enough funds allocated for running the airport from the treasury was upsetting its development.

He made the comments after Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha made a surprise visit at the airport on Sunday, where he challenged the airport management to improve the airport.

Mohamed told the Chief Minister the airport does not have cooling facilities at the departure lounge.
It also does not have shelter to protect travellers from sun or rain.

Mohamed was firm to the minister saying the airport was making enough money but all of it went to the treasury.

’’This has been a major drawback for the airport’s short and long term development plans,’’ he said.
He said according to the current regulations, all the income from the airport is deposited with the treasury.

’’To use the same, we are supposed to request the treasury to give us the money!’’ Mohamed said.
He called on the government to consider an autonomous body to ran the facility.

’’We have forwarded our proposal to higher authorities for consideration. We believe that if the government approves our request for autonomy we shall improve the services at the airport,’’ Mohamed said.

He called on setting up of Zanzibar Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA).
In the 2005/2006 budget, about 680m/- was allocated for the airport development, but unfortunately only 25 per cent of the budget was released by the treasury, he lamented.

’’My office has many responsibilities, but no authority to use the cash. However, we are moving on and the Chief Minister has promised that he would work on the money flow issue,’’ he said.

Zanzibar cuts down food prices

ALI UKI IN ZANZIBAR
Daily News;
September 19, 2006

THE Government of Zanzibar has announced a cutback of 25 per cent on excise duty for large importers of wheat flour, rice and sugar to control prices during the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadhan expected to begin this weekend, depending on the sighting of the moon.

The Isles Minister for Tourism, Trade and Investments, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, announced the move during a press conference yesterday, saying the reduction would however last for two months only.
"This is a deliberate move by the government to check high prices during the Holy Month of Ramadhan," stressed the minister.

According to the government's budget proposals for 2006/07, the island's inflation rate stands at about eight per cent.
The minister said the government had held talks with local businessmen here with a view to lowering prices of imported foodstuffs.

She said the importers of wheat flour, rice and sugar
had agreed to reduce prices by 10 per cent during Ramadhan for the island's 96 per Muslim population.
Consequently, the minister announced special prices for wheat four, rice and sugar for the Ramadhan period.

A kiolgramme of wheat flour will now be sold at 600/- down from 700/- previously, a kilogramme of sugar will fetch 1,050/- from 1,100/- and a kilogramme of rice will cost 600/- instead of 710/-, she said.
This is the first time in the history of the Isles for government to take a bold decision to reduce food prices during the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture, Mr Abdallah Abass, has commended the government's price move saying it was timely and an appropriate.

However, he put some of the blame over hiked prices to the poor state of Zanzibar's Malindi Port, saying most imported foodstuff took unnecessarily long to be offloaded from foreign vessels, inviting demurrage charges.

It is understood that some importers here are forced to offload their cargo at Mombasa port in Kenya, discharging the stuff in small quantities for shipment back to Zanzibar using local dhows and boats, which stimulates price increases.

The Zanzibar port is undergoing a major rehabilitation, at an estimated cost of 40bn/-. The European Union is financing more than half of the project's cost.

3 people arraigned for killing Chinese in Z'bar

DAILY NEWS Reporter, Zanzibar
Daily News
September 19, 2006

THREE people appeared before the Vuga Regional Magistrate's Court here yesterday charged with murdering a Chinese construction worker, Mr Wang Hongxin (25), last week.

State attorney from the Office of the Zanzibar Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr Omar Sururu Khalfan, alleged that Salum Abdalla Salum (26), Kombo Khamis Kombo (35) and Hassan Abdalla Masoud (25 killed the Chinese and injured another Chinese, Mr Jia Zhenming (24), before stealing 40m/- cash from them.

Mr Jia was shot in the neck and is currently being treated at Al-Rahma hospital in Zanzibar.
The state attorney alleged before Magistrate Rabia Hussein that the trio committed the offence on September 11 at Mazizini area in Zanzibar Urban, West Region.

The accused were remanded in Kilimani Prison and the case comes up for another mention after two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, Mr Bakar Khatib Shaaban, said seven more persons had been arrested in connection with the murder.

He said two suspects were interrogated and released while five suspects were still in police custody for further investigations.

He appealed to the public to volunteer information that will lead to more arrests and recovering of the firearm used in murdering the Chinese.

Zanzibar: Government Shocked by Extended Power Rationing

UNPO
2006-09-19

Zanzibar government said on 17th September that it was not informed about its inclusion in the ongoing power load-shedding.

Zanzibar Minister for Water, Works, Energy and Land Mansour Yussuf Himid said in a statement:”The government has not received official information about our inclusion in the power-rationing schedule. We just read about it in the media.”

”We only inform the public after receiving official communication,” he added.

Zanzibar, with an estimated population of one million people is one of Tanesco’s major clients and spends about 500m/- per month to purchase electricity from Mainland.

The utility firm has 42,000 electricity clients on the isles.

The minister said talk about the inclusion of the Isles in the revised load-shedding regime without prior notice was received with shock by the government.

The government, however, would take precautionary measures to ensure continued supply to hospitals and other essential services.

The minister’s statement comes two days after Tanesco’s Managing Director, Adrian Van der Merwe, announced that Zanzibar had been included in the power-rationing, caused by triggered drought in the region.

Mansour said plans were underway to send energy experts to Israel to learn about the technology used to generate electricity ocean waves.

The government, the minister said, had initiated formal talks with a private Israeli company and a pilot project would start on the shores of Pemba and Unguja.

”We are looking for alternative sources of energy. We think ocean waves could be the best alternative to adding more power to the national grid,” Mansour said.

A recent Tanesco statement said the company was forced to extend load-shedding countrywide, including Zanzibar, due to dwindling power generation capacity.

It said crisis had become bigger ”because of dwindling generation capacity compared to consumer demand.”

Yes, there’s fuel crisis in Pemba, govt admits

2006-09-18
By Mwinyi Sadallah,Pemba
Guardian

The Zanzibar Ministry of Water, Works, Energy and Land yesterday admitted the existence of fuel crisis in Pemba.

Following the problem, some residents in Pemba had been using cattle-propelled trolleys to carry patients to the hospitals.

An official in the ministry, Januari Fusi, said the problem was prompted by decreased supply of the fuel products by Gapco.

”The amount of petroleum imported by GAPCO has been reduced significantly.”
The fuel crisis has made prices of goods and services in Zanzibar to sky-rocket.

There has been public outcry over shortage of fuel since the company started importing the products in Pemba.

”Gapco is the main source of this shortage. The company uses vehicles instead of ships in carrying fuel to Pemba,” said the ministry’s official.

The current demand for fuel in Pemba stands at 400,000 litres per month, Gapco imports only 160,000 litres.

Because of the crisis, prices of petroleum have shot up to 2,500/- from 1,300/- per litre, while diesel price has shot up to 35,000/- per 20 litres.

There were reports that some unscrupulous business people purchase fuel and store the products at their residential houses later selling them at higher prices.

Fuel tanks in many parts of Pemba are reportedly empty, because of the shortage.

Opposition leaders said time is ripe for the government to engage itself in fuel business, as private companies have failed to provide the service adequately.

Zanzibar appeals for more UNDP support

ALI UKI in ZANZIBAR
Daily News; Friday,September 15, 2006

THE government of Zanzibar has asked for more financial and technical support from the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) to hasten the Isles socio-economic development.

The Isles Minister for Labour, Youth, Women and Children Development, Ms Asha Abdullah Juma, made the appeal here yesterday during talks with the new UNDP Resident Representative to Tanzania, Mr Oscar Fernandez-Taranco. Mr Taranco was on a familiarization tour of the Isles.

The Minister said the government in liaison with UN agencies such as UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO and ILO had put in place a number of policies and legislations to safeguard the welfare of women, youth and children.

She said the government appreciated the support given by the agencies in support of socio-economic development in Zanzibar in particular and in Tanzania as a whole.

''We wish to thank you for your timely assistance to us,'' explained the minister during the talks also attended by the UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative, Mr Eugene Owusu and the UNDP Liaison Officer here, Mr Ibrahim Koroma.

The new UNDP boss showered praise on Zanzibar for good work in the formulation and implementation of policies, legislations and programmes on women empowerment.

He was also happy with the way the Ministry was utilizing the support it receives from different UN agencies.

He pledged continued assistance by the UN agencies within the framework of United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (ZSGRP).

Mr Taranco said UNDP would continue to mobilize resources for strengthening democracy, civil education, human rights and empowering the youth and women.

Tanzania: Zanzibar malaria campaign on target
 

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR, 15 September (IRIN) -

Health officials in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar predict a drastic drop in the number of malaria cases on the island after a successful mosquito control campaign.

The manager of Zanzibar's Malaria Control Programme (ZMCP), Abdallah Suleiman, said on Friday the island had met the 90-percent coverage of the area targeted for residual spraying in the 54-day programme.

At least 199,344 households out of an estimated initial target of 216,876 were sprayed with the lambda-cyhalothrin chemical during the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) effort to control mosquito breeding, according to ZMCP.

Malaria is an infection caused by a parasite and spread by mosquitoes. It is preventable and treatable but kills more than one million people, most of them young children living in Africa, each year.

However, some Zanzibari residents had refused to have their homes sprayed, citing "different unjustified reasons", including itching as a side-effect of the chemical, Suleiman said.

"However, we managed to educate and change the minds of many people," he said.

Health Minister Sultani Mugheiry said the island would be free of malaria in four years if the IRS programme succeeded.

"We should also keep our environment clean, use treated nets and seek the correct treatment for malaria," Mugheiry said.

The island, home to one million people, has a 31 percent malaria prevalence rate, which is expected to halve with the introduction of IRS and the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, according to health officials.

The Zanzibar government has been conducting awareness and community mobilisation programmes in its "KATAA Malaria" campaign, supported by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID.

According to USAID official Charles Llewelly, sustained control campaigns, malaria parasite diagnosis and the use of mosquito nets would rid Zanzibar of malaria.

The IRS began on 10 July and ended on 9 September, targeting Unguja and Pemba, the two main islands that make up Zanzibar, along with nine other smaller islands.

The spraying will in future be conducted at least once every eight months.

Pemba people are starving, CUF says

2006-09-14 09:37:13
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Pemba
Guardian

Civic United Front (CUF) has expressed concern over a statement issued by North Pemba Regional Commissioner denying that the island is on the verge of starvation.

The statement, which was aired by state-owned radio, has elicited angry reaction on the Isles, with opposition leaders calling for the immediate sacking of the administrators in Micheweni District.

However, a local TV station ran footage of famished residents, who appealed for food relief to save their lives.

Yesterday, CUF joined residents of Micheweni District in calling for urgent measures to avert looming famine following a poor harvest.

In a statement issued by CUF Deputy Director for Human Rights and Mass communication, Salim Bimani, CUF said Pemba residents feed on poisonous roots locally known as chochoni after their crops were decimated by armyworms.

The affected villages include Chambani, Maziwa Ng’ombe, Mapofu, Mjini Wingwi and Kiuyu.

The party was aggrieved by what it said is a tendency by government officials to hide the truth even when the people were suffering from hunger.

“CUF recognises Zanzibar as part of the United Republic of Tanzania, whose President is Jakaya Kikwete and all regional commissioners represent the President,” the party said in its press statement.

CUF said that since famine is a national issue, President Kikwete should take immediate steps and provide food for distribution just as he did for other hunger stricken areas on the Mainland early this year.

CUF also asked the President to make good his threat to sack regional and district commissioners who hide the truth about problems in their areas of jurisdiction.

Mountain or molehill?

Editor
Daily News; September 14, 2006

The Zanzibar government should hasten assessment of the food position in Micheweni District, Pemba, and publish the report to pre-empt attempts to distort the truth or blow the picture out of proportion.

According to the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock Development and Environment, Mr Khatib Suleiman Bakar, they have assigned their liaison officer in Pemba to carry out the survey.

We think that is the rational way of handling the claims that there is a food crisis in the district. It was the great Chinese leader, Chairman Mao Ze Dong, who said no research, no right to speak.

In fact The Civic United Front should also have carried out independent survey in Micheweni before issuing a statement condemning Pemba South Region and Micheweni District authorities for what it has termed concealing acute food shortage in the area.

While we appreciate the initiative by three media correspondents to visit some of the villages said to face hunger, their reports do not present a conclusive picture of the exact situation obtaining in Micheweni.

As pointed out by the deputy minister, it is not clear, for example, whether the issue is absence of food or the villagers’ lack of purchasing power. Obviously, the distinction is important if one wants to blame the government.

There is no dispute that farmers in the district have experienced crop failure because of drought and invasion of their farms by pests, which are reported to devastate 198 hectares. But such experiences are known to farmers and cannot be said to be confined to Pemba.

We hope nobody is trying to create political capital out of the purported suffering of the people of Micheweni because the morally and politically correct action should be mobilising food supplies for them.

It is high time political parties and civil societies assumed a responsible approach to challenges facing the people by offering solutions and participating in implementing them instead of misleading the public to expect everything from the government.

The condemnable attempt anyone can make is to use the hardship the people of Micheweni are facing to advance the cooked up claim that the Zanzibar government deliberately neglects Pemba in development plans.

CCM to build ideological colleges

DAILY NEWS Reporter
Daily News; September 14, 2006

THE ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi plans to build two ideological colleges in Iringa and at Tunguu in Zanzibar in an attempt to mould outstanding cadres.

The party National Executive Committee (NEC) Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, Mr Aggrey Mwanri, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the Communist Party of China (CPC) would provide financial and technical assistance to do the work.

Mr Mwanri was speaking on his return from China, where he led a delegation of 15 CCM cadres on a two-week tour.
He said CPC also pleaded to establish economic joint ventures with CCM in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, mining, fishing, tourism and business as a way of fostering relations between the two friendly parties.

The CCM cadres learnt from the Chinese how to build and strengthen a political party and also got an insight into how the Chinese have managed to advance their economy and conserve the environment, Mr Mwanri pointed out.

Mr Mwanri explained that the Communist Party has a system of training its cadres from national to village level in its ideological colleges, adding that courses range between three and one year.

Hope as state fast-tracks Union affairs

2006-09-07 09:09:43
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Two cabinet ministers charged with Union affairs expressed optimism yesterday that the construction of the Vice President’s Office in Zanzibar would speed up efforts to resolve the ambiguities in the articles of the merger between the Mainland and Isles into one nation.

The VPO will be constructed at Tunguu area, 26 kilometres south of Zanzibar town.

Speaking at a brief ceremony to hand over the title deed for the plot on which the office would be located, the two ministers - Amina Salum Ali (Islands) and Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi (Mainland) said they expected the move to strengthen the Union.

They said during a ceremony at the Chief Minister’s Office that, having a VPO in Zanzibar would ease the work on Union Affairs.

Salum said a VPO would accelerate efforts by both sides aimed at strengthening the Union and that after yesterday’s ceremony, officials in Dr Mwinyi’s ministry would be meeting regularly to discuss the Union.

’’We’d never officially met to discuss Union matters. I hope that this is the beginning of future regular meetings,” Salum said.

Deputy Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office Msham Abdallah,handed over the title deed to the Principal Secretary in VPO Abubakar Rajabu, who said the construction of the building would start as soon as possible.

Dr Mwinyi said, already about 220m/- had been set aside for the first phase of the project.

’’Although progress on Union consolidation has so far been good, we realised that it would be important to move the VPO to the Isles for the smooth implementation of Union issues,’’ he said.

Dr Mwinyi recalled that in the first meeting that was co-chaired by the Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, they had resolved two issues out of the four on the agenda.

’’We have already solved the issues about fishing and formation a human rights commission working in Zanzibar and our next meeting will discuss about revenue collection and the petroleum exploration,’’ Dr Mwinyi said.

MUSLIM LEADER BASHES BEACH BASH

Sunday, 3 September, 2006
The London Free Press

A huge beach party to honour late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury must be stopped because the Zanzibar-born rock star was gay, a Muslim leader said yesterday. Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991, violated Islam with his flamboyant lifestyle, said Azan Khalid of Zanzibar's Association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation. "That's why he was branded a queen," Khalid said. Mercury restaurant, which is named for the singer, will go ahead with the party, manager Simai Mohammed said. Mercury was born in Zanzibar. He was educated in India and moved with his family to Britain in 1964. "Our main idea is to promote tourism and Freddie Mercury was from Zanzibar. It's part of our history," Mohammed said. "We are all Muslims and it's not our intention to offend any religion."

Zanzibar angry over Mercury bash

1 September 2006
BBC International version

Freddie Mercury is Zanzibar's most famous son
A Muslim group in Zanzibar has protested about plans to mark the 60th birthday of the late rock legend and Queen front man Freddie Mercury.
The Zanzibar-born singer who was openly gay was renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle. He was also HIV positive.

Muslims on the Tanzanian archipelago say his antics violated Islam and want a beach party on Saturday cancelled.

Zanzibar outlawed gay relations in 2004, a move which attracted criticism from gay communities around the world.

The BBC's Ally Saleh in Zanzibar says it is not certain that the star ever returned to his birthplace, although he remains Zanzibar's most famous son.

International stardom

The association for Islamic Mobilisation and Propagation (Uamsho) has threatened to hold a demonstration after hearing rumours that gay tourists were on their way to the island specifically to mark the musician's birthday.

Zanzibar's Ministry of Culture said it was aware of the issue.

Uamsho head Abdallah Said Ali said the event would send out the wrong signals.

"We do not want to give our young generation the idea that homosexuals are accepted in Zanzibar," he explained.

"We have a religious obligation to protect morals in society and anyone who corrupts Islamic morals should be stopped," he added.

Born Farrokh Bulsara to Persian parents on 5 September 1946 in Zanzibar, Freddie Mercury was educated in India before moving to the UK in 1964 where he led the international supergroup Queen to stardom.

Uproar as fuel prices skyrocket in Zanzibar

2006-08-31
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Fuel prices have soared again in Zanzibar despite mounting complaints that the sharp rise is ’artificial’.A survey of the petrol stations yesterday found consumers forming long queues to buy petrol, diesel or kerosene.

Some buyers expressed shock on finding that petrol prices had shot up from 1,250/- to 1,350 per litre and diesel had risen from 1,200/- to 1310 per litre.

Kerosene prices have also risen from 900/- to 980/- a litre. The sudden rise in fuel prices had pushed up students’ fares as bus owners said they had been forced to do so, to cover their costs.
The high prices were blamed on an acute shortage of fuel on the Isles.

There were reports yesterday that some businessmen were hoarding fuel, which they sold for 2,000/- per litre on the black market.

Attempts by the police to force bus owners to lower prices resulted in a protracted row between the police and passengers on one hand, and commuter bus operators on the other.

The row was sparked off when police attempted to protect students against harassment by bus conductors.

Bus operators responded by demanding that police and army officers pay fares too.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Khamis Mussa confirmed that fuel prices had skyrocketed but said he was not in a position to speculate on the cause.

In a telephone interview, the PS only said: ’’It is true that prices of diesel and petrol have gone up, but I’m not in a position to explain the cause.’’

Some commuters complained that a breach of contract between the government and main fuel dealer Ecotec had resulted in the soar in prices.

There are only two companies that import fuel on the Isles, namely Gapco and Zanzibar Petroleum.

David Taylor Has Now Released "Zanzibar in Black and White,"

A Collection of 50 Monochrome Images Created on the Exotic Spice Island of Zanzibar

Hexham, UK (PRWEB)
August 30, 2006 –

David Taylor has now released a 56-page softcover book of monochrome images from the spice island of Zanzibar, in conjunction with Lulu (www.lulu.com), the world’s fastest-growing provider of print-on-demand books.

Zanzibar in Black and White is an eclectic mixture of photographic images, ranging from candid shots of the people of the island, to the architecture of their towns and the surrounding landscape. The selection is often playful, reflecting the joy of discovery felt by David as he travelled around the island.

David Taylor produced Zanzibar in Black and White as a visual thank you to the people of Zanzibar and as a way of sharing his experience with others. He came to Lulu as he felt Lulu offered an extremely cost effective way of publishing his book without sacrificing the quality necessary when printing photographic images. Zanzibar in Black and White is David’s first book published with Lulu, though he is confident that it will not be the last.

“Zanzibar is an undiscovered jewel and a photographer’s paradise,” said David Taylor. “This book is my personal photographic reaction to the exotic mystery of this magical island.”

Link to Publication: http://www.lulu.com/content/372382

ABOUT AUTHOR
David Taylor is a landscape and travel photographer based in Northumberland, England. He has had work published in numerous British photographic magazines including Photography Monthly and Practical Photography. Recently, David has completed long-term projects with Wear Valley Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority to produce landscape images suitable for both promotional and commercial use.

16 political parties to discuss ’mwafaka’ today

2006-08-24 08:46:08
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Deputy Secretary Generals from political parties in the Isles excluding the rivals CCM and CUF are expected to have an extra-ordinary meeting here today to discuss Zanzibar’s political climate.

A member from the organising team, Rashid Ahmed Rashid, said the meeting would be held at the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) office in Zanzibar, and about 16 registered political parties will be represented in the one day meeting.

’’Our main agenda will be to remind President Jakaya Kikwete that retired President Benjamin Mkapa formed a committee to help solve Zanzibar political woes.

Mkapa and President Amani Abeid Karume formed a committee last year to take over MWAFAKA duties,’’ he said.

The Joint Presidential Supervisory Commission (JPSC) expired in September 2005 and thereafter Mkapa initiated the formation of a Secretarial Committee headed by Phillip Mangula (CCM) to take over, at least the crucial issues from JPSC.

’’We discussed and accepted the new seven member team which included members from political parties excluding CUF.

The secretary general of the secretarial committee has been Abdallah Nassor from UPDP,’’ Ahmed said.

Both Mangula and Nassor could not be reached yesterday by phone to give comments on the issue.

The Secretarial Committee had set up a working framework for implementation, but; ’’the current behaviours of CCM and CUF shows that they have sidelined the committee,’’ he said.

JPSC has members from both CCM and CUF and was formed in January 2002 following the October 2001 CCM/CUF accord (MWAFAKA).

Zanzibar bans mainland's bananas

BBC News
24 August 2006

Zanzibar's government has banned the import of bananas from the Tanzanian mainland to the islands, in a move aimed at controlling diseases.
The island authorities says an outbreak of a disease called banana bacterial wilt on the mainland could destroy Zanzibar's own banana crop.

The disease can cause up to 90% crop losses. The banana import ban is to continue indefinitely.

Bananas are among Zanzibar's top exports, together with fish and rice.

"It is now illegal to import any type of banana - raw or ripe fruits, leaves and seedlings - into Zanzibar," Mberek Rashid Saidi, a commissioner for agriculture the island, told AFP news agency.

Anyone found guilty of breaking the ban will face a fine of 50,000 shillings ($38) dollars he added.

New Video

Highlights of the 2006 Zanzibar Music Festival.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA

New book on Majestic Cinema fire

NEW BOOK LAUNCHED IN ZANZIBAR
During the 9th Zanzibar International Film Festival, Festival of the Dhow Countries, in July 2006, Nisar Sheraly launched his latest story on Zanzibar entitled: “Moto! Moto! Majestic Cinema is on Fire”. Through the eyes of a surly, obnoxious, self-centred, Mr. Knowall semi retired teacher, named Professa, the event of the fateful day in 1954 is told by the author, with vivid imagination and subtle sense of humour, while retaining the uniqueness of the language and expressions of Zanzibaris.

The illustrations, creatively crafted by a local Artist, Jacob Francis, depicting the scenes then, enhance the story. Zanzibaris would recognize the names of Amir Ngozi, Chepe, Aghuli and Golo Buji amongst others. All in all, it is “the best way of remembering the past” as Dr. Abdul Sheriff writes in the Foreword. A must read for all Zanzibaris who remember the inferno as preparations were made to premiere “Albella” on a new Cinemascope screen in the Majestic Cinema that had a facelift internally and externally with chokaa.

Did you pick up some film strips of “Albella” that were lying scattered on the road? Did you join the human chain of n’doo carriers to douse the fire? Did you hear the frantic braying of punda of Ramazani? Did you see Professa throwing his weight around? Did you follow Ranchod taking pictures? This book brings back those pleasant memories of one- shilling- all- round Sunday morning as well as Zanana and Night shows!

Copies may be ordered from:
Nisar Sheraly
21 Samantha Circle
Richmond Hill
ON, L4B 2R4
Canada
In Zanzibar they are available from Gallery Book Shop and Memories opposite Post Office.

Zanzibar delegation in Dar to discuss Union

2006-08-19
By Guardian Reporter
Guardian

A high-powered delegation from Zanzibar’s Chief Minister’s Office is in Dar es Salaam to discuss ambiguities in the union between the Mainland and the Isles.

The meeting is a follow up to an earlier one between Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and the Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha who met in June this year to kick off Zanzibar’s pacification process.

The meeting, which was held in Dar es Salaam, marked the first step in the implementation of President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive in his maiden address to parliament that called on the two leaders to work out modalities of clearing the ambiguities in the 42-year old union.

A statement issued by the permanent secretary in the Vice President’s Office, Abubakari Rajabu, said the delegation would discuss the implementation of what Lowassa and Nahodha agreed upon in the initial meeting.

”The purpose of the visit is to follow up on the implementation of decisions agreed upon in the first meeting between the Prime Minister and Chief Minister with a view to assess what has already been implemented and what requires their immediate attention, and schedule another meeting,” the statement read in part.

The delegation and the Union Secretariat on the mainland will determine the roadmap to end the feud between the two sides of the Union over its legality.

The meeting will draw up the agenda for the next meeting scheduled for next month, the statement said. Rajabu, who led the Union Secretariat on Mainland, expressed commitment when he received the Isles delegation.

He said they would ensure that priority areas get preferential treatment.

The PS said that in the follow up of the first meeting between Lowassa and Nahodha, there have been other meetings at the ministerial and institutional levels as part of implementation of resolutions.

Rajabu named the ministries and institutions that met recently as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Treasury and the Bank of Tanzania.

According to the PS, the two Union Secretariats would deliberate priority issues in each sector before forwarding them to the Vice President’s office for action.

Irate CUF supporters confront Hamad

2006-08-16 08:22:12
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Angry CUF supporters stormed into the offices of party Secretary General Seif Shariff Hamad yesterday demanding to be told the party’s position on the political future of the Isles.

They blocked him from accessing his office. The angry youths demanded to be given direction on the future of the politics after the party failed to unseat CCM in last year’s general election.

The incident took place at 10.00am yesterday as Hamad arrived at the office on Mtendeni Street.

CUF security guards threw a ring around Hamad to shield him from angry supporters who had blocked the road from Darajani to Mtendeni.

”We are fed up. We do not like this. Today we want a clear party stand,” the youth shouted.

The incident took hours before Hamad calmed them down by promising that the party would take their concern. He told the youth that the party will soon issue a statement about the election outcome.

He urged them to be patient until the party was in a position to announce its stand.

He, however, said the party would not enter a third political accord (muafaka) with CCM. In addition, he said, the fate of Zanzibar was in the hands of President Jakaya Kikwete.

”I request you to be patient. I know that you have been waiting for a long time. The Union president has promised to tackle this issue by looking for a permanent solution,” he said.

Later, Hamad told Press conference that the incident had proved that Zanzibaris were fed up with their present economic circumstances.

Zanzibar’s drug abuse alarming – Research

August 15, 2006, 
ANDnetwork .com

Researchers have warned that increased drug abuse in Zanzibar is fueling the rise of HIV/AIDS.

By Issa Yussuf

According to research findings by 8 health officers in Zanzibar, drug abuse has become a main player as far as factors leading to spread of HIV/AIDS are concerned.


The research team leader Dr Mohamed Dahoma said: "This is probably the first research in Africa to focus on drugs users and HIV/Aids. About 508 youths related to the drug users were interviewed."

He said majority of drug addicts in Zanzibar are HIV positive.

This effectively means, he said all drug users in the isles were at greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.

"Zanzibar has small HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 0.6% out of 1000 000 population," said Dr Dodoma.

He added that "the results from our study shows most youths are at risk, because they are already using drugs."

He said HIV/AIDS and substance abuse study report is expected to be presented in details at the ongoing World HIV/AIDS meeting in Toronto.

"About 57% of the youths investigated offer sex for the illicit drugs or money to purchase the drugs. They engage in group sex and anal sex.

Youths spend an average of $8 a day to buy the illicit drugs, placing themselves in danger of contracting HIV/AIDS," he said.

The study discovered that many youths do not use condoms as well as sharing cyringes during their drug taking spree.

"Heroin and marijuana are widely used in Zanzibar. The groups which use the illicit drugs also include: couples, divorcees and some dishonest security officers," stressed Dr Dodoma said.

He mentioned another finding in the report as that of about 7% of the sample group started practicing sex at the age of between 8 and 14, while 25% go for anal sex.

Most of the youths in Zanzibar are involved in drug use because of peer pressure, he said.

TANZANIA: Zanzibar burns 61,000 eggs in bid to check bird flu

15 Aug 2006
IRIN

More STONE TOWN, 15 August (IRIN) - Authorities on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar incinerated 61,000 chicken eggs on Tuesday in their continuing bid to check the threat of bird flu to the community.

"We seized the egg consignment imported from the Tanzanian mainland commercial capital of Dar es Salaam last weekend," Khatib Suleiman Bakari, the deputy minister of the Zanzibar Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and the Environment, told reporters.

He said three people would be charged in court with the illegal importation of the eggs. He said the island's business community had continued to import poultry products despite an indefinite ban imposed in 2005.

The chairman of the Zanzibar bird-flu taskforce, Kassim Gharib, said if found guilty, the culprits could be fined at least US $50, six months in prison, or both.

The taskforce is part of the island's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. In April, it confiscated at least 400 chickens smuggled into Zanzibar.

"Since bird flu has not been controlled in many countries, the ban of poultry products from outside Zanzibar remains," Kassim said.

In June, authorities in Zanzibar intensified efforts to control the importation of poultry products, including those from the Tanzanian mainland. Hundreds of smuggled chickens were burned after importers failed to return them to their place of purchase.

The deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu has been found in several African countries. The poultry industry in Asia and a number of European countries has been ravaged by the disease, which has claimed dozens of lives.

Zanzibar wants a voice in the new EA federation

Eastafrican
August 14, 2006 |

The politicians want Zanzibar accorded at least an associate membership in the community to participate in decisions that affect the islands. MIKE MANDE reports

The status of semiautono-mous Zanzibar in the proposed East African Federation is becoming one of the key sticking points in Tanzanian politics today.

The issue erupted on the floor of parliament in Dodoma recently, with Zanzibari politicians insisting that the Spice Islands should be given fair representation in East African Community issues.

The politicians want Zanzibar accorded at least an "associate membership" in the community to participate in decisions that affect the islands. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are moving towards the realisation of a political federation by 2012.

Zanzibar says it was excluded from the talks that led to the East Africa Custom Union last year despite the common external tariffs having serious implications for the islands’ economy. Zanzibar can stay outside the federation even if Tanzania joins, in a situation similar to that of Denmark and Greenland.

Although Denmark is a member of the European Union, Greenland, a province of Denmark, is not, and so is not affected by any decisions made in Brussels.

These matters include parliament and legal systems, which are handled separately on the Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. However, under the EAC treaty, Tanzania is recognised as a United Republic, meaning Zanzibar can only seek safeguards through representation on Tanzania bodies handling EAC matters.

Andrew Chenge, the minister responsible for the East African Community, told The East African that Zanzibar had a "total right to speak for itself in non-Union matters," advising the Isles leaders to hold extensive discussions with their Union partners.

The concerns raised by Zanzibar were anticipated by the Committee on Fast Tracking the East African Federation, commonly known as the Wako committee, which convened in 2004 and presented its report to the heads of state.

The committee, chaired by Kenya Attorney General Amos Wako, singled out the four key factors that made the process delicate: Entrenched national sovereignty; the need for a sound socio-economic foundation to create a sustainable political federation; the hangover from the failures of the previous efforts towards federation; and economic integration and potential foreign interference.

On the positive side, the committee said there existed clear political will and commitment on the part of the top leadership and the citizens to make a united East Africa a reality. That ordinary constituencies in business and politics were involved in the integration process was another success factor.

Shipwrecks and Salvage on the East African Coast 1499 – 2004.

A New Book by Kevin Patience
July 2006.

[Excepts]
The coast of East Africa stretches some 4,000 miles from Cape Guardafui in Somalia to the Mozambique Channel. It is rugged and inhospitable, with few safe anchorages, miles of treacherous coral reefs and a strong northerly current. Over the years it has become a ship’s graveyard…..

Since the earliest recorded history, seafarers have traded along this coast and until the late 19th century, Zanzibar was the centre of a large prosperous empire.
Using records in Australia, Germany, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar and the U.K …
the author has discovered the stories of over 200 merchant and naval ships that came to grief. The publication covers most of the known casualties that were wrecked or salvaged along the coast from the Kenya / Somali border to the Tanzania / Mozambique border, a distance of 1,400 miles.

276 pages, H/Back, over 300 illustrations and three maps
email. saburi@hotmail.com

Authorities continue to harass banned weekly's former editor

8/10/06
(RSF/IFEX)

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar's continuing harassment of veteran newspaper editor Ali Mohammed Nabwa, who has again been stripped of his Tanzanian nationality by the Zanzibar immigration department, just three and a half months after having it restored by the Tanzanian interior minister.

Nabwa used to be the editor of the Zanzibar-based weekly "Dira", which was forced to close in November 2003. He is now consulting editor of the privately-owned weekly "Fahamu".

"The Zanzibar government continues to be intolerant of criticism, especially when it comes from 'Dira''s former editor," Reporters Without Borders said. "It has decided to do everything to prevent Nabwa from working as a journalist, including using the crudest bureaucratic tricks. We again call on Zanzibar's authorities to let journalists work in peace and allow diverse local news coverage."

Nabwa got a letter from the Zanzibar immigration department on 6 August 2006 telling him that, as he was not a Tanzanian citizen, he would henceforth be considered persona non grata in Zanzibar, and suggesting he should pay US$400 for a temporary residence permit. Signed by deputy immigration director A.K.H. Ramadhani, it claimed the decision was reached after consulting with the Tanzanian minister of home affairs, although Nabwa got a letter from the minister on 24 April (ref. no. HAS.152/155/10/N/58) telling him he had been given Tanzanian citizenship.

Nabwa told the Tanzanian daily "The Guardian": "As the sole guarantor of citizenship, the minister for home affairs has the last word on this matter. I am therefore giving the immigration department a two-week ultimatum to give me back my travel documents. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to seek legal redress."

Nabwa, 60, is an experienced journalist who arrived in Tanzania from nearby Comoros shortly after independence. The newspaper he used to edit, "Dira", took a strong position in favour of a multiparty system and good governance, and was Zanzibar's biggest-circulation weekly. He was stripped of his nationality for the first time on 19 March 2003 and his passport was taken from him on 24 June of that year on the grounds that it was not in order.

The Zanzibar government banned "Dira" as "a threat to national unity" on 24 November 2003, a month after it was sentenced to pay an exorbitant fine for publishing "false and harmful" information about Zanzibar President Amani Karume's children in two articles the previous January, accusing them of using their father's influence to buy state-owned companies that were being privatised.

Cholera outbreak Zanzibar: 400 sickened in the past month

08/10/2006
Pravda

Some 47 people have died since the first outbreak in March, said Dr. Omar Mohammed Suleiman of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Zanzibar, blaming poor sanitation in rural areas on the tropical island.

Several villages have been quarantined in the north of the island to prevent the disease spreading.

Last month the government closed cholera camps it had set up to combat the disease believing the outbreak had been contained.

Although the latest outbreak is around 20 kilometers from the nearest tourist areas, health officials said they feared visitors would be discouraged from traveling to Zanzibar.

Last year some 500,000 tourists traveled to Zanzibar, bringing in vital foreign currency to the Indian Ocean island, the AP reports.

Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water and is linked to poor hygiene, overcrowding and bad sanitation. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, which can kill unless treated quickly.

A 1997 outbreak killed 124 people and sickened 1,100 in Zanzibar, which has a population of 1 million

Tanzania: Cholera breaks out in Zanzibar, 106 in hospital

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR
(IRIN)
8/9/06

At least 106 people, most of them children, have been hospitalised in the last one week following a cholera outbreak in Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar, an official from the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

"Already one person has died," Dr Omar Suleiman, the director of information policy in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said.

He attributed the latest cholera outbreak to the public's reluctance to observe hygiene, including the proper use of toilets.

"We call upon the public to observe health precautions by boiling drinking water and making use of toilets," Suleiman said. "Unfortunately in a village of about 371 homes, only nine houses have toilets."

An indefinite quarantine has been imposed on several villages in the north of Zanzibar, he said. He added that the sale of fresh food had now been prohibited in the north of Zanzibar.

Last week, health officials on the island reported that at least 454 children had been treated for severe dysentery and diarrhoea at the Mnazi-Mmoja Hospital where cockroaches have become a menace to patients.

According to the state television, hundreds of cockroaches have invaded the hospital wards; this has been attributed to the poor cleaning of the hospital.

Cholera and diarrhoea outbreaks started in March, with a resurgence in late May and June, before erupting again in July in most areas of the Zanzibar Municipality and Pemba Island.

The latest outbreak has led to the establishment of an indefinite quarantine in some villages north of the island. The selling of fresh food has also been prohibited.

Tanzania: Karume Vs Lowassa - Who Takes the Third Slot?

The East African
August 7, 2006
Karl Lyimo
Nairobi

April 26, 1964 saw the merger of Zanzibar and Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Forty-two years down the road, a dozen controversial issues over the Union have arisen, mostly quietly but occasionally bubbling over, with little hope that they will ever be resolved amicably.

The latest example of this surfaced on Heroes Day, July 25. The event is normally officiated at the national level by the president. In his absence from the country, the vice-president steps in.

This time round, both President Jakaya Kikwete and Vice President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein were in Europe.

According to the Union Constitution as amended from time to time, when the two are out of the country for more than 24 hours, the prime minister takes charge as acting president (Constitutional Amendment No 14 of February 2005). Previously, the actors in such a situation were the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice.

But Heroes Day this year was different. Although Prime Minister Edward Lowassa was in Dar es Salaam at the material time, the celebration was officiated by the President of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume, who had to cross the Zanzibar Channel to the mainland for the event.

IN FACT, the premier never made an appearance at the venue and instead attended a fringe forum on the state of politics in Tanzania organised by an NGO on research and education. This posed a constitutional and procedural embarrassment all round.

In what capacity, for example, was the Zanzibar president acting or accorded the task of heading a historic national event when the man has no known role in the Union and, therefore, the national government?

Up until 1992, the president of Zanzibar was, by virtue of his office, also a vice president of the Union. As it happens, that was also the year when the government reintroduced multiparty politics in the country.

FEARING THAT the formidable opposition political party in the Isles, the Civic United Front, stood a good chance of securing the Zanzibari presidency, the Union parliament - which has since the 1995 elections held no less that 80 per cent of the seats in the National Assembly - handily amended the Union Constitution.

That amendment (No.11 of 1992) revoked the automatic "accession" to the national vice presidency of future Zanzibari presidents. In the event, the fear has for all practical purposes proved unfounded so far.

THUS, HEROES Day this year saw the rightful officiator in state affairs (in the absence of the two top national leaders), the prime minister, deftly sidestep his constitutional role. However, the move raises awkward questions.

According to the Union Constitution, the premier should chair Cabinet meetings when the president and his deputy are out of the country. And the Zanzibar president is a member of the Union Cabinet as per Constitutional Amendment to Article 54.

So, who would chair a Cabinet meeting when the two top Union officials are out of the country? Would the premier once more deftly sidestep his constitutional role in deference to the Zanzibar president? Would that not be in breach of the constitution?

Karl Lyimo is a freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam.
 

Thousands Of Tanzanians Protest Lebanon Fighting
 

Friday August 4th, 2006

ZANIBAR, Tanzania (AP)--Thousands of Tanzanians in the archipelago of Zanzibar and the country's commercial capital demonstrated Friday against Israel and the fighting in the Middle East.
Protesters, organized by various Muslim groups, marched through the streets of Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, carrying placards with slogans in support of the Lebanese people, posters of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and Palestinian, Lebanese and Israeli flags.
Some of the placards in Dar es Salaam read, "Free Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon Muslims" and "Stop Israeli Terror."
In Zanzibar, a leader of a local Muslim organization, Azan Khalid, told demonstrators at an open field, "We can't stomach to see Israel is killing innocent civilians with impunity."
Another speaker, local preacher Msellem Ali said that U.S. President George Bush was the cause of the world's problems, "because he supports Israel and wages war against Muslim nations."
The protests, which began after midday prayers, were peaceful.

TANZANIA: Diarrhoea kills 7, hospitalises 454
 

04 Aug 2006
Source: IRIN

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR, 4 August (IRIN) - An outbreak of severe dysentery and diarrhoea on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar has resulted in the death of seven children with another 454 admitted to hospital, a health official said on Friday.

"Most of the cases were of severe dysentery and diarrhoea but without symptoms of cholera," said Dr Omar Suleiman, the director of information policy in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

He said almost all the cases registered at the Mnazi Mmoja main hospital in Stone Town originated from the Urban District.

Health officials, he said, had established that contaminated water was to blame. Suleiman said samples of the water would be sent to Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of mainland Tanzania.

"In Zanzibar we lack modern hospital facilities to make a thorough investigation of the virus, therefore we have to get help," he said.

Meanwhile, the Water Department - under the Ministry of Water, Energy, Construction and Lands - is urging the public to boil drinking water.

With the continued treatment of drinking water by the department and less rain, he said, the hospital expected a drastic drop in the number of dysentery and diarrhoea cases. The number of children sharing hospital beds had decreased from an average of three in the first week of the outbreak to far fewer now.

"Some beds have only one patient," he said.

This, he added, was an indication of a decrease in the number of cases.

Children make up about 4 percent of Zanzibar's population of one million.

Between March and May, at least 20 people died of cholera on the island, with the health ministry blaming water contamination for that outbreak.

Decision to unban plastics on Isles hailed

2006-08-04 09:20:30
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha praised yesterday the decision to temporarily lift the ban on importation and use of light plastic bags on the Islands, saying it would provide room for the government to put in place legal instruments to enforce the law.

Moving a motion to close the Budget session in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Nahodha recalled that when the law was enacted in the late 1990s, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, could implement it for lack of mechanisms to facilitate it.

”The ban was supported by institutions involved in environmental conservation and it was supposed to be implemented within 45 days of its enactment, but there were no efforts to enforce the law,” Nahodha said in his 75-minute speech.

Nahodha conceded that use of light plastic bags was a major threat to environment protection because of laxity among law enforcement agencies.

He added: ”Therefore, I direct institutions charged with environmental protection, including the ministry; Tanzania Revenue Authority and Zanzibar Ports Corporations, to discuss the matter urgently ways and means of strengthening of the law to make it enforceable.”

The speech, which included a variety of issues in Zanzibar, also dismissed as baseless claims that the government discriminates against Pemba Island when allocating development resources.

During the session, members of the House from the opposition expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s allocation of resources and support for expansion of services such as water and roads.

He said: ”Never will the government discriminate against its people. The government has been allocating resources evenly in both Unguja and Pemba.”

He told the House that, despite the government’s efforts to develop infrastructures on both islands, ”donors in most cases take long to accept our requests and disburse funds.”

The Chief Minister appealed to members to be patient as the government seeks ways of implementing development projects.

The House was adjourned to October 11, 2006.

Economy to form gist of...

2006-07-22 09:30:27
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

A drastic drop in business and shrinking revenue collection in Zanzibar are some of the problems that will form the basis of a discussion to strengthen the 42 years old union between the Isles and Mainland.

Acting Zanzibar Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Asha Abdallah Juma told the House of Representatives yesterday that revamping the Islands economy topped the government’s agenda.

Juma was responding to comments and questions after presenting the ministry’s 2006/07 budget debate.

She conceded that there has been a sharp drop in trade in Zanzibar and that revenue collections fluctuate owing to low external trade.

”There has been a fall in trade in Zanzibar. The government is struggling to put the economy back on a sound footing, as it is among the issues lined up for discussion with the Union government,” Juma said following members’ remarks that the Union government is to blame for the decline in the Isles’ economy.

Representatives, especially those in opposition, said some national policies, especially those to do with Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra), have been detrimental to Zanzibar’s economic development.

The minister also said that authorities had included Sumatra on the agenda to be discussed by Union leaders.

”Sumatra started operating in Zanzibar in 1998, but it has focused on taxing importers instead of sea-liners, which places its role into question.

We have taken into account the concerns of traders about the role of Sumatra and we are working on it,” Juma told members of the House before they endorsed her ministry’s budget.

The Zanzibar business community has repeatedly questioned Sumatra’s role in Zanzibar, saying the agency has no legal powers to tax importers in Zanzibar.

They blame the government for not taking up the matter.

The minister said exports from Zanzibar had declined in the past decade because of lack of competitive industries, lack of enough raw material and low quality products.

Zanzibar to ban charcoal 'exports’

Mon, 17 Jul 2006
AND

Stone Town - Zanzibar plans to ban the movement of charcoal from Pemba Island to the mainland, Tanzania.

The decision was arrived at, upon realisation that the clove trees were being harvested for charcoal.

Authorities said increased charcoal burning in Pemba threatens the growth of the clove industry in Zanzibar, something which if left to continue, would most likely paralyse the cultivation of the Isle’s main cash crop.

Deputy minister of agriculture, livestock and environment Khatib Suleiman Bakari told the house of representatives that it would soon become illegal to transport charcoal from Pemba Island to Unguja Island for delivery to the mainland.

”We are aware of the decline of clove plantations in Zanzibar. The decrease is a result of charcoal business, wanton felling of the trees for firewood, house construction and non-replacement of ageing or felled trees,” Bakari said.

The deputy minister’s statement was in reply to a question by Salmin Awadhi Salmin who had wanted to know what the government was doing to control charcoal burning, which he said had contributed to a sharp decline in clove production in Pemba.

Bakari said that efforts to revive the clove industry would include environmental conservation awareness campaigns and planting of more clove trees.

”Our plan will include annual distribution of 300 000 seedlings of clove trees to farmers for free,” he said.

Clove exports were the main foreign exchange earner for Zanzibar until the late 1980s when they began to plummet, forcing the government to find substitute foreign exchange earners.

Tanzania to deploy soldiers on streets

July 17, 2006,
ANDnetwork .com
Ippmedia

In its attempt to curb armed robbery, the Zanzibar Government has said it is deploying soldiers from the different armed forces, to supplement the police efforts in stamping out crime.

The soldiers will be on guard at business centres, road junctions and related places around the clock.

Urban West Regional Police Commander Bakar Khatib Shaaban, said police and the armed forces would conduct 24 hour joint operations.

The tough measure, never seen in recent times, save for last year, during the general elections, follows a series of armed robbery, in which enterprises owned by prominent businesspersons including Mohamed Raza, were robbed of millions and valuables.

"The government has decided to 'pool resources' between police and soldiers to flash out criminals ,’’ said the RPC.

The idea is to rid the Isles of armed robbery, he said, but insisted that the armed forces would work under the instructions of the police force.

"We want to clear the streets of Zanzibar of armed criminals," he said, warning that cars would be stopped and checked. He however, did not say when the operation would come to an end.

The RPC confirmed that several youths have been arrested in connection with the recent incident of armed robbery at Alhabsy shop.

About two weeks ago, some soldiers rescued businessmen Mohamed Raza, from a cross-fire with armed robbers who had attempted to raid his house.

Despite some few complaints from drivers, majority of people backed the government operation, saying it would slow down criminal incidents.

Isles opposition wants state to ’unshackle’ media

2006-07-19 09:53:50
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Opposition parties in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives have called on the government to be tolerant to divergent views by allowing private media a free hand in what they want to air or publish.

They said freedom of the Press was key to expanding the democratic space on the Isles.

The call was made on Monday by shadow Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Najma Khalifan in her contribution to the ministry’s 2006/07 budget.

The government has set aside 2.4bn/- for the ministry.

She said the media had failed to embrace diverse views, besides being non-representative of all Zanzibaris. She said state-owned media had failed to air ’’people’s views and are often biased.’’

’’State-owned media in Zanzibar have been compromised by the government in power. This has been a major hindrance to the development of independent media and the freedom of expression on the Islands. We need reforms,’’ Khalfan said.

The shadow minister observed that current policies do not leave room for serious private media, ’’you have to lean to the ruling party to survive.’’

Zanzibar has four private FM radio stations ? Coconut, Maria, Adhana and Zenji, and two cable television networks. Print media is owned by the state.

Khalifan also raised concern over substandard performance of the department of information - Maelezo, Radio - Sauti ya Tanzania Zanzibar (STZ), Televisheni ya Zanzibar (TVZ) and state-owned paper Zanzibar Leo.

She alleged that state-owned media are biased and inclined to promoting hatred instead of uniting Zanzibaris.

’’Every country has its own culture that must be respected. Unfortunately, our public media undermine our culture,’’Khalifan said and gave the example of scantily dressed women dancing on TVZ.

About the dilapidated Zanzibar Government Printing Press, the shadow minister said it was a shame that the government owed the printing facility millions of shillings. She said that for media to institute reforms, the government must pay the money it owes the printing press.

It must also train media practitioners, including journalists in Zanzibar trained and pay them well, she said.

’’We need good policies, respect divergent opinion and state-owned media must allow the right to reply,’’ Khalifan said.

Hajji Mkema Hajji (CCM, Koani) also told the government to give allowances and facilities to journalists in public media ’’as a motivation of their good work.’’

Se also called for a reduction in the rates charged on obituaries and announcements.
The Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Ali Juma Shamhuna said training of staff was one of top priorities of this year’s budget.

The information ministry groups the departments of culture, sports STZ, Maelezo, Printing Press, Zanzibar Leo and broadcasting commission.

The minister said the ministry’s portfolio was expanded following the October 2005 general election.

In the past, sports and culture were under the ministry of education, while information was under the Chief Minister’s office.

Isles to intensify campaign against child, women abuse

2006-07-20 09:12:44
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Zanzibar government has vowed to intensify the campaign against women and child abuse through gender awareness ahead of plans to amend Isles laws that cover them.

Minister for Labour, Youth, Women and Children Development, Asha Abdallah Juma said, when she tabled her ministry’s 2006/07 budget that a sharp rise in abuse against children and women’s rights had necessitated the action.

She said that the abuses include desertion of families by men, which manifests in the form of divorce and abandonment of their children.

”As we work to improve our laws to safeguard women and children, we have been disseminating awareness through state-owned and private institutions.

We want the rights of women and children respected through gender parity. This should involve us all,” Juma said.

She said that the government has also undertaken a nationwide survey to establish forms of child abuse with a view to addressing them through legal reforms.

She said that at least 2,846 children, out of whom 1,314 are girls, were categorised as living in difficult conditions in 2005 only, while 912 divorce cases were registered in the same year.

She said that some 80 children have been rescued from worst forms of abuse last year and have rejoined school. However, the minister did not give details of the abuses.

According to 2002 statistics, children make about five per cent of Zanzibar’s population, while 51 per cent of nearly one million Zanzibaris are women. Most women are functionally breadwinners of the family.

”We have to admit that we still have problems in Zanzibar that are caused by men who abandon their families.

Once a family is abandoned, children and their mothers suffer,” Juma said.

She said poverty and high levels of illiteracy had also contributed to increased violation of women and children’s rights.

She said this accounted for rising early pregnancies. She said early pregnancies account for 377 out of 1,000 pregnancies on the Isles.

In her contribution, shadow Minister of Labour, Youth, Women and Children’s Development, Aziza Nabahani (CUF, Women Seats) said the government was partly to blame for increased breach of human-rights.

”It is disturbing that even senior civil servants have been encouraging political and gender discrimination in the country.

Most women and men who support opposition parties are sidelined at work or are sacked resulting in family suffering,” Nabahani said.

She appealed to the government to improve policies and laws that cover women and children.

Over half of Isles civil servants not qualified - govt

2006-07-06 09:25:07
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

At Least 63 per cent of 28,000 civil servants in Zanzibar are not skilled and lack the necessary qualifications for varied positions held.

This was announced at a press conference by Secretary General of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Civil Service Department, Ramadhan Muombwa when unveiling the civil service review programme.

In order to support the group (unqualified personnel), the Isles government spends about 62 percent of its budget on their salaries, Muombwa said.

”The civil service review programme’s implementation has sought consultancy from a British firm, to advice on what to do with workers who cheat on their qualifications,” Muombwa said.

He said the consultant firm would work on its assignment mid this month and submit to the government its preliminary findings in September.

He also said 30 percent of the other category of civil servants are semi-skilled and therefore do not deserve rendering service at their various capacities.

”Only 7 percent of the workers have met the required qualifications and are competent enough to cope with implementation of the government’s development strategies. Most of them are university graduates,” he said.

He, however, did not state whether the government had immediate plans to retire all unqualified workers.

He said the World Bank had indicated it was ready to provide funds for golden handshakes, in case retrenchment became compulsory.

Zanzibar airport set for rehabilitation

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 06.07.2006

REHABILITATION of the Zanzibar airport, which has stalled for months, will resume in September.
The Isles Deputy Minister for Communications and Transport, Mr Othman Said, revealed this when answering a question in the House of Representatives here yesterday.
He said the government and the World Bank are about to appoint a contractor to undertake the job.
He said rehabilitation of the airport is vital for the economic revival endeavour as it would enable the airport to handle all small and big aircraft, a situation which would increase government revenue.
Under the project, the airport's single runway would be elongated to 3,000 metres from 2,500 metres while the terminal building would be repaired and modern telecommunications equipment installed.
However, the deputy minister rejected claims that Oman Air has suspended its flights to Zanzibar for poor conditions of the runaway maintaining that the runway was up to the standard contrary to reports by some media sections.
He further explained that the Isles airport continued to receive giant international flights in indication that the runway was up to the standard contrary to reports claiming that the suspension of some international flights to Zanzibar was due to the poor conditions of the airport.
He said as far as he knows, the Oman Air had suspended all its flights to the East Africa countries. He did not give the figure behind that decision.
In his question, Mr Mzee Ali Ussi (Chaani-CCM) wanted to know plans for the major rehabilitation of the airport and reasons behind the suspension of the Oman Air flights to Zanzibar.

Bandits raid Isles shop, kill one

Source:: Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 06.07.2006

FIVE armed bandits invaded a Bureau de Change along the Zanzibar's famous Darajani trading centre on Tuesday night and made away with 3m/- and telephone cards worth 12m/- before killing a law enforcer who attempted to thwart the mission.

The Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, Mr Bakari Khatibu Shaabani, confirmed the incident yesterday saying the bandits were armed with a Sub Machine Gun (SMG) and a pistol.

He said the bandits had entered the Bureau de Change at around 10.00 pm, shot in the air three times before ordering Mr Nassor Mohammed Suleiman famously known here as ''Msumari'' to surrender the cash and telephone cards at a gun point or risk his life.

Mr Suleiman was at that time at the doorsteps with his friends watching a World Cup football match between Germany and Italy through a television that was put on a stool outside his office, said the RPC.

The RPC said as the bandits got into a waiting Suzuki car after the robbery and were about to move, an official said to work with the intelligence, Mr Mohammed Bakar Chenda, who was at the area decided to use his car to block the bandit's prompting them to shoot him in the head and ran away.

He said Chenda died shortly after arrival at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, where he was rushed for treatment. He was buried at his Mbweni village outside the Zanzibar Municipality yesterday.

The RPC said this is the fourth armed robbery incident to have occurred here in this year.

The regional police chief said they had launched a manhunt and requested members of the public to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of the bandits who are still at large.

MPs: Improve infrastructure

Daily News
Story by: JOHN KULEKANA in Dodoma
Date: 28.06.2006

AGRARIAN reforms, improved roads and water supply yesterday continued to dominate debate on the 2006/07 budget estimates for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as legislators rose in turn to press for subsidy on fertiliser, all weather roads as well as clean and safe water.
[Edited] ……………..

Debating the same speech, Mr Ibrahim Mohamed Sanya (Mji Mkongwe – CUF) called upon leaders in the country to support initiatives by President Jakaya Kikwete to end political rivalry in Zanzibar before the situation got out of control.

“We are aware that President Kikwete is serious about the political crisis in Zanzibar, particularly the rift between Unguja and Pemba. We are aware that the political tension in Zanzibar is linked to some historical factors. But why are we allowing history to enslave us?” he asked in the National Assembly here late on Monday.
……………………

Poultry import ban hurts Zanzibar tourism

June 27, 2006, 16 hours, 4 minutes and 56 seconds ago.
IPP Media
By ANDnetwork .com

Zanzibar Tourism Commission has protested the government’s ban on importation of poultry and its products saying it was negatively impacting on the sector.

By Mwinyi Sadallah

The government banned the importation of poultry and its products amid fears of an outbreak of bird flu.

Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZTC) chairman Issa Ahmed Othman made the petition while presenting a report on the evaluation of the impact of the ban on the sector.

He complained that the sector had been adversely affected because local production of poultry and its products had failed to meet the market demand.

More than 60% of poultry meat, Othman said, is imported. He noted that poultry farming on the Isle was underdeveloped.

Currently, he said, the price of local poultry had gone up forcing people to resort to seafood.

"The price of poultry has gone up and the tourism sector is affected as well but this should be a lesson to us to strengthen livestock and the agriculture sector," he said.

He said that the government ought to give small loans to livestock keepers and fishermen so they are able to step up production and benefit from the flourishing tourism industry.

He regretted that most of the poultry products consumed in tourist hotels on the Isles were imported from Brazil, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Tanzania mainland regions.

He said the tourism policy would not succeed without cooperation between the commission and the ministry of agriculture, livestock and natural resources.

Following the ban, Othman revealed that some unscrupulous businessmen had resorted to smuggling poultry into Zanzibar.

Recently, health and veterinary officers seized an imported consignment of poultry and booked three businessmen.

However, the police ordered their release, saying their arrest was improper as the consignment entered Zanzibar before the ban.

Director of livestock development department, Dr. Kassim Gharib Juma said the order to ban importation of poultry in Zanzibar would remain in force, until the disease is contained in all parts of the world.

Dr. Gharib said the only poultry products allowed to enter Zanzibar are from the mainland.

Memorable boat trip to Zanzibar

Source:: Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 24.06.2006

AS I boarded a luxurious speedboat to Zanzibar to take up my new Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN) assignment from Dar es Salaam early this month, my mind kept reflecting on the ‘Titanic’ movie.
I was murmuring all the time should our voyage end up in tragedy like the ‘Titanic’s’ which sank with so many human souls.
This was so, I guess, because I had not sailed for many years. My first experience on the sea had been many years back when I was a small girl in the company of my parents.
Anyway, I arrived at the Zanzibar Malindi port safely. Then my eyes went around the port buildings and the meandering streets of Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Satisfied with the scenery, I said to myself that even if this place was not Cairo or Dubai; Zanzibar is a beautiful island.
It had taken just one and half-hour to cross the channel from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar. How amazing, should I smile to the buildings? No way, I decided, even as one of the buildings was the former slave market. No more history class memories, I told myself. I recalled the old days when Mrs Doubtfire used to teach us about Zanzibar’s past in history classes in primary school. May God bless her wherever she is.
Suddenly, I felt a strong urge in me to go down to the beach to spoil myself. But I decided to explore further the secret underlying the imposing stone buildings with their tantalising architectural frameworks.
In those days, children will understand the kind of pleasure I am referring to here, when I say I sailed in the company of both dad and mum.
My dad was at that time, an active member of the Drive In Cinema, a place now occupied by the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam. We used to go to the cinema at least three Saturdays in a month, to get the feeling of being in front of the big screen.
I said Saturday, not everyday, because it was almost impossible in those good days for underage children to go to cinema each passing day. They had to spare time for their studies.
Bringing us to the cool breeze on Ocean Road every Sunday was our maid’s duty but all our traveling arrangements, whether by road, air or sea were arranged within the family.
The world has changed a lot these days and parents need to be on the look out, not to allow their small ones to travel alone.
As such, I would advise parents wishing to take a boat trip to Zanzibar with their small ones to plan carefully for the trip for maximum utility.

Isles budget received with mixed feelings

Daily News
Story by: ALI UKI in Zanzibar
Date: 23.06.2006

THERE has been a mixed reaction among Zanzibaris over the 2006/07 government budget tabled in the Zanzibar House of Representatives on Thursday.

While some civil servants have commended the budget, especially the proposal to exempt tax on basic salaries, a number of businessmen interviewed described it as anti-poor.

The businessmen observed that the budget did not give much attention to the interests of the common men.

Instead, they said, it had pinned down businessmen and large scale importers, a factor they claim could accelerate prices on imported foods and other materials.

They claimed that the budget had actually increased the burden on consumers who would sooner or later feel the pinch.

"The Isles budget has failed to deliver to our expectations. Something must be done to check the situation,'' stressed Mr Abdulbashir Nassor, one of the Isles importers who owns a shop at the famous Darajani business centre.

He insisted that removal or reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Duty on imported foodstuff and petroleum products was the best solution in sight on easing living hardships.

In this regard, the importers showered praises on the last week Union budget proposals moved in the National Assembly by the Minister for Finance, Mrs Zakia Meghji, which he said, would check price instability and inflation.

The budget proposals was presented in the House by the Minister of State in the Isles President's office (Finance and Economic Affairs), Dr Mwinyihaji Makame.

Along the same lines, a businessman of an Asian origin, Mr Mohammed Saleh, stressed the need of government officials to meet with local businessmen to discuss several issues before it prepares its annual budget.

He said he believed that the budget couldn't work in favour of the common man especially on controlling prices increase. He said reduction of prices on imported foods and other materials remained a distant dream taking into consideration that the value of a US dollar was going up to 1,275/- now.

The Secretary General of the Zanzibar Trade Unions Congress (ZATUC), Mr Makame Launi, could not comment on the budget saying he needed more time to read the speech.

"I need time to read the speech because we have not even been invited to attend the budget session,'' he lamented. In his speech to mark the International Labour Day at the Amaan Stadium last May 1, Mr Makame Launi requested the government to raise minimum wage to 100,000/= up from 50,000/= in attempts to ease living hardships.

On the contrary, the government proposed tax exemption on basic salaries not exceeding 60,000/=, a measure, many people here described it as a joke.

Former Director of the state owned Radio Zanzibar, Mr Kassim Suleiman, said the budget had a number of shortcomings that should be addressed to restore the people's confidence.

For example, he said, the budget was silent on incentives and loans for the informal sector and farmers in general. This is not fair at all, he stressed.

"I have very low opinion on the budget,'' said Mr Suleiman adding that there was need to push minimum wage up to 100,000/= to ease living hardships.

Debate on government budget proposals and Development Plan will begin in the House on Monday.

Chaos as fuel prices shoot up in Zanzibar

June 21, 2006,
By ANDnetwork .com
IPP Media

A deep misunderstanding has erupted within Zanzibar’s transport sector, only a day after the Zanzibar revolutionary government allowed oil dealers to increase prices for petroleum products.

By Mwinyi Sadallah

The decision has led to an over 10% increase of daladala fares in Zanzibar that prompted a boycott of the transport service by some commuters who retaliated by walking longer distances as they could not afford the new fares.

A survey carried out by this paper shows that the fares charged are not uniform as buses plying between Bububu and City centre charge 300/- instead of 200/- while those from Chukwani, Fuoni and Airport charge 250/- instead of 200/-.

The decision has led to bitter exchange of words between commuters and bus crews because the new rates have not been officially announced and that they are unreasonable as they are charged irrespective of the distance covered.

"If you don’t have 300/- you better disembark from the bus to avoid a possible conflict along the way," a Bububu bus conductor said.

An incident involving a Chukwani bound bus bearing registration number ZNZ 31948 forced it to a stop midway and all passengers who had objected to the new rates disembark.

At Darajani central bus terminal which is normally congested with commuters, only a few people could be seen as most of them had elected to walk.

"Since yesterday I have been walking on my way to work and only board a bus during my return trip," Kombo Mcha said. Kombo works at the Zanzibar central market.

Many school pupils and students have resorted to riding bicycles as they cannot afford the present fares.

The situation has also captured some of the car owners who have opted to use daladala services instead of using their cars for the reason that it is comparatively cheaper.

Some petrol stations which had closed down business for quite sometime in Zanzibar were yesterday seen operating following new fuel prices.

The Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Finance and Planning, Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini confirmed the new prices. However, he did not give the reasons.

The price for petrol is now 1,250/- instead of 1,130/-, per litre, paraffin has shot up to 900/- from 850/- and diesel is sold at 1,200/- instead of 1,100/-.

Zanzibar introduces stringent measures to raise revenues

Source:: Daily News
Story by: Ali Uki in Zanzibar
Date: 22.06.2006

THE Government of Zanzibar yesterday announced stringent financial measures to strengthen revenue collection and control tax exemptions on imported foods, vehicles and petroleum products.

Moving the government’s budget proposals for 2006/07 financial year in the Isles House of Representatives, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Finance and Economic Affairs), Dr Mwinyihaji Makame, said the measures were aimed at censoring imported goods for proper tax assessment.

The government has also increased the minimum wage for civil servants to 60,000/- from 50,000/-, in an attempt to ease living hardships.

‘’We are determined to take these measures to ensure that we raise enough funds from our sources of revenue,’’ stressed the Minister.

He said the valuation process for imported goods at entry points here would also be strengthened to check fraudulent cases.

He noted that applications for tax exemption on imports would from now on have to be channeled through the Zanzibar Business Council, clearly showing the advantages and disadvantages of the exemptions.

“The government will entertain no exemption applications from individual businessmen,’’ he cautioned stressing that the Zanzibar Business Council would first assess the exemptions being sought before advising the government accordingly.

As a matter of transparency and good governance, he said, all exemptions to be granted either to institutions or business sector would be published in the Official Government Gazette.

He said the government had noted that haphazard granting of exemption had proved to be a loophole for tax evasion.

The government, he said, would introduce new a system of tax withholding to check the tendency by some people to evade paying levies.

Under the stringent measures, Dr Makame said airport service charges would now be included on the flight ticket, doing away with the old system of collecting hard cash at the airport.

However, he further noted that the government would start to offer exemptions of trade levy on goods imported from the Mainland. But, he insisted that owners of the goods under question must show proof of paying Value Added Tax (TAX) or Excise Duty on the Mainland. He said this measure would encourage trade between the two parts of the Union.

Dr Makame said deliberate measures would be taken to strengthen the Zanzibar Revenue Board (ZRB) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (Zanzibar Branch) to ensure they perform effectively.

In another development, he said the government was planning to privatise the People’s Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) by selling 75 per cent of its shares to other shareholders.

In addition, he said the monopoly of the Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC) as the sole buyer and exporter of cloves here would be ended soon, saying this would enable the private sector to take an active role in the management of the isles’ economy.

In the new fiscal year, he said the government would spend 214bn/- out of which, 110.3bn/- would be for recurrent expenditure and the balance for development votes.

Law for irresponsible fathers coming - Isles minister

2006-06-20 
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar Minister for Labour, Youths, Children and Women Development, Asha Abdallah Juma has expressed concern over escalating incidents of men abandoning their families.

The minister said a Bill to curb wayward fathers is in the final stages of being drafted and would be taken to the House of Representatives for enactment into law.

Addressing journalists in her office at Mwanakwerekwe in yesterday, the minister said there is a sharp rise in the number of families being abandoned by male parents.

This was after two women reported to her that their spouse had abandoned them.

She said that her ministry receives at least 28 cases of family abandonment and harassment, including rape every month.

’’We are taking this matter seriously after discovering that men are reluctant to look after their families because there is no law to force them to discharge parental responsibilities,’’ the minister said, adding:

’’I’m disturbed by the development. Male parents are increasingly shirking family responsibilities and in the process subjecting children to suffering.

We are preparing a law to curb incidence of parents failing to take care of their children,’’ Abdallah said.

The minister also said abandonment of children is included in worst forms of child rights abuse because ’’it deprives them of a basic right.’’

’’We are going to have a law soon to criminalise the tendency by parents to discard their children.

Abandonment of children puts the lives of child at risk as they can easily become prone to social vices such as illicit drugs and thuggery. This is because we shall have many jobless youths,’’ she said.

The minister said many family conflicts are reported among young parents who rush to marry or are forced to marry.

She appealed to parents to encourage their children to go to school instead of marrying them off before they complete their education .

Zanzibar hit by fuel price rise

2006-06-18 08:46:47
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Sunday Observer

The price of fuel in Zanzibar rose yesterday, following three consecutive days of shortage of the essential commodity, the Sunday Observer has learned.

Several domestic commuter buses and taxi operators were unable to find fuel during the week-end, and the situation worsened as it was unclear as to was lies behind the repeated shortages.

Cars were surviving with fuel in the black market costing almost twice as much as the ’normal’ price of 1,130/- per litre of petrol.

The price shot up to 1,250/-. Diesel shot up from 1100/- to 1200/-. The price of kerosene has also shot up from 850/- to 900/- a litre.

Efforts to get comments from the authorities proved futile yesterday, but Zanzibar has repeatedly been struck by fuel shortage even without a crisis in the world market.

Unconfirmed reports had it that some bogus fuel agents were hiding the commodity for their own business gains.

Most of the affected people were, however, domestic commuter buses, which provide transport for the majority of Zanzibaris.

No one seems to know exactly what has caused the problem, and Yussuf Omar, a taxi drive,r told Sunday Observer, that the fuel shortages began late om Thursday, ’’but normally when fuel disappears, what follows is a price hike,.’’ he said.

’’We do not know what is happening; normally the government remains silent on the fuel price changes. We are buying fuel at 2,000/- a litre. There are rumours that today (yesterday) the situation will return to normal ..we don’t know, let us wait and see,’’ he said.

An official of the major fuel seller, GAPCO, informed this paper that the supply was at low level because of the delayed shipment of the commodity from overseas and added the problem would soon be resolved.

Meanwhile Pemba was also hit by lack of electricity supply for several days because of what the authorities said ’’oil delivery delay.’’

According to the state radio (STZ), the Pemba North Regional Commissioner, Dadi Faki, the situation was expected to return to normal yesterday after the delivery of the oil.

Pemba has been depending mainly on electricity generated from the generator installed at Wesha in Chakechake, while the government battles to connect electricity from Pangani in Tanga region through submarine cable.

Gulf Container reports disgusting

Source:: Daily News
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 17.06.2006

THE recent report on 350 Zanzibar bound containers containing food and domestic materials from the Gulf that have been stranded at the Mombasa Port in Kenya for more than a month now, hit the local headlines and it is disgusting.
The justification for the stranded containers is that the Zanzibar Port is currently undergoing major rehabilitation and therefore it cannot accommodate giant cargo ships of more than 130 metres long at the narrow berth.
In addition, 150 other empty containers destined to a number of foreign nations have also been held due to the same problem.
According to the Director General of the Zanzibar Ports Corporation, Mr Mustafa Aboud Jumbe, they allowed only ships of less than 130 metres long to dock at the narrow berth.
This means that giant foreign vessels that want to call at the Zanzibar Port will have to anchor outside the port and wait for burgs to offload from containers in small quantities and transmit them to the baggage room, a situation which is taking ages and is disrupting the ships’ schedule.
This situation has caused uproar for the ship owners will have to stay a bit longer and pay unnecessary expenses charged by the Port Authority.
It is no secret that businessmen are looking for other options including using the Tanga or Dar es Salaam Ports for their cargo destinations, a factor that will seriously affect the Isles’ Port revenue collection because it would receive less cargo.
The decline of the volume of imported goods passing through the Zanzibar Ports is a big blow and may slow down the island’s economic revival efforts taking into consideration that the economic development and social well- being of Zanzibar depends directly on the Port.
The Zanzibar Ports construction project, according to Mr Jumbe began last year and it is expected to complete by December this year. A Dutch construction firm –PHIL – is rehabilitating the port at 31 million Euro (about 42bn/-).
At this point, I do not want to go into the details of the contract of the Zanzibar Malindi Port construction signed on June 30, last year. But, to make a long story short, let us hope that the construction work will have been completed as scheduled.
My request is that the Isles Ports Authorities should try to see into ways to request the construction firm to speed up the work and if it is possible to finish the job ahead of time to ease the problem.
But, I have got some doubts on the competence of the management of the Zanzibar Ports Authority. Under a normal situation, I would have expected the management to give early warnings to local importers here on pending situation at the Port so as to avoid frustration to the importers.
It seems the management failed to act well in time to alert the importers to look for other options. As a result, it has exposed the importers to a painful experience to the extent that they are now looking into the possibility to use alternative destinations to their imported cargo.
It will take us much time to convince the importers to use again the Zanzibar Ports as destination of their cargo. We must remember that it needs years and years to win a customer but it needs less than a second to lose the same customer.
Therefore, I would suggest that the Isles Ports Authorities should now find appropriate means to attract back the importers to continue using the Zanzibar Ports, after the rehabilitation work, bearing in mind that the Ports is one of the major sources of revenue.

Zanzibar president defends Iran's nuclear right

Pretoria, June 16, IRNA

Zanzibar president Abeid Amaan Karume on Thursday criticized the developed states' nuclear double-standards, insisting Iran's right for peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"At a time when the developed states, including UK, are investing in establishment of new nuclear power plants, their demand on Iran to stop such a measure will not have any logical response," said Karume in a meeting with Iran's ambassador to Tansania Abbas Vaezi.

Karume said Iran's positive cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signifies Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

The president then urged cooperation between Iran and Zanzibar in tourism and commerce, which was welcomed by the Iranian diplomat.

Tanzania: Zanzibar Cops Arrest 'Illegal' Chickens

Business in Africa (Johannesburg)
June 14, 2006
Arusha

Zanzibar authorities have seized a large consignment of fowls illegally imported from Brazil, said a local daily.

Tanzania imposed the ban last week to prevent a possible bird flu outbreak, said The Guardian.

Police have arrested three businessmen on the semi-autonomous island thought to be connected to the chickens.

Bird flu in East Africa has only been confirmed in Djibouti, although authorities worry that bird flu could spread south to Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya.

Zanzibar imports chickens from mainland Tanzania, South Africa and Brazil.

Driver killed in Zanzibar Rally

Daily News
Story by: MAKAME ISSA, Zanzibar
Date: 12.06.2006

THE Zanzibar Motor Rally took off on a tragic note yesterday after Nassir Khan, one of drivers who were taking part, died after the car he was driving overturned here.
The accident that occurred at the corner of Upenja and Mgenihaji Street in the Central district in Unguja South left Khan critically wounded on different parts of his body.
He died a few moments after he arrived at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital where he was rushed to.
The body of Khan, which was flown to Dar es Salaam for burial the same day, was escorted to the Zanzibar Airport by a large group of sports enthusiasts led by the Minister for Communications and Transport, Adam Mwakanjuki.
The late Nassir Khan was buried yesterday at 5:00 in the evening in Dar es Salaam.
Sports leaders and fans expressed shock over the news, describing it as a big blow to the sport. "We are all very sorry for what happened," said the General Secretary of ZMSC Mussa Kharia.
The accident occurred when the race was on its second leg, after it was launched at 8:00pm at the New Afrika House at Mji Mkongwe.
The rally, the second of its kind to take place in the Isles, was flagged off by the Zanzibar Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Ali Juma Shamuhuna.

A small battle won in the war on malaria
 

By John Donnelly The Boston Globe
June 8, 2006

KAMBINI, Tanzania During the rainy season on Pemba Island, bright- green rice plants shoot up, and breezes carry the sweet scent of cloves. But trouble brews in the muddy puddles - by a nocturnal species of mosquitoes that multiplies and carries malaria.

This season, the mosquitoes are being thwarted on this Indian Ocean island that is part of the semiautonomous Zanzibar chain. Kambini, with 5,000 people, and six surrounding communities have become nearly malaria-free under a $1.2 billion prevention program started last year by the United States.

The program hands out bed nets for pregnant mothers and children under 5, who are most susceptible to the disease, and pays for indoor spraying and treatment.

"We basically don't have any malaria patients," said Ali Said Mussa, director of the Kambini Primary Health Center, which was nearly empty on a recent day.

The fight against the debilitating and often deadly disease on this slice of northern Pemba is one of the first successes of the five-year U.S. initiative. On Thursday, the Bush administration was expected to expand the program from three countries - Angola and Uganda, in addition to Tanzania - to seven. The identities of the new countries were not known in advance.

The goal of the program is to cut by half the number of malaria cases in 15 sub-Saharan countries within five years.

The experience in Zanzibar shows the possibilities of targeting the scourge quickly and effectively in a small and poor African setting, but the strategy has yet to be proved across a city or an entire country. The disease is believed to be the No. 1 killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa, claiming an estimated one million lives every year.

In many parts of Africa, leaders say malaria is their greatest health problem because of the death toll and the disease's impact on economies. Many malaria sufferers are bed-ridden for days and frequently miss work.

In Kambini, Charles Llewellyn, who oversees the U.S. Agency for International Development's malaria project in Tanzania, flipped through the health center's records. He checked the figures for last year and then counted the number of malaria patients seen last month until May 25, the latest date available when he visited.

After several minutes, he looked up grinning.

He found that Mussa's health center treated just six cases of malaria from May 1 to 25, compared to 431 cases in all of May 2005.

"The bed nets have made an incredible difference," Llewellyn said.

The nets - funded by the U.S. aid agency and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and distributed by the government of Zanzibar - are just one piece of the fight against malaria. The long-lasting nets have insecticide embedded in their fibers.

Tanzania also uses artemisinin- based medicines, the most effective anti-malarial drugs; distributes malaria tests that produce results in 15 minutes; administers two or three doses of anti- malarial medicine to pregnant women in the months before birth to reduce anemia; and next month will start spraying insecticide inside nearly all of Zanzibar's homes.

The U.S. Agency for International Development purposely picked an area in Tanzania that the agency believed would provide the best shot at success. Zanzibar was manageable, with a population of one million compared with Tanzania's mainland population of 35 million.

In Kambini, where people ride their bicycles or walk to jobs and local markets, Mussa, the health center director, worked with local leaders to distribute the bed nets and educate people on how to use them.

The new blue-colored nets kill mosquitoes within hours after contact. All over Africa, families have found creative ways to misuse the nets - as wedding veils, fishing nets, curtains, and room dividers.

In one mud-brick house with a thatched roof, Sada Juma Faki, 46, said 9 of her 10 children have had malaria in years past. The only one spared was Khalifa, 13 months, who has been sleeping under one of the two long-lasting nets she received in January.

Asked why she did not buy long-lasting nets for her other children, she said they were expensive. The nets cost about $6.

"I guess if there are no donors, I will look for some money to buy them," she said.

In another mud-brick house, Biumbe Hamad Khamis, 29, stood proudly in her doorway. She cradled her 7-day-old boy, Said.

"I feel great," she said. "I also feel secure that he will be protected against malaria, because of the new net."

She looked forward to indoor spraying because two of her five children were not sleeping under nets on most nights.

"I just don't have the money to buy the nets for them," she said.

Mussa knew many older children were at risk. He also needed more nets for newly pregnant women. While Khamis received a net in January, many expectant mothers do not have the protection.

But for now, villagers were pleased with the new nets. Ali Said Ali, 52, Kambini's village leader who has had malaria so many times that he long ago lost count, said people were confident that the fight against the disease was serious now.

"I think malaria will go away forever," he said.

KAMBINI, Tanzania During the rainy season on Pemba Island, bright- green rice plants shoot up, and breezes carry the sweet scent of cloves. But trouble brews in the muddy puddles - by a nocturnal species of mosquitoes that multiplies and carries malaria.

This season, the mosquitoes are being thwarted on this Indian Ocean island that is part of the semiautonomous Zanzibar chain. Kambini, with 5,000 people, and six surrounding communities have become nearly malaria-free under a $1.2 billion prevention program started last year by the United States.

The program hands out bed nets for pregnant mothers and children under 5, who are most susceptible to the disease, and pays for indoor spraying and treatment.

"We basically don't have any malaria patients," said Ali Said Mussa, director of the Kambini Primary Health Center, which was nearly empty on a recent day.

The fight against the debilitating and often deadly disease on this slice of northern Pemba is one of the first successes of the five-year U.S. initiative. On Thursday, the Bush administration was expected to expand the program from three countries - Angola and Uganda, in addition to Tanzania - to seven. The identities of the new countries were not known in advance.

The goal of the program is to cut by half the number of malaria cases in 15 sub-Saharan countries within five years.

The experience in Zanzibar shows the possibilities of targeting the scourge quickly and effectively in a small and poor African setting, but the strategy has yet to be proved across a city or an entire country. The disease is believed to be the No. 1 killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa, claiming an estimated one million lives every year.

In many parts of Africa, leaders say malaria is their greatest health problem because of the death toll and the disease's impact on economies. Many malaria sufferers are bed-ridden for days and frequently miss work.

In Kambini, Charles Llewellyn, who oversees the U.S. Agency for International Development's malaria project in Tanzania, flipped through the health center's records. He checked the figures for last year and then counted the number of malaria patients seen last month until May 25, the latest date available when he visited.

After several minutes, he looked up grinning.

He found that Mussa's health center treated just six cases of malaria from May 1 to 25, compared to 431 cases in all of May 2005.

"The bed nets have made an incredible difference," Llewellyn said.

The nets - funded by the U.S. aid agency and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and distributed by the government of Zanzibar - are just one piece of the fight against malaria. The long-lasting nets have insecticide embedded in their fibers.

Tanzania also uses artemisinin- based medicines, the most effective anti-malarial drugs; distributes malaria tests that produce results in 15 minutes; administers two or three doses of anti- malarial medicine to pregnant women in the months before birth to reduce anemia; and next month will start spraying insecticide inside nearly all of Zanzibar's homes.

The U.S. Agency for International Development purposely picked an area in Tanzania that the agency believed would provide the best shot at success. Zanzibar was manageable, with a population of one million compared with Tanzania's mainland population of 35 million.

In Kambini, where people ride their bicycles or walk to jobs and local markets, Mussa, the health center director, worked with local leaders to distribute the bed nets and educate people on how to use them.

The new blue-colored nets kill mosquitoes within hours after contact. All over Africa, families have found creative ways to misuse the nets - as wedding veils, fishing nets, curtains, and room dividers.

In one mud-brick house with a thatched roof, Sada Juma Faki, 46, said 9 of her 10 children have had malaria in years past. The only one spared was Khalifa, 13 months, who has been sleeping under one of the two long-lasting nets she received in January.

Asked why she did not buy long-lasting nets for her other children, she said they were expensive. The nets cost about $6.

"I guess if there are no donors, I will look for some money to buy them," she said.

In another mud-brick house, Biumbe Hamad Khamis, 29, stood proudly in her doorway. She cradled her 7-day-old boy, Said.

"I feel great," she said. "I also feel secure that he will be protected against malaria, because of the new net."

She looked forward to indoor spraying because two of her five children were not sleeping under nets on most nights.

"I just don't have the money to buy the nets for them," she said.

Mussa knew many older children were at risk. He also needed more nets for newly pregnant women. While Khamis received a net in January, many expectant mothers do not have the protection.

But for now, villagers were pleased with the new nets. Ali Said Ali, 52, Kambini's village leader who has had malaria so many times that he long ago lost count, said people were confident that the fight against the disease was serious now.

"I think malaria will go away forever," he said.

Govt tightens ban on imported poultry

2006-06-08 10:22:26
By Ludger Kasumuni
Guardian

The government has imposed a ’’temporary total ban’’ on imported chickens and poultry products. The ban came into effect yesterday.

Minister for Livestock Development Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government banned imported chickens, birds and poultry products from all over the world following increased threat of bird flu spread to the country.

Kawambwa said the ban is based on Animal Diseases Act of 2003, which confers the powers to take such a decisive action on the minister. He, however, declined to state the period the ban will be in force.

On April 20 this year, the government banned imported birds, chickens and poultry products from countries affected by bird flu, but recent developments in the world had necessitated more stringent measures, he said.

The minister said the reason for the decision is based on increased threats of bird flu spread in Africa, which has already been cited in some countries on the continent ? Sudan, Djibouti, Egypt, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

’’Until May 31 this year, at least 224 people worldwide had already been diagnosed with bird flu, out of whom 127 have succumbed to the viral disease,’’ he said.

He added: ’’In the case of Africa, 15 people have been diagnosed with bird flu and out of the number 14 were Egyptians and a Djibouti. Of this number, six have already died.’’

The minister said the rapid spread of avian influenza is a major threat to the country’s economy, hence the ban.

Dr Kawambwa said the government took into consideration scientific findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international organisations for the protection of animal health.

He said the main agents of the virus are migratory birds and international trade in poultry products.

Meanwhile, Mwinyi Sadallah reports from Zanzibar that the Isles’ Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources burned and buried a consignment of chickens imported from the Mainland.

This was a precautionary move lest the products were infected with bird flu, the ministry said.

Director of Livestock Development Department Dr Kassim Gharib, confirmed yesterday that chickens were imported from Tanga.

He said the birds were incinerated on Sunday after a businessman, Sheha Hassan Sheha, a resident of Magogoni violated the ban on imported chickens.

’’We were forced to destroy the chickens because the owner violated the order on imported chickens and other bird species from outside Zanzibar without a licence,’’ said Dr Gharib.

He, however, conceded that the ban on poultry products did not include poultry from Mainland.

Sheha Hassan Sheha was arrested at Zanzibar port when he arrived from Tanga aboard Mv Arafat with chicken. After interrogation, it was decided that the poultry be incinerated.

Zanzibar, Japan sign water development pact

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR, 7 Jun 2006 (IRIN)

Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar and the Japanese government signed an agreement on Wednesday for a US $13-million three-year water supply project designed to boost provision of the commodity in the island's urban areas.

The Japanese ambassador, Katsuya Ikeda, who signed the agreement on his government's behalf, said boreholes, reservoirs and pipelines would be built under the Zanzibar Urban Water Project Supply Development Project. The principal secretary in the ministry of finance and economic affairs, Khamis Mussa Omar, represented Zanzibar at the signing ceremony, held at the Zanzibar Beach Resort.

The agreement comes a month after Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume assented to a law restricting water use in the island.

"It is quite understandable that no political leader would like to take a decision which may displease his voters," Ikeda said, "but a real responsible statesman would dare to make an unpopular decision when he believes it is really necessary for the eventual benefit of the people. I believe the decisions to introduce new water policy including the water tariff system by the Zanzibar leaders this time was the decision of that kind."

Water supply for the majority of Zanzibar's one million people had been free of charge but the government recently amended the Water Act to enable it to charge consumers for water supplied.

Opposition members of parliament in Zanzibar's House of Representatives opposed the Bill to restrict the use of water and the introduction of a tariff system, on grounds that the majority of Zanzibaris were too poor to pay for the service. However, the law was passed and Karume assented it into law in May.

The new law allows the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZWA) to sell water to residents, most of whom experienced an acute water shortage due to a drought that recently swept the East African region.

The law prohibits pollution of waterworks or catchment areas and construction of buildings near such facilities. It imposes a prison term of six months to a year or a fine of $300 to $1,000 for those found guilty.

In April, the Zanzibar chief minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, ordered the demolition of at least 350 homes built near water reservoirs, springs, boreholes and wells.

Stone Town, Zanzibar's densely populated capital, is home to at least 450,000 people who require about 45 million litres of water daily. However, according to ZWA, the city currently receives 23 million litres daily.

The Zanzibar minister of water, construction, energy and lands, Mansoor Yussuf Himid, said there "would be no exception" in paying for water, "even religious institutions - such as mosques and churches - would have to pay water at the rates to be released later".

"The implementation of the new policy has been enacted and will soon be put into force after the completion of water regulations and rules," Yussuf said.

He said implementation of the water project water would greatly benefit Zanzibaris.

"Currently, 49 percent of the rural population and 25 percent of the urban dwellers have no piped water," he said. "This situation needs to changed before 2020, and water targets for Zanzibar are to increase access of urban populations to safe water from 75 percent to 95 percent, and from 51 percent to 60 percent for urban and rural population respectively by 2010."

Tibet, Zanzibar and the Alternative World Cup

Spiegel Online
Sunday, June 04,

The Clash of the Lilliputians

By Charles Hawley in the Republic of St. Pauli

In a football tournament for the nation-less, Hamburg on Saturday hosted the final of the FIFI Wild Cup. Five teams from regions not recognized by the United Nations competed. And a part of Hamburg seceded from Germany to field the sixth squad.

With just under one week to go before the World Cup kicks off in Germany on Friday, the atmosphere in Hamburg's Millerntor football stadium on Saturday afternoon was thick with anticipation for the international contest. Standing for most of the match, fans waved a sea of mini green, black and yellow flags while closely following the action on the pitch -- spontaneous cheers were followed by distraught groans as chances were created and wasted. A wave cheer even rippled around the stadium shortly after the half -- and the chanting was almost ceaseless. Over and over, the air above the field vibrated with a staccato three syllables: "ZAN-ZI-BAR! ZAN-ZI-BAR!"

As it turns out, the FIFA World Cup isn't the only international football tournament being hosted this year by Germany. On a cloudy, cold day in Hamburg, the final match of the FIFI Wild Cup saw the crowd favorites from Zanzibar, made up of two islands off the coast of Tanzania, fall to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus -- recognized as an independent nation by nobody except Turkey -- on penalty kicks following a hard-fought 0-0 draw in regulation. Also among the announced crowd of 4,122 were the players from the teams vanquished earlier in the week in a tournament featuring six teams hailing from regions recognized as independent nations neither by world soccer's governing body FIFA nor by the United Nations. In addition to the finalists, Tibet, Gibraltar and Greenland also made the trek. The host was the Republic of St. Pauli, a part of Hamburg normally associated with the lascivious Reeperbahn and for supporting every failure of cult team FC St. Pauli. The Republic of St. Pauli -- not recognized by the government in Berlin -- was called into existence solely for the tournament.

No grass and four months of night

Not a detail was overlooked. The flags of Zanzibar and Northern Cyprus were flying over the stadium; national anthems were played prior to the start of both the third place game -- which Gibraltar won against St. Pauli (mostly made up of the professional team's youth squad) -- and the final; sponsors were plentiful to cover the almost €750,000 tournament price tag; and skydivers swooped down from the gray skies just before the final kick-off to deliver the game ball. The tournament mascots Schmitz (short, fat) and Schäfer (tall, thin) did their best as cheerleaders.

Indeed, the atmosphere had all the electricity of the World Cup -- with one decisive exception: Most of the players kick for small clubs in their homelands and had only rarely played in international matches.

"This tournament is really a lot of fun," said player Anders Cortzen from a small town mid-way up the west coast of Greenland. "In Greenland, we don't have grass and have to play on sand so this is really different. We also don't have sun four months out of the year. And now we're staying in a real luxury hotel!"

The Tibet team featured only exile Tibetans, many of whom, like the Dalai Lama, live in India. Quite a few of them, in fact, make their living as traveling salesmen, voyaging through the subcontinent selling jeans and other clothing. "We'd really love to be in the final," said Namgyal Dhakyel, the 30-year-old assistant team manager who works at an auto parts store in Switzerland, who still appeared to be in positive spirits despite his team's loss in their two group-phase matches by a total of 12 to 0 against St. Pauli and Gibraltar. "But we've made the best of it and have had a super time here in Hamburg. It's the first time in their lives that they've played in such a big stadium with such a big audience. The memory will last a lifetime."

Monaco, Vatican or Turkish Cyprus?

Jörg Pommeranz, who normally works for a TV and film production company, was the brawn behind the FIFI Wild Cup. The first impulse for holding the event, he says, came from the Tibetans, who called St. Pauli wondering about setting up a friendly. Others claim it originated from within St. Pauli's notoriously free-thinking fan club. Either way, the idea quickly mushroomed into the FIFI Wild Cup tournament. And speed was vital. The organizers only really got serious in late February and there were visas to be arranged, sponsors to find and a myriad details to see to.

Add to that the fact that many of the countries didn't even have "national teams," and the task seemed almost impossible. Pommeranz began calling around to see who might be interested in attending. The answer came quickly: Everybody. Teams from across Europe wanted to come including the national squads of the Vatican and Monaco. Only in late May, though, was the line-up final with the addition of Turkish Cyprus on May 23. "It wasn't an easy decision to decide who to invite," Pommeranz says. "There were a lot of great teams who wanted to come."

In the end, he decided to go for quality. Before the tournament got started, Turkish Cyprus, had been undefeated in 2006 including victories over Kosovo, Kurdistan, and Occitania.

And inviting Zanzibar was a no-brainer. The team's German manager, Oliver Pocher, is a mini-star in his home country having hosted numerous comedy shows on the Viva music channel and as a regular on the popular late-night talk show "TV Total." He was named Zanzibar's manager as part of his "Rent-a-Pocher" TV show and aired a series in spring 2005 on his efforts to qualify the island nation for this year's World Cup.

From comedy to serious football

But while entertainment may have been on the minds of Pocher and the organizers at the beginning, it quickly became apparent that nobody had told the players about the light-hearted origins of the event. Already in the afternoon match for third, Gibraltar and St. Pauli offered up a hard fought game. Gibraltar -- a tiny British dependency with a population of about 30,000 people, 300 Barbary apes and a single football stadium -- won 2-1 after the St. Pauli keeper was sent off for an intentional hand ball outside the area just before half.

With fans unleashing chants even for the teams no longer in the tournament, the intensity on the field only increased during the final. Fouls were plentiful and action was stopped numerous times for trainers to attend to injuries on the field. Finally, a particularly nasty foul by a Zanzibar player resulted in red card for him and a brief shoving match. "For us, it was a real tournament," Turkish Cyprus coach Süleyman Göktas said during the post-match press conference, his face partially obscured by the large silver-colored Wild Cup trophy. "We came here to play football. We won the cup and we're happy."

Pocher, on the other hand, wasn't in the mood for comedy after the bitter defeat. "The loss was a big disappointment," he said. "I had to look after some of my players after the game and a number of them broke into tears. It was hard work getting them to smile again."

Back out on the field, the party continued. After politely waiting for the Turkish Cypriots to finish their celebratory scrum -- and for the Zanzibaris to get over their initial disappointment -- the rest of the teams paraded onto the field and took victory laps as the crowd stood and cheered.

And next year? "We'll have to see if the idea has a future," says Pommeranz. There are no doubt a number of regions across the globe hoping that it does.

Zanzibar calls off free health care services

Xinhua
June 04, 2006

Zanzibar has put an end to free public health care services that have operate for more than four decades in hope of improving the services with financial contributions from the public.

Yet children under five, pregnant women, the disabled and HIV/ AIDS patients have been exempted from paying for their visits to health centers and clinics, according to reports reaching here on Saturday.

The local authorities will also heed the World Health Organization advice that diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and other communicable diseases be treated free of charge.

Residents on the Indian Ocean archipelago started to pay for their health services on Friday, after members on the Zanzibar House of Representatives had passed into law a bill that requires the public to contribute money to the improvement of public health services.

People now have to pay 500 Tanzanian shillings (0.4 U.S. dollars) to get admitted for a hospital or clinic visit while surgeries will be charged between 80,000 and 100,000 shillings (64- 80 dollars).

Internet link for schools

Source:: Daily News Saturday
Story by: Correspondent YUSSUF YUSSUF, Zanzibar
Date: 03.06.2006

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume yesterday launched the connection of Internet services at the Utaani Secondary and Benjamin William Mkapa Teacher Training College, Wete in North Pemba, Ms Khadija Mohamed from the Zanzibar
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, said.
"In addition to providing connectivity, each school is equipped with modern ICT equipment including six computers and related equipment and software, printer, multimedia projector, projector screen, mobile handset, binding and laminating machines," the Ms Mohamed stated in a press statement.
She said that the donation has been made by the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU), a lead United Nation agency for information and communication technology issues. It is and global focal point for government and the private sector in developing networks and services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in Zanzibar, the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and Dar es Salaam-based private company Satcopm Networks Africa Limited.
Ms Mohamed said that the project aims at implementing the WSIS plan of
Action adopted by Tanzania and the international community in December 2003 as a basis for extending ICT access to all mankind and thus bridging the digital divide.
She also mentioned that the schools had been provided with easycafe, digital camera as well as TV/video, valued at 43,820 dollars.
She said: "An additional eight computers and related equipment (four each
centre), worth 16,000 dollars is still under procurement. When delivered, each centre will have 10 computers raising the total value of assistance provided by the international Telecommunications Union (ITU) to 59,820 dollars."
The ITU assistance was mainly directed to fund equipment as well as costs for Internet connectivity for one year, while the Ministry of
Education and Vocational Training was responsible for project accommodation and furniture, set up of local area networks, training and other logistic
matters at the local level.
Benjamin William Mkapa Teacher Training College received an additional two computers, a printer, a photocopy machine and twelve pieces of flash disks from the ministry whose contribution into the project is approximately 21,800 dollars.
The statement said that as part of the capacity building, a three basic
computer literacy training course was offered to 40 teachers' and tutors to
equip them with skills to train others and to fully utilise the ICT
facilities provided under the project.
The training was conducted with technical and financial support from the
Nairobi-based Microsoft Office. The trainees were awarded proficiency
certificates by the president as part of the launching.
The ministry of Educationa and Vocational Training, Mr Haroun Ali Suleiman, and other dignitaries from the government attended the Wete School Net and Community access launching ceremony.
The project, which the minister termed as a good demonstration of public and private partnership in implementing self-sustainable school and community ICT access points, designed in such a way that students and teachers will use the facilities free of charge during schools hours. The public will pay for use after school hours to help the schools to generate revenue to meet its operating costs and thus ensure sustainability when donor funds dry up.

Plunged to fame by seaweed

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 03.06.2006

IN the South of Unguja Region, there is a small village known as Jambiani. It is one the tourist attraction sites that it is estimated to receive about 30 per cent of 120,000 visitors coming to this Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar every year.
With a population of less than 7,000 people, the village came up to the picture and started to -- gain popularity -- in 1991 when the seaweed farming was officially introduced in the coastal areas of Zanzibar.
Official records available from different sources indicated that most of the villagers especially women are deeply engaged in seaweed farming.
Instead of spending much of their time at their homes taking care of children and prepare food for their family, women at the area, both married and unmarried ones, the young and elders had actively taken part in seaweed farming.
Statistics show that women who had engaged in seaweed farming profitable business, something that helped them to ease living hardships and brighten their future by building modern residential houses and start small scale income generating projects.
But, the adoption of trade liberalisation policy in 1986, as part of the Isles economic diversification programmes following the collapse of cloves in the world market had also exposed the Jambiani Village to the international tourism business.
The pristine beach at the village is now one of the contributing factors that attracted a number of local and foreign investors to set up their economic projects; tourism being the main one.
Unlike in the past, the village has a number of leading tourist hotels, lodges, guesthouses, small shops and restaurants. All the services are available in the village.
One can enjoy a comfortable journey of 45 minutes driving from Zanzibar town to Jambiani Village, some 48 kilometres.
As if that was not enough, --- a new project for women has just started at Jambiani Village with the view of fighting poverty through promotion of self-employment and self-reliance
The project titled - "Women Involvement in Economic Activities Especially in the Manufacturing of Ropes" --- gives new hopes to the majority of women who are engaged in the project that is closely supervised by the Zanzibar Fund For Self-Reliance (ZFSR).
The ZFSR is a registered non-governmental organisation and non-profit making body that was established in 1991 with the main objective to complement the National efforts in supporting various low-level and self-economic ventures.
The project supervisor, Ms Asya Mohammed Hija, is optimistic that the project would benefit the Jambiani women. What is needed, according to the supervisor is "commitment and seriousness."
Under the project, the women will have to organise themselves in small groups, seek for loans from the ZFSR and other financial institutions and work together in manufacturing ropes from soaked coconut husks.
In the manufacture of ropes, the only raw material needed is coconut fibrous husks. The women and their children use to go and collect fibrous husks from nearby coconut trees or request from coconut climbers to provide for them the fibrous husks.
After the collection of fibrous husks from different points, explained the project supervisor that they dig at the seashore and arranged in it the fibrous husks before putting stones on top so as to prevent the Ocean waves from eroding the husks.
The fibrous husks are matured after three months. Later they are taken out and being squeezed to take off the hard outer layer of the husks so as to remain with the fibres.
According to the supervisor, the business is lucrative. However, she insisted the need of the women to take it seriously for their own benefits.
Although there is plenty of opportunities of supplement their incomes through using manufacturing ropes. But the women lack proper skills to produce quality goods to win market.
This can be solved soon taking into consideration that local experts on the field would be attached on secondment basis to work hand in hand with the groups in order to impart the skills to them.
We are lining up training programmes to improve their skills, explained the project supervisor.
Interestingly, the market for the product is available especially at leading tourist hotels and guesthouses that had been built around the villages
The main side effect of the problem is that the women may suffer from endless chest pains and body aches because of the hard work during the process of grinding the fibrous husks.
All in all, with the presence of all three projects -- coconut project, seaweed farming project and tourism project -- would obviously accelerate social and economic development of Jambiani Village.
The development of the Jambiani secluded village is a sigh of relief to the government especially on its efforts on poverty alleviation programme. In addition, the development of Jambiani is a challenge to other villages on both Unguja and Pemba islands.

Make Forodhani park more beautiful

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 27.05.2006

THE Forodhani recreational park that is situated opposite the Old Fort along the Forodhani seafront in Zanzibar's historical Stone Town is one of the major attraction for both tourists and local people.

Almost all tourists visiting this Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar must spare some of their precious time to visit the Forodhani park, famously known here as the 'Forodhani Garden'' which is located about five hundred metres from the Zanzibar port.

Apart from tourists, a big per cent of locals use to draw out their respective timetables to accommodate during their leisure time a visit to the place especially at the evening hours over the weekend.

Different people of different ages and sex visit the Forodhani Garden for a number of reasons. Some people just go to the place for sea breeze or seafood. It is also a favourite meeting point.

In addition, the Forodhani Garden has become a natural choice for many people during the annual religious celebrations such as Idd el-Fitr and Idd el-Hajj or Christmas and Easter festivals. It is really a nice place to go.

Some families have now decided to use the Forodhani recreational park as a special place to mark birthdays for their children. It is in fact a peaceful place to enjoy your free time.

During the pre-revolution era, according to historians, a special brass band was performing after the working hours to entertain the rulers and their families.

After the January 12, 1964 Revolution that ended centuries of sultanate oligarchy here, the Zanzibar government decided to let the Forodhani Garden free for all. It is no longer a place for special people as it was before the revolution.

The place has now become part of the tradition. We cannot ignore the place in anyway. A number of impressive local cultural activities are also staged at the place during the annual Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF).

But my serious concern is that the relevant authorities especially the Zanzibar Municipal Council and the Zanzibar Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority (STCDA) seem to have neglected the place, much to the disappointment of many people here.

There was a time between 1990 and 2000, when the Aga Khan Cultural Services showed interest to start a special project to develop the place to make it more impressive and beautiful. For unexplained reasons, the project could not go on as it was scheduled.

It is now disgusting to see the place. No serious improvement has been done. The recreational park has been left out in the cold as if there is no rightful owner. Some people are even afraid of walking through the grounds to avoid a snake bite.

My suggestion is that if the government has no significant development plans of the place in hand; we should better, through proper and legal established channels, invite a serious investor to develop the place.

It is better late than never. We have to develop the Forodhani recreational park for our own social, cultural and economic interests. Let us wake up from the slumber.

Zanzibar’s baffling marine tragedy

2006-05-27 09:13:59
By Lawi Joel, Writing for JET
Guardian

The recently ill-fated dolphins in Zanzibar now buried in a couple of mass graves by the sea, died violently like a horde of cornered beasts fighting their way out.

The poor creatures made much noise on the dark beach as they hit the shallow water in heavy thuds, turning the night ghostly and scary for residents of Tazari village.

’We heard them in their death throes,’ says Pakacha Makame, a resident of Tazari, about 80 km from the island’s headquarters of Zanzibar.

”Fishermen in our village became too scared to go fishing at dawn the next day as they usually do. When we went to the beach in the morning we were shocked to see hundreds of them dead and more still dying,” the villager told Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) two weeks after the incident.

The mass deaths of dolphins in the Indian Ocean’s lip at Tazari turned the area into a bay of horror, a marine catastrophe, Makame and his fellow villagers say this took place at about midnight on 27 April this year.

Other Zanzibar villages that experienced a similar fate were Kiginda, Mwambale, Kendwa and Nungwi.

All the villages lie north of Tazari. However, Tazari villagers say dead dolphins found on the beaches of the other villages in the morning after the fateful night were just washed there by waves from Tazari.

After the deaths a rare toil of protecting the people from an epidemic began. Tazari villagers say removing carcasses of the dead dolphins was hard work that needed about four to six men to carry a dead dolphin from the sea to their graves dug just offshore. A report by Zanzibar Institute of Marine Science (IMS) says the dolphins were 1.77 to 3m with an average of 2.5m in length.

”Each dead dolphin was about the size of an adult man,” a villager explains.

The dolphin mass deaths in Zanzibar may have shocked residents of the five villages north of the island, but it was a bonanza despite the consequent drudgery that the villagers undertook.

By the time marine experts from IMS arrived at the scene all the carcasses had been cut open, skinned, and some viscera removed. Dr Narriman Jiddawi from the Institute explains what happened.

’They took out the liver from the carcasses to use in making an anti-fouling agent called sifa, a substance that they paint their boats with to protect the vessels against corrosion by the sea,” Dr Jiddawi explains.

Supportive, Makame adds that, although the agent stinks, it protects well a boat treated with it, making the woodwork more durable.

While Tazari villagers celebrated the massive death of the dolphins as a rare luck, the incident shocked the authorities and marine experts worldwide, leaving them scratching their heads as to what could have killed the intelligent sea animals.

Why did the dolphins that apparently looked healthy die?
Many reasons were advanced.

Maybe a seaquake was the cause. Seaquakes which occur many times below the sea, can cause mega sounds that could confuse and disorient dolphins or distort their sonar system, explains a report from IMS that JET obtained from Zanzibar’s Department of Fisheries, Marine and Costal Environmental Management Project.

Dr. Jidawi and Omar Amir, her student doing a PhD in Marine Science support the report, adding that an occurrence of a seaquake prompts dolphins to migrate long distances.

The incident will also make the animals vomit and fail to eat. Dolphins could also migrate to shallow water as a result of seaquakes.

’Worst of all, seaquakes could make them stranded and eventually die,’ explains Amir.

The marine scientist explains that the dolphins that perished in a massive death on the beaches of Zanzibar were identified as the tursiops truncatus species common as bottle nose dolphin, the kind that is not local to Zanzibar waters. The type found at Kizimkazi in Zanzibar is tursiops aduncus or Indo Pacific bottle dolphin.

Dolphins are playful animals that provide much fun to people at sea. Many people mistake dolphins for fish, but they are mammals in the group called cetaceans.

Cetaceans are warm blooded, breathe air, give birth and suckle their young,’a report by the two marine experts at the IMS explains.

About 83 species of cetacea today found in oceans of the world can be placed in three groups. There are those, which exist mostly in shallow waters, close in shore, rivers and estuaries.

Another group mostly exists in near shore waters over the continental shelf. Then there is the truly open ocean species seldom encountered close to land, the unfortunate tursiops truncates that was recently ill-fated in the north of Zanzibar.

Villagers around the death beaches believe the dolphins never belonged to the area but were travelers who had meant to pass on.

’They were strangers just passing, but lost their way,’ says Makame, supported by his fellow villagers of Tazari.
The terrain of the Tazari coast could be tricky to an alien marine species. Only local dolphins can detect an ebb tide when it begins.

Two islands between the deep water and the beach where the dolphins died make it difficult for the fish on its onshore side to learn of the ebbing away of water.

’A rocky shore with deep channel lies between the main island and the two little islands locally known as Kiwa Kikubwa and Kiwa Kidogo.

Zanzibar is understandably worried by the dolphins mass deaths. At a place called Kizimkazi it has a marine mammal project started in 1998. The place is a big tourist attraction.

Both the island’s government and the people were shocked to find that none of the dead dolphins had food in their stomachs.

’And their stomachs could not have been so empty within such a short time of their deaths,’ Jiddawi explains.

Had the dolphins thrown up? By surely their lower bowels would still be having something in them. What could have made them lack food for so long? More head scratching goes on.

However, such findings prompt marine scientists to support the villagers’ assumption that the mammals had lost their way and became stranded.

Still, Zanzibar marine experts remain baffled by marine catastrophe and are still asking themselves what could have confused the dolphins so much as to kill so many of them.

Amir says it is a question they have not been able to expound.

A research paper on mass dolphin stranding in Zanzibar by the two IMS on the clove island explains that usually dolphins find their way by a method known as echolocation.
A variety of sounds are produced under water.

The echoes from these sounds provide information about the bottom topography, shorelines, under water obstacles, water depth and the presence of large animals.

It is also a way for navigation and locating food.

’If this is confused or disoriented, dolphins may loose their way,’ Amir explains.

Since strandings have been noted and reported from historical times, suggested causes based on recent human behaviour such as naval testing, toxic effluents or noise poise pollution are unable to provide a complete explanation, the research says.

To know if something went wrong with the echolocation of the cetaceans, Zanzibar scientists have asked the local authorities to let them have the skulls of the dolphins.

After one month intact skulls will be important to assess what caused the strandings, they say.

By May 2 about 540 dead dolphins had been buried.
’But the number could reach over 600 now,’ Dr. Jiddawi told JET two weeks later.

Records on the island show that a massive marine death of a similar nature occurred in the 1940’s when about 60 pigmy whales were stranded at a place called Mtoni Beach.

The rare incident of April 27 attracted marine scientists and journalists from far and wide.

’After only a couple of days this place was flocking with curious visitors,’ says Makame.

But 100 km away at Adam’s Inn in the heart of Zanzibar town 24-year old Fahm Awadh, a worker of the hotel and resident of the town, was unaware of it all.

’Dolphins died! Where?’ he asks, apparently surprised by the information.

Canadian envoy predicts end of Isles political turmoil

2006-05-26 09:50:46
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Canadian High Commissioner to Tanzania, Andrew McAlister has expressed optimism over political development in Zanzibar.

He said his optimism derives from a statement President Jakaya Kikwete made in Dodoma last December during the inauguration of parliament and this week’s meeting of top-level government officials in Dar es Salaam.

McAlister made the remarks yesterday at the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) offices in Zanzibar when he spoke to media practitioners on media development.

The envoy, recalled President Kikwete making the observation, ’’As I take office, I’m distressed by the evident polarisation of politics, especially between Zanzibar and Pemba.

The recent election results have once again brought into sharp focus this polarisation.

We cannot run away from this historically determined polarisation. We must now confront it. Human beings do not have to be prisoners of their history.’’

Prior to holding discussion with the political parties, McAlister made a brief presentation on the Canadian model of a federal government.

He said, ’’Looking around the world, there are unitary states, republics, constitutional monarchies and federal states, each with their own unique history and responding to the particular needs of their constituents?some fundamental principles, which we regard as sacrosanct and universal such as democracy, accountability of government, the protection of human-rights and the rule of law.’’

He said the media is duty-bound to play its role in upholding the unity of Tanzanian people by helping sort out the political differences, especially, on the Isles.

However, he said that political will is necessary in solving political problems for democracy to take root.

’’If there are any conclusions that may be drawn from the Canadian experiences, political will to finding democratic solutions and spirit of compromise are necessary,’’ McAlister said.

The high commissioner said, flexibility in attitudes and institutions is vital if people are to change, a call that conforms to the president’s statement that ’’one should not forever be a prisoner of one’s history.’’

He also pledged his country’s readiness to provide support to development projects in the country, including training journalists on the Isles.

Canada is one of Tanzania’s leading development partners with investments that top one billion Canadian dollars in the past 40 years.

Canada has invested in transport, education, agriculture and health sectors, besides provision of safe water.

US donates books to Isles schools

Daily News
Story by: TUMA ABDALLAH in Washington
Date: 25.05.2006

US will provide Zanzibar schools with 3-million dollar (3bn/-) worth of textbooks in a bid to help the Isles meet its educational needs.

The support to be extended over a period of two years follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed here on Tuesday by the Isles Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Mr Haroun Suleiman, USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Lloyd Pierson and the President of South Caroline State University, Dr Andrew Hugine.

The donation is part of a giant US President George Bush's Africa Education Initiative (AEI) which seeks to enhance learning capacity in the continent.

AEI is a 600-million dollar multi-year initiative that focuses on increasing access to quality basic education in Africa through scholarships, textbooks and teachers training programmes.

The support follows a visit to Zanzibar in July last year by the US First Lady, Mrs Laura Bush, during which she donated 20 books as a prelude to 20,000 books that the US government has donated to the Isles.

Mr Pierson said the Zanzibar programme has been of greater success and that plans were under way to extend it to Tanzania Mainland. A technical team, he said, would visit Tanzania anytime next month to lay the ground for the expanded coverage.

Speaking during the function, Mr Suleiman said the assistance would help a lot government efforts to improve education in the twin Islands.

He said the Zanzibar government was determined to enhance education by ensuring all children of school going age have attended school.

"That has been achieved as primary school enrolment has reached 100 per cent," he said, adding, however, that the problem now was to accommodate those who finish primary education in secondary schools. Currently, less than half of pupils who finish primary education get places in secondary schools.

Dr Hugine said effectively next year, his university would be offering one chance a year for a student from Zanzibar to undertake graduate studies.

The minister thanked Dr Hugine for the offer which he said would be given to a qualified female student.

Arrest warrant issued against former spy chief

2006-05-25 08:15:28
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

A Zanzibar High Court has issued an arrest warrant against former Zanzibar intelligence boss, Mohammed Hija for violating its orders on house demolition.
The order, was served on him by the court’s Deputy Registrar, Essaya Kayange.

The order requires Kumekucha Co-operative Auctioneers to pull down Shakani houses that belongs to affluent people in the area.

The houses are located within West Unguja District.

The court directed Mjini Magharibi Regional Police Commander, Bakari Khatibu Shaaban to arrest the former spy chief and former Shakani CCM secretary Khatib Abdalla Makame, among others.

’The court reminds you that the order to arrest and produce you ? Mohammed Hija and Khatib Abdalla ? in court is still in force. The order ought to be implemented as it is,’ Kayange said in the warrant.

The order comes in the wake of two abortive similar directives issued earlier to people obstructing the demolition of houses built illegally on a plot owned by Abdalla Ahmed Sharif (80).

The first arrest order was issued to the same people on February 28th and later on March 30th, this year.

However, the Mjini Magharibi police have not enforced the order to date.

The order, requires the chairman of Kumekucha Co-operative Auctioneers Ally Abdallah Ahmed to team with the police to enforce the demolition orders.

CUF member's compensation case adjourned

Source:: Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter, Zanzibar
Date: 24.05.2006


A CIVIC suit in which 18 members of the opposition Civic United Front are seeking compensation of 360m/- each for alleged illegal arrest, false prosecution and detention has been adjourned to June 7, because the judge is sick.

A Zanzibar High Court Judge, Mr Suleiman Kihiyo, who is presiding over the case could not go ahead with the case as scheduled because he is down with malaria and felt necessary to adjourn it to June 7.

Mr Nassor Khamis, an advocate for the plaintiffs, said here yesterday that the case would go on for three days from June 7.

This was the second time for the case to be adjourned. Initially, it was scheduled to proceed last Monday but failed as the judge was not feeling well.

In the civil case, the 18 CUF members demand the compensation claiming that they were illegally arrested and charged with treason; that case of plotting to overthrow the Isles government and remove from the authority of its then president Dr Salmin Amour.

It has been stated that the accused by their own words and actions indicated that they plotted to commit the treason case between 1996 and 1997.

However, the Court of Appeal of Tanzania under Judges Robert Kisanga, Augustino Ramadhani and the late Judge Kahwa Lugakingira ruled that treason cannot be committed in Zanzibar because Zanzibar is not a sovereign state.

The Court of Appeal explained that Zanzibar and Tanganyika surrendered their sovereignty on April 26, 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Meanwhile, an official of the United Nations yesterday appeared before the Zanzibar High Court to to collect a copy of the petition in which the organisation's secretary-general is being sued for removing a Zanzibar seat in the list of the UN members.

Mr Juma Ali appeared before the court in response of instructions given to him by his bosses from the UN's offices in Dar es Salaam.

"I have been instructed by my boss in Dar es Salaam to collect a copy of the petition filed here against the UN secretary-general," Mr Juma Ali, a UN official from the body's sub-head office in Zanzibar, told reporters shortly after receiving the document.

The UN officials could not show up on Monday when the case came for hearing before Zanzibar High Court Judge Mr Mbarouk Salim Mbarouk. No reasons were given for non-court appearance.

The UN secretary-general is one of the respondents in the petition filed by 10 Zanzibaris who have asked the Zanzibar High Court to declare the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar illegal on grounds that there was no original document of the Articles of the Union indicating the marriage.

Other respondents in the petition are the Isles Attorney General, the Principal Secretary of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council, the Speaker of the Zanzibar House of Representatives and the Secretary-General of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

The case has been adjourned to June 28 and the respondents were asked to ensure that they filed counter affidavits by June 22.

The Union between the two partner states was signed on April 26, 1964 by the founding fathers, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who was the president of Tanganyika and the first Zanzibar President, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume.

On Monday's session, the Isles Deputy Attorney General, Mr Omar Makungu, appeared for the Zanzibar Attorney General and the Principal Secretary of the Revolutionary Council, Mr Yahya Hamad, who is a legal advisor to the House of Representatives appeared for the Speaker.

While Dr Masumbuko Lamwai is expected to appear for the CCM Secretary General.

Fuel smugglers 'roasted' at sea

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 23.05.2006

THREE people are feared to have died and three others missing in the Indian Ocean after their boat caught fire in high seas while allegedly ferrying smuggled oil to Bagamoyo over the weekend.

Sources close to the relatives of the deceased confirmed the incident saying at least three bodies were recovered but charred beyond recognition on the shores of the tiny Chumbe Island. The sources added that the deceased were buried at their respective villages here.

The Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, Mr Bakari Khatibu, would not confirm the incident saying only that he needed more time to study the matter.

The sources could not give the names of the deceased but said they were heading to Bagamoyo with unspecified number of plastic containers full of petroleum.

It has been claimed that the deceased had drained the fuel from a depot here last Friday night and decided to take it to the mainland for sale.

On their way to Bagamoyo, the sources said, one of them lighted a cigarette and sparked off a high seas inferno, in which it is believed they all perished.

Fuel smuggling is said to be well established here while the market lies on the mainland but the 'dealers' have to endure hours at sea, an odyssey that may have claimed its first victims if not many silent ones before.

Suspicion leads to the main fuel storage facility at Mtoni used for storing oil before distribution to the filling point.

Team to review Union revenue, aid sharing

Daily News
Story by: DASSU STEPHEN
Date: 23.05.2006


A TEAM of experts would be formed to recommend better ways of sharing revenue and foreign economic aid between the Union and Zanzibar governments.

The Prime Minister, Mr Edward Lowassa, and the Zanzibar Chief Minister, Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, told reporters that the team's formation is part of efforts to solve problems facing the 42-year-old Union.

The two governments have also agreed on an amendment of the law to make the Human Rights Commission operational in Zanzibar. Under the present law, the commission's jurisdiction is restricted to the Mainland.

On deep sea fishing (DSF), the two leaders said that the DSF authority would get 50 per cent of revenues while Zanzibar and the Union gvernment would receive 40 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively.

It was also agreed that the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) would have equal representation in both Union and Zanzibar governments.

Earlier the Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, expressed optimism that current problems within the Union could be solved amicably.

"I believe that many problems facing the Union could be solved. And the best way forward is to discuss them in a transparent way. We should not hesitate to discuss these problems for the sake of our people," said the vice-president in Dar es Salaam.

Opening a meeting aimed at discussing problems and hurdles facing the Union, Dr Shein said there is need to find viable solutions to the various problems facing the 42-year-old Union."

Dr Shein said concerted efforts were of paramount importance to solve pressing problems that have always hindered real progress. "We, as leaders, must show a clear sense of responsibility and commitment to our people as we are all obliged to put national interests above personal ones."

"I don't see why leaders from both sides, who belong to the same political party (CCM), should not be transparent and willing to discuss their common problems. Our people are optimistic that we have the ability to solve these problems. Therefore, we should not let them down," said Dr Shein.

President Jakaya Kikwete recently called upon major stakeholders to play a significant role to rectify problems and hurdles afflicting the Union. The president called for regular forums involving top officials from both the Mainland and Zanzibar to get pragmatic solutions to the problems facing the Union.

Telling participants that the Union was crucial for peoples' social and economic development, Dr Shein added:

"Our main challenge as leaders of this nation is to build and sustain economic development for the benefit of our people. "This could be easily achieved if the Union would remain in place".

The Minister of State in the Vice-President's Office (Union Affairs), Dr Hussein Mwinyi, told the participants that the aim of the meeting was to involve all potential stakeholders through discussions that would ultimately foster stronger relations and bring about rapid development for the people.

The meeting was attended by among others, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, cabinet members and their deputies, permanent secretaries and other high ranking government officials from both sides of the Union.

Tough water law passed

May 23, 2006

Sapa-AFP

Zanzibar: The president of Zanzibar passed a law to punish people convicted of misusing or polluting water, in an attempt to save water in the parched Tanzanian island, officials said yesterday.

The law, signed into force by President Amani Karume, also allowed the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZWA) to sell water to residents in the Indian Ocean island, government Chief Secretary Ramadhani Muomba said.

Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous island of one million people, is suffering a searing drought.

Washing near waterworks or catchment areas and polluting or building near such facilities carries a jail term of six months to a year, or a fine of $300 to $1 000 (R2 000 to R6 000), according to a copy of the law.

Last month, Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha ordered the demolition of about 300 houses built near water reservoirs and facilities such as springs, boreholes and wells.

"We are planning to demolish the houses as directed by the chief minister, but we are not rushing to implement it," Water Minister Mansour Hamid said.

The 350 000 people living in Stone Town, Zanzibar's historic, densely populated capital, require about 50 million litres of water a day. The town currently receives bout 30 million litres a day.

Isles football fans assault match commissar

Daily News
Story by: Correspondent MAKAME ISSA, Zanzibar
Date: 22.05.2006

IRATE Small Simba fans on Saturday assaulted the commissar of a match between Small Simba and Malindi, Mohammed Shaweji, when he tried to intervene in a brawl between fans and match officials.

Shaweji met his wrath when fans attacked central referee of the match Manyama Bwire after the final whistle. They had accused the official of favouring Malindi in their match, which Small Simba went 1-2 down.

Shaweji was seriously injured after an unidentified man pounded him on his hand with a big stone.

ZFA officials rushed the unconscious Shaweji to the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital where our reporter saw him yesterday with heavily bandaged hand waiting for X-ray results.

The chairman of Zanzibar Referees Association, Issa Ahmed Haji, condemned the incident and called for ZFA to take disciplinary measures against the culprit.

Most ZFA officials are in Germany with the national team, and one of the association's acting official, Khamisi Musa, said they would wait for the referee's report before considering the course of action.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar Premier League continues today with two matches, when JKU take on Kizimkazi and Urafiki face Kipanga at the Amaan and Mao Tse Dung Stadiums, respectively.

Hearing of Union case next Monday

May 20, 2006,
Guardian

The hearing of a case filed by 10 Zanzibaris, questioning the legality of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, comes up at the Zanzibar High Court next Monday.

According to the court sermons addressed to the defendants, the hearing would be presided over by Judge Mabrouk Salim.

They are; the Zanzibar Attorney General, ruling party CCM permanent secretary, UN secretary general, CCM secretary general and House Speaker.

Deputy Registrar of the High Court Essaya Kayange said parties to the case should be accompanied by their lawyers.

The ten islanders are led by Rashid Adiy, who claims that the group was blackmailed by the attorney general while seeking to be given the articles of the Union of 1964.

The petitioners accuse the UN Secretary General of acting hurriedly to deny Zanzibar the right to become a permanent member of the international body.

In their affidavit, the petitioners claim that under one party system, CCM embarrassed the people of Zanzibar for accepting affiliation to the ruling party in 1977.

They claim that during that time, no one could dare challenge or suggest how the structure of the Union should be.

They claim that the House Speaker and Attorney General did flout the law in 1984 by accepting Zanzibar as part of Union.

UN accepts summons

Daily News Saturday
Story by: Correspondent, Zanzibar
Date: 20.05.2006

THE United Nations office in Dar es Salaam has finally agreed its representative to appear before the Zanzibar High Court in connection with the Union case in which 10 Zanzibaris have requested the court to declare the Union illegal.

The Registrar of the Zanzibar High Court, Mr Yesaya Kayange, confirmed here that the UNDP officer came to Zanzibar and received summons for a UN representative to appear before the court on Monday when the hearing begins.

The UN secretary-general is one of the respondents in the case opened by 10 Zanzibaris who claim to represent all Zanzibaris in the case, because the secretary-general had accepted to remove the Isles seat from the United Nations General Assembly while in fact Zanzibar still exists.

Currently Zanzibar is represented in the international forums including in the UN meetings by Tanzania. Zanzibar and Tanganyika merged to form the United Republic of Tanzania, which takes care of the interests of both, the partner states.

Other respondents in the case are the Secretary-General of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Zanzibar Attorney General.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Dar es Salaam, which represents the UN in Tanzania, had last week refused to accept the summons.

The petitioners are led by Mr Rashid Salum Adiy and Mr Rashid Ahmed Rashid famously known here as 'Joe,'. Mr Rashid said they would be represented in court by a leading Kenyan Human Rights lawyer, Mr Pheroze Nowrojee.

They claim that the Isles Attorney General could not produce the original documents of the Articles of the Union when he was requested to do so by the group.

The Union was formed on April 26, 1964, just three months after the revolution in Zanzibar that ended centuries of minority Arab rule.

Commission not barred

Daily News Saturday
Story by: Correspondent
Date: 20.05.2006

THE Tanzania Human Rights and Good Governance Commission is free to work in the Isles on Union matters only.

The Zanzibar Attorney General, Mr Iddi Pandu Hassan, has said claims that the Isles government was barring the commission to operate here were legally baseless and full of emotions.

"The commission is allowed to operate on issues that fall under the Union," he said, insisting that the commission had no right to entertain non-Union matters.

However, he said he had advised the Union government to amend the law that established the commission in order to enable it to operate in Zanzibar on Union and non-Union matters.

He said currently the commission lacked legal authority to hear non-Union matters because the bill passed by the National Assembly for the establishment of the commission did not get the blessings of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Under the constitution, a law that is passed in the National Assembly regarding Union matters must, in the first place, get the blessings of the Isles legislature before it starts operating in Zanzibar as part of the United Republic of Tanzania.

He said Zanzibar had no problem with the operation of the commission but the law must be observed to avoid legal contradictions in future.

It is understood that Zanzibar also had proposed inclusion of some clauses in the bill that established the commission. The proposals included allowing the Isles Minister responsible for Constitutional Affairs and Good Governance to have consultation with his mainland counterparts before making any regulations in respect of the commission.

In addition, Zanzibar wants the annual reports of the commission to be presented in the Isles House of Representatives for deliberation as it is done in the National Assembly.

The Isles AG explained that currently the commission cannot handle cases involving the Zanzibar security forces because they are not the Union matters.

But the commission is allowed to deal with cases regarding the Union institutions such as the Tanzania People's Defence Forces because they fall under the Union matters.

He said as far as he understood the Union and Isles government officials would soon meet to discuss about the operation of the commission.

A plea to stop flying toilets

05/19/2006
San Antonio Express-News

Residents of the developed world consider plumbing and toilets as givens. Things might look and function a little differently. But travel from Argentina to Croatia, from Spain to China, and you expect to find the basics of sanitation.

In many parts of the developing world, that's simply not the case. In the absence of sewage systems, countries are still plagued by diseases that might otherwise seem relegated to the history books.

Such is the case in Zanzibar, the island dominion of Tanzania. A recent cholera outbreak has killed 20 people and afflicted 350 more. Public health officials are pointing to poor sanitation as the problem.

Agence France Press reports that in poor villages, residents are often forced to relieve themselves in plastic bags. They then throw them out in the open or into waterways, a practice that helps spread diseases such as cholera.

Zanzibar health authorities have ordered the prosecution of homeowners whose properties lack toilets. And the news agency quotes a district commissioner calling on people to "keep the environment clean and use toilets and not flying toilets."

Zanzibar normally evokes thoughts of exotic spices and a secluded paradise. It is also, unfortunately, a reminder of the great disparities that exist in the world.

Pre-paid electricity money lands man in trouble

Daily News
Story by: Daily News Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 19.05.2006

A CASHIER with the Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation (SFPC), Mbwana Zubeir Hamad, appeared before Vuga Regional Magistrate’s Court here yesterday charged with stealing 28.6m/- from his employer.
A state attorney with the office of the Zanzibar Public Prosecutions, Mr Suleiman Masoud Makame, alleged in court that Hamad (32) had stolen the money between December last year and March this year.
He alleged that the accused stole the money from different electricity selling points in Unguja Urban District.
The state attorney claimed that accused had caused the colossal loss of the fund through fraudulent means by tampering with the computer system that controls the sale of the pre-paid electricity units famously known here as ‘Tumia Umeme Kwa Uangalifu Zaidi Zanzibar.’
However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge read before Magistrate Rabia Hassa Mohammed.
The state attorney requested for more time to conduct investigation and collect enough evidence of the case.
The case comes up for another mention on May 30 before the same magistrate.
The accused is out of bail after meeting the bail conditions including surrendering a title deed of immovable asset, 500,000/- plus two sureties of the same amount.

Zanzibar mandates toilets in anti-cholera campaign

16-May-2006
TODAY online
Singapore

Health authorities in Zanzibar ordered the prosecution of outdoor defecators and homeowners whose properties are without toilets in a bid to halt a deadly cholera outbreak.

Officials said the measures were taken as the death toll from the outbreak that began in March climbed to at least 20 on Friday with more than 350 people taken ill on the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.

"The situation is not good," Public Health Commissioner Juma Rajab said. "We must join hands to make sure people observe health regulations, mainly keeping the environment clean and each house must have a toilet.

"You must make sure people obey (laws) or take them to court if a home is without a toilet or keeps a cholera patient at home instead of rushing to hospital," he told a meeting of civic leaders. "Such messes are a crime."

In addition, Rajab called on Islamic clerics to deploy the Koran to spread public awareness on sanitation matters on the overwhelmingly Muslim islands of Zanzibar with about a million people.

"The teachings of Islam emphasize cleanliness," he said.

At the meeting, local leaders revealed that some homes on Zanzibar had no toilets and that in one village alone at least 90 households were without latrine facilities.

They said many impoverished villagers on the island usually relieve themselves in plastic bags and hurl them in the open or into waterways, thereby increasing the chances for the spread of diseases like cholera.

"I appeal to you to be firm and make sure all people in your respective areas keep the environment clean and use toilets and not flying toilets," Zanzibar district commissioner Abdi Mahmoud told the leaders.

Cholera is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that thrives in conditions of poor hygiene and inadequate water supplies. It is generally caused by using contaminated water for drinking and cooking.

It leads to severe diarrhoea, dehydration and sometimes death.

Cholera has repeatedly hit Zanzibar in recent years, with the last severe outbreak recorded in 1997 when 124 people died and more than 1,100 people were taken ill. — AFP
Health authorities in Zanzibar ordered the prosecution of outdoor defecators and homeowners whose properties are without toilets in a bid to halt a deadly cholera outbreak.

Officials said the measures were taken as the death toll from the outbreak that began in March climbed to at least 20 on Friday with more than 350 people taken ill on the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.
.
"The situation is not good," Public Health Commissioner Juma Rajab said. "We must join hands to make sure people observe health regulations, mainly keeping the environment clean and each house must have a toilet.

"You must make sure people obey (laws) or take them to court if a home is without a toilet or keeps a cholera patient at home instead of rushing to hospital," he told a meeting of civic leaders. "Such messes are a crime."

In addition, Rajab called on Islamic clerics to deploy the Koran to spread public awareness on sanitation matters on the overwhelmingly Muslim islands of Zanzibar with about a million people.

"The teachings of Islam emphasize cleanliness," he said.

At the meeting, local leaders revealed that some homes on Zanzibar had no toilets and that in one village alone at least 90 households were without latrine facilities.

They said many impoverished villagers on the island usually relieve themselves in plastic bags and hurl them in the open or into waterways, thereby increasing the chances for the spread of diseases like cholera.

"I appeal to you to be firm and make sure all people in your respective areas keep the environment clean and use toilets and not flying toilets," Zanzibar district commissioner Abdi Mahmoud told the leaders.

Cholera is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that thrives in conditions of poor hygiene and inadequate water supplies. It is generally caused by using contaminated water for drinking and cooking.

It leads to severe diarrhoea, dehydration and sometimes death.

Cholera has repeatedly hit Zanzibar in recent years, with the last severe outbreak recorded in 1997 when 124 people died and more than 1,100 people were taken ill. — AFP Health authorities in Zanzibar ordered the prosecution of outdoor defecators and homeowners whose properties are without toilets in a bid to halt a deadly cholera outbreak.

Officials said the measures were taken as the death toll from the outbreak that began in March climbed to at least 20 on Friday with more than 350 people taken ill on the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.

"The situation is not good," Public Health Commissioner Juma Rajab said. "We must join hands to make sure people observe health regulations, mainly keeping the environment clean and each house must have a toilet.

"You must make sure people obey (laws) or take them to court if a home is without a toilet or keeps a cholera patient at home instead of rushing to hospital," he told a meeting of civic leaders. "Such messes are a crime."

In addition, Rajab called on Islamic clerics to deploy the Koran to spread public awareness on sanitation matters on the overwhelmingly Muslim islands of Zanzibar with about a million people.

Heavy rains render 150 homeless

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 18.05.2006

ABOUT 150 people have been rendered homeless after their houses built at valleys and unsurveyed areas submerged in water following three day heavy downpour.

A Daily News survey in various parts of the Zanzibar Municipality yesterday showed that the affected, including children, were sheltered by their neighbours and relatives.

The most affected areas included Mwembemakumbi, Nyerere, Kwahani, Meya and Magomeni, in the Zanzibar Urban West region.

Zanzibar, according to meteorologists, was one of the areas in Tanzania that recorded highest rainfalls in last five days.

Most of the affected people told the Daily News that they were forced to build houses in valleys and unsurveyed areas because they were not allocated plots in the surveyed areas by the local authorities.

They claimed that they had applied for building plots for more than 10 years but they were yet to be considered. “Personally, I have been forced to build a house in a
valley because the government has not allocated me with a building plot despite the fact that I had sent my application a decade ago,” said Ms Mwanajuma Salim, one of the affected persons.

Meya Ward leader, famously known here as Sheha, said he had reported on the number of affected persons to the Unguja Urban District authorities for them to finds ways of improving the drainage system in the area.

The heavy rains came at a time when Zanzibar is experiencing an
outbreak of cholera that killed 17 people and more than 100 others are admitted at four cholera camps established in Unguja and Pemba.

Zanzibar parties say no to ’mitumba’ politicians

2006-05-18
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar Attorney General Iddi Pandu Hassan has confirmed that he had received an application by a coalition of political parties seeking to bar retired leaders from running for elective offices.

Pandu said the application demands that aged politicians should not dabble in politics as they are pensioners enjoying the benefits of retirement.

’’They want retired and elderly leaders not to get involved in politics at all after retiring,’’ the AG said.

Pandu said the application was forwarded to his office late last year, but was left pending as it was not easy to deal with it because it required thorough deliberations before presenting it to the government.

’’In my opinion, this is not an issue that calls for a ban, but one that needs thorough deliberations. It is not a party issue; it is a national issue,’’ Pandu said.

He said that in some developed countries, similar restrictions are imposed on retired leaders. This is meant to dispense with conflict of interests, he added.

In other countries he said, retired politicians can still get involved.

He cited Britain, where leaders continue with politics long after retirement.

If the application is endorsed, it will affect retired presidents, ministers and other leaders on the Islands.

Zanzibar’s retired presidents have in the past two elections been instrumental in steering CCM to victory.

These are Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Dr Salmin Amour.
The two, are also members of the National Executive Council (NEC) and the Central Committee of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, CCM.

Seif Shariff Hamad who has twice run for presidency and lost and Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal who also vied for the Isles top perch would also be affected.

Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad alleged recently that there was a plot to bar him from running for the presidency on the Isles.

In touch with real Zanzibar

2006-05-18
By Simbiso Machine recently in Zanzibar
Guardian

The thing to remember about Zanzibar is that it is not very big. You could race round the whole of Unguja (Zanzibar Island) in a day, so short are the distances.

On the other hand, there is so much atmosphere and culture to absorb, that you could take months.

Similarly scaled down are many of the places of interest. When we talk of a zoo in Zanzibar, it only has a few animals, there is no entry turnstile and the guide is also the owner, vet, barman and ticket collector.

When we visit a ruin, there are not acres of spectacularly towering remains, a cafeteria and museum.

More likely there are just a few crumbling walls, set up on a beautiful promontory, around which you can stroll alone or accompanied by local children.

Even the East Coast beaches, which run for mile upon mile, are not on the whole lined with hotels, bars and restaurants - just simple, family run guesthouses and coconut villages where seaweed lies drying by the roadside and local people pull water from wells by hand.

While in Zanzibar you soon learn to appreciate the detail. You can travel half way across the island to visit a village, to find on arrival that the only life there is the goats and ducks by the roadside.

Only once you have strolled around the little bay, found the shade, filled with the local fishermen and watched the boats bob up and down on the lagoon do you start to think it may not have been a wasted journey.

Later, after having a drink at the local shop, watching a boat unload its exotic catch of shark and octopus and marvelled at some enormous baobab trees, you finally depart to arrive back at base having had an excellent day out.

Similarly, as evening draws on at the guesthouse or lodge, the locals produce their bao and draughts boards and the night passes gently with a drink and a laugh. There seems no need for any greater entertainment.

There are those who do not see this Zanzibar. Those who fly in from distant countries and are whisked away to resort hotels.

For these people, Zanzibar is a picturesque back-drop for their holiday, but its sights are unspectacular, its infrastructure poor and its people are nameless faces.

These unfortunate visitors never gain the benefit of slowing to Zanzibari life and absorbing the Zanzibari style.

That is why I did not like anyone familiar with Zanzibar to show me around. I preferred to find my way around, asking people and getting to know them better.

Taking someone who knows the place would have put me at a disadvantage because they would take you to those places that they think you should see and leave the ones they think you shouldn’t. And how would they know what I want and what I don’t want? Funny isn’t it?

It is out around the island of Unguja that you will meet the real Zanzibar. The country people, as is commonly the case, are genuine, modest and reserved towards strangers.

But for those visitors who make the effort to break the ice, they will be met with an incomparable hospitality and a wonderful sense of humour.

For this reason it is invaluable to travel with a Swahili speaker, for although the barriers of language can be partially overcome, a deeper appreciation can only be obtained through idle conversation.

Unguja is easy to get around, whether on a public bus, by bicycle, hired car or minibus.

All journeys are easily navigated and negotiated with the assistance of a good map.

There is some excellent accommodation in a few small pockets on Zanzibar, but it can take some time finding one amongst a fair amount of mediocrity and booking in advance is essential for the best places, which are usually full all year round.

Whether looking for a few days on the beach or an intense traveller’s itinerary, it would be very difficult not to have a good time on Unguja.

I never made any special booking in advance because I wasn’t looking for a special place.

I wanted a place where I could meet and mix with people. Sometimes I went camping, sleeping in the tent.

Life can be exciting if you just let go and stop worrying about minute things and paying attention to every little thing.

How could I say I have been to Zanzibar without mixing with the real Zanzibaris and catching up with the pace of life in Zanzibar.

Yes they are reserved, but with effort you can make them open up and I did that and learnt a lot about their culture. Life is what you make it. Your approach determines how people respond to you.

The challenges of modernity to Islamic divorce law

Kenya Times
15May 14, 2006

By FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ

Recent media reports that divorce in Zanzibar is on the rise according to the island’s Ministry of Youth, is one of the few cases of the rising rate of divorce in Islamic states.

Because divorce is permitted in Islam as a last resort when all other avenues of dispute resolution have been exhausted makes it very difficult for the ministry to intervene.

Although under Sharia law, either partner has the right to seek divorce, it is the man who concludes divorce or who issues the divorce certificate to the woman. This law makes it very difficult for Muslim women to file cases in civil court even though they would have wished to.

In Zanzibar, like many other Islamic societies, only Shariah law is applicable in matters of divorce.

Although criminal and civil cases are heard in the country’s regular courts, such courts can be involved in divorce cases only when the Kadhi courts have failed, which in most cases they do not. Apart from regular courts there are 10 Kadhi’s courts in Zanzibar.

In Zanzibar the Kadhi courts adjudicate civil cases that involve Muslims ranging from family disputes, divorce, or inheritance; and arise from Islamic law and custom. Kadhi courts also may adjudicate cases involving non-Muslims on matters of marriage if the union was conducted upon Islamic tenets.

Unlike all other cases, in the Kadhi system and cases examining the constitutionality of Zanzibar laws cannot be appealed to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania. Instead, those two types of cases can only be appealed to a special Kadhi appellate court made up of appellate court Chief Justices, Judges, and Kadhis.

According to the report, in a bid to curb the rising divorce rate in Zanzibar, therefore, the Kadhi’s court is now seeking the enactment of a divorce legislation to be applied concurrently with Islamic regulations governing divorce.

The report indicates further that according to Kadhi Sheikh Omar Said, more than 95 percent of the 1,753 marriage disputes brought before the court in the last two years culminated in divorce, with most of the couples involved ranging from the age of 20 and above.

If what Zanzibar’s director of public prosecution, Othman Masoud says that the rise in divorce cases in Zanzibar to increasing awareness of individual rights, especially women’s rights is true, then it means that even Muslim women have come to admit that Sharia law in divorce is oppressive to them.

Just like in the past, there were few divorces in many societies because women had not known their rights and instead were made to believe that men had unfettered dominion over family issue and women had no say.......[edited for size]

Police probe loss of money at SFPC

Story by: SUNDAY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 14.05.2006

POLICE here are investigating suspected colossal losses of money at the Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation (SFPC).
The Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, Mr Bakari Khatibu, confirmed in a telephone interview here yesterday that a several staff would be questioned.
No figures were released but it is feared alleged fraudulent collusion among members of staff had led to substantial losses.
“We have started the investigation and we will summon a number of workers for interrogation,” said the regional police commander.
According to the RPC, it was stated that some dishonest staff had tampered with the computer system and started selling electric units to clients illegally, causing a loss of millions of shillings.
Earlier, the corporation’s General Manager, Mr Suleiman Juma, wanted all clients who colluded with the staff members in stealing electricity to report to his office or risk legal action if caught in the course of police investigations.
Mr Juma said the decline of monthly collections from the sale of electricity to customers, particularly through the prepaid electric meters, TUKUZA, (Tumia Umeme Kwa Uangalifu Zanzibar) had forced the management to investigate.
He did not give actual collection of revenue realised from the sale of electricity but said it was too low compared to the units sold in a month.
It is understood that about 17,000 prepaid electric meters have been installed in Zanzibar as a way of increasing revenue collection.

Move good, but...

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 13.05.2006

LAST week, it was reported by the local press here that the police force in Zanzibar gave orders to each traffic officer from now on to present not less than 40 cases every month for prosecution.

As if that was not enough, detectives were also told to report to their respective offices not less than 20 cases every month.

The orders are said to be part of the special operation by the police force to bring down increased traffic offences, as well as check rising crime on both Unguja and Pemba islands.

As a reasonable person and a law-abiding citizen, I must, in the first place, welcome the plausible move and is a sigh of relief to many of us. It would make the policemen and women to be more accountable and responsible in the execution of their daily obligations. The move also sounds as a kind of performance contract.

Prior to the new orders, with due respect, the behaviour of the law enforcers in Zanzibar was questionable. It had reached a stage where the public seemed to have lost confidence in the police.

It does not make sense to see a police detective living outside the police barracks but fails to report a single case to his or her office almost the whole month while criminal activities of different kinds are increasing at an alarming rate in society.

It is more disgusting to note that the same officers, who fail to perform their duties, becomes the first persons to draw salaries and later demand more incentives from the government.

Of course, by nature, the orders have got their own strengths and weaknesses. Some of the weaknesses include fabrication of cases to reach the target set in order to justify the performance.

But it is a step in the right direction and can do a lot to check claims of alleged corruption levelled against the police especially the traffic division.

However, that should not be the end of the story. The police bosses should do more and continue keeping their houses clean on the Isles where there are a number of sad stories happening at police stations and posts.

There are claims of deliberate destruction of evidence particularly on rape cases, thefts, abduction and traffic offences.

I would therefore request the police authorities to introduce a suggestion box in each police station and post allowing the people to comment on the behaviour of the law enforcers at that particular area. This can help increase efficiency and seriousness.

In addition, in order to increase efficiency and improve crime detection techniques, we must also be serious on selection of police recruits. The recruitment exercise should be done on merit and not otherwise.

It appears that most of the law enforcers in the Isles have no sound academic qualifications. It is claimed that some law enforcers used fake certificates to get employment. Frankly speaking, the police force is used as a last resort for those who could not secure employment in other fields of their interests.

I, therefore, request that recruitment criteria into the police force should be revisited in a bid to get competent persons who are trainable and ready to serve the public and meet the people's expectations. The police must conform to times and changes taking place in the nation and the world at large.

China pledges to improve health services

Daily News Saturday
Story by: Correspondent
Date: 06.05.2006

CHINA has promised to support Zanzibar in health capacity building and expertise to improve medical services here.
The Isles Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Mr Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry, revealed this when briefing reporters on his one-week official visit to China.
He said his four-member delegation learnt a lot from China’s health system.
“We were taken around in Jiangsu Province and briefed about their progress in so many sectors including health,” he said.
He said Zanzibar’s request for specialists and training programmes was also accepted by the Chinese officials.
“This has been a useful trip, which will boost the Isles health sector,” he said
He said that Jiangsu Province, with a population of 74 million, would soon send to Zanzibar a qualified pharmacist to work at the state-owned Abdallah Mzee Hospital in Mkoani District in Pemba
The minister also said the Jiangsu Province would send here a team of businessmen to see a possibility of investing in a pharmaceutical plant.
China’s Jiangsu Province sent a total of 674 health specialists to work here since the 1964 Isles Revolution.
China is one of the development partners for Zanzibar with a good record of supporting various development sectors including sports and the social services.
China financed the construction of the Zanzibar State Radio (STZ), health, transport, capacity building, education, and poverty reduction programmes.
Meanwhile, Mr Mugheiry received a consignment of medicine donated by the Saudi Arabia based Al- Youseif Charitable society.
The drugs valued at 12,000 US dollars (about 12m/-) were handed over to the minister by the Charitable Society Secretary Mr Majid Al-Sheikh at the ministry’s office.
The Charitable Society has been supporting Zanzibar in various development programmes.

Cholera kills 17 in Zanzibar

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 05.05.2006

CHOLERA outbreak in Zanzibar has claimed 17 lives and more than 50 are hospitalised since the pandemic resurfaced in the Isles early last month, it has been learnt.

The doctor in charge of cholera camps in the Isles, Omar Mohammed, said yesterday that four of the people died between Monday and yesterday.

Out of the figure, he said, nine patients, who lost their lives, were from Unguja and the rest from Pemba.

He mentioned the Zanzibar Urban West Region as the most affected area.

Dr Mohammed blamed the increased cases of cholera to failure by the people to strictly adhere to the basic hygienic regulations including washing their hands before and after eating anything and boiling water before they drink.

However, he assured the people that there was a good stock of anti-cholera drugs, stressing the people to report to hospital as soon as possible when they notice symptoms of the contagious disease.

Zanzibar has been often experiencing the epidemic of the water-borne disease apparently due to filthy surroundings and non-adherence to the basic hygienic regulations.

Records show that Zanzibar experienced a serious cholera outbreak in 1997, which claimed lives of more than 150 people.

Isles canvasses for preferential treatment

Daily News
Story by: SHERMARX NGAHEMERA
Date: 05.05.2006

ZANZIBAR has requested the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)to take into account its unique island economy with limited resources when making trade laws.
The Chief Executive Officer of Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), Mr Rashid Salim, said in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday at the public hearing on the East African Common Market legislation that comparative advantage was realisable only when the market was operated at the same levels.
He said having things like a free port or special economic zone were critical matters to Zanzibar’s economy and requested the members to take note of the fragile nature of the Isle’s economy and offer it special treatment and defence.
Mr Salim said that Tanzania had a segmented market with a clear position of Zanzibar and called for harmonisation of the internal market before embarking on the EAC regional market.
“Investors complain of bureaucracy for transit cargo (in respect) to the Zanzibar port and the dual taxation has undermined the realisation of the full potential of the port, said Salim.
The ZIPA CEO criticised the rush to the Common Market before full realisation of the Customs Union (CU) and argued that before having a functioning customs union, the common market “will remain a distant dream”.
In response, the Kenyan EALA legislator, Rose Waruhui, called for deployment of the concurrent approach instead of step by step approach in integration process.
“(It is better ) to deploy the concurrent approach to the EAC agenda so that the public feels the presence of the organisation on the ground.”
However, Mr Salim could not tell the EALA legislators whether or not Zanzibar was planning or requested to be a free port on Singapore or Hong Kong model.

Join our efforts, Karume tells religious leaders

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 04.05.2006

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume has called on religious leaders to participate actively in peace building programmes as a way to maintain the country’s national unity and stability.

Opening a one-day religious leaders' meeting at the Bwawani hotel here yesterday, the president said the such leaders were in a better position to use their influence to lead, build and shape up the society in a responsibly manner.

''We depend on you to support our plans for peace building in the country,'' Mr Karume told various religious leaders from different parts of the country.

He cautioned that religion was a sensitive and delicate thing, saying a small conflict could cause serious troubles and confrontations.

The isles leader stressed that religious leaders were obliged to advise their followers and the public in general to observe a high degree of tolerance to avoid plunging the nation into chaos.

Mr Karume said lack of religion tolerance had driven many nations into confrontations that claimed lives of innocent people.

He further insisted the need of religious leaders to be in the forefront to teach the youths on importance of adhering to their respective religion teachings to avoid indulging themselves in bhang smoking and drug abuse.

He observed that many youths were now active players in drugs abuses, saying this trend could be reversed if religious leaders use their influence to guide them in a proper way.

Moving a vote of thanks to the president, the Roman Catholic Bishop Augustino Shayo, requested the government to step up efforts in poverty alleviation, saying it appears that many youths engaged themselves in social vices because of unemployment problems.

Zanzibar: Cholera Deaths Up

04-05-2006
All Africa.Com

Deaths from cholera in Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar have reached 15, up from eight recorded two weeks ago, health officials said.

The director of information policies in the Ministry of Health and Social welfare, Dr Omar Suleiman, said on Tuesday in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, that cholera continued to be a threat, especially in rural areas.

"We have already lost 15 people, and more than 300 have suffered from severe diarrhoea and vomiting," he said. "These records are just from our health centres, but they may be more people who have suffered without going to the hospital."

He added: "We still have new cholera cases in Unguja and Pemba islands, therefore, people must be serious in observing hygiene including using boiled water for drinking."

The islands of Pemba and Unguja make up Zanzibar, with a population of 981,754, according to a 2002 census.
The Zanzibari government launched a taskforce in March to help set strategies to control cholera, which has killed at least 100 people in the past eight years.

The main objective of taskforce, whose members comprise health specialists, regional administrators and civic leaders, is to use the available facilities to control cholera. These include sensitization and advocacy through the media; and to alert the government and advice on how to deal with any outbreak.

Cholera outbreaks in Zanzibar often occur during the rainy season. Use of contaminated water and lack of toilets - resulting in people relieving themselves in the bush - are some of the factors contributing to the spread of the disease.

Suleiman said the ministry had set up special health camps in Unguja and Pemba to carter for the cholera victims, asked the media to inform the public on the need to keep their environment clean and to drink clean water.

In March, Health and Social Welfare Minister Sultani Mugheiry banned sale of fresh juice on the streets as a measure to control cholera.

Announcing the ban, Mugheiry had said: "Unfortunately, most people have been using unsafe water, drinking or eating in filthy places, despite repeated calls to observe health precautions such as boiling water."

New book on Union launched

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 29.04.2006


THE launch of the new book titled 'The Zanzibar and Union Question' on April 22 was part of national celebrations to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

The unique Union was formed on April 26, 1964 under Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and the first Zanzibar President, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume. Unfortunately, both founding fathers are no longer with us now.

Sheikh Karume was assassinated on April 7, 1972 by counter revolutionaries while Mwalimu Nyerere passed away on October 14, 1999.

The 241-page book has a collection of a number of papers presented at various seminars both in Tanzania and abroad.

A senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Haroub Othman, said during the launch of the book at a colourful ceremony held at the Bwawani Hotel here that, the main purpose of putting the papers together is to promoter the debate on the future of the Union.

"I hope the debate on the Union would move us forward towards a lasting solution to many of the constitutional and administrative problems facing our unique union," said Professor Othman who is also a chairman of the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre.

The book has been edited by Professor Chris Maina Peter and Professor Othman, all from the University of Dar es Salaam.

It has, however, been learnt that the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC) covered printing costs. ZLSC is a non-governmental organisation that was established in 1992 with the major aim to provide legal services to the disadvantaged sections of society.

According to Professor Othman, the fact that articles of the Union were signed a few months after the Zanzibar Revolution of January 12, 1964 is both controversial and sensitive.

The book centres mainly on papers presented at various debates on the Union.

The paper presenters ask a number of questions. They include the idea of having a federation of three governments or actually a union of two governments as is the case today, what is actually desirable and what the people actually want.

It is expected that the collection of papers in the new book will contribute to the ongoing unofficial debate on the need for a new Union constitution.

The new book is divided into five chapters with each chapter discussing about the Union in different ways and suggests how the Union snags could be brought to an end.

The first chapter has a paper about the 'Union and the Zanzibar Constitutions' written by Mr Abubakar Khamis Bakari, Zanzibar Attorney General and former chairman of the Zanzibar Law Review Commission. Currently, he is the leader of opposition in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

The second chapter has a paper about 'The withering away of the Union'. It was written by Professor Othman.

The third chapter has a paper on 'The Consolidation of the Union--A Basic Re-Appraisal. This paper was written by Wolfango Dourado, also former Zanzibar attorney general and a judge of the Isles High Court.

The fourth chapter contained a paper on the 'Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar and the Right of Secession under International Law', which was written by Mr Mahadhi Juma Maalim.

Mr Mahadhi is now the Principal Secretary in the Office of the Minister of State, Zanzibar President's Office, responsible for Constitutional Affairs and Good Governance. Formerly, he was a Programme Analyst with the United Nations Development Programme-Zanzibar sub-office.

The last chapter contains a paper on 'Sovereignty and Statehood in Zanzibar in the Union.' An outstanding scholar, Professor Issa Shivji of the University of Dar es Salaam, wrote it.

Professor Shivji is also the President of Media Council of Tanzania and advocate of the High Court of Tanzania.

Generally, the book is a useful document to read about by all the people. It offers challenges and criticisms, which are subject to discussions.

One can agree or disagree on whatever issue raised in the book. But what is needed is constructive debate to show the way forward on the unique Union.

Lift this ban, please

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 29.04.2006

AN indefinite ban on sand excavation and other activities on stone quarry announced two weeks ago by the Zanzibar Department of Environment came as a surprise to many of us and created unnecessary complaints against the government.

All of us, in the first place, understand the importance of the environment and the need for its protection for the benefit of the present and future generations not only in Zanzibar or in Tanzania, but in the entire world.

But what disturbs us is over the manner the concerned authorities had reached a conclusion to slap the ban on sand excavation and other activities on stone quarrying. Frankly speaking, the ban leaves many questions unanswered.

Does it mean the ban stands out as a permanent or temporary measure to check environmental degradation in Zanzibar? Is sand excavation the only environmental serious problem? Is the ban the correct step to the problem? What kind of proper measures would be put in place after the ban is lifted?

A number of outstanding local environmentalists I happened to talk to about the ban have voiced opposition to it saying the Department of Environment had not acted fairly and did not even take into consideration the side effects of it.

Although I admit in one way or another that the ban is part of the environmental protection measures that are required to be taken by the government, I still think that more research should have been done before effecting it.

But on the other hand, the Department of the Environment seems to have overreacted in effecting the ban and failed to take into accounts a number of social and economic issues.

It is believed that there are a number of alternatives that could have been taken to check the environmental degradation trend, especially by sand excavators. The ban could be the last resort

In addition, other sand or stone quarries could have been opened up as replacement for the closed ones, which have been seriously environmentally damaged.

The ban appears to have affected the development of construction sector seriously and left many people employed directly or indirectly in that sector jobless and subject their respective families to living hardships.

For example, truck drivers, sand excavators, labourers at brick-making factories and masons have been rendered jobless and are left in streets either engaging themselves in idle talks or roaming in search of jobs to get money to feed their families.

Technically, the increasing number of unemployment force negates the concept of National Poverty Reduction Plan launched some four years back.

A part from that, the construction sector contributes largely to the island's gross domestic product (GDP).

I suggest that the ban imposed on sand excavation and other activities on stone quarry should be lifted immediately and more strategies to check the environmental degradation should instead be put in place.

Isles Eye Department gets boost

Daily News Saturday
Story by: Correspondent YUSSUF YUSSUF
Date: 29.04.2006

THE Eye Department in Zanzibar Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has recently received big boost from Sight Savers International (SSI).

In their recent meeting here, officials from both parties said the agreement includes major rehabilitation of the department's building at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, training programmes and provision of medicines for the coming three years.

SSI representative in Tanzania Mr Pius Mabuba and the Zanzibar Eye Department co-ordinator, Ms Fatma Juma, said the rehabilitation project would cost 42m/-.

Out of the total, the Zanzibar government would contribute 7m/-. The SSI Director of Overseas Programmes, Mr Peter Ackland, launched the rehabilitation work last Thursday.

"SSI is a non-governmental organisation based in the United Kingdom (UK), operating in 33 countries. In recent years, we prioritised Tanzania, and this project (Zanzibar) will also help people with blindness," Mr Ackland said in his brief speech at the launch of the event at the hospital here.

The Mnazi Mmoja Hospital Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jamala Adam Taibu, said the Eye Department, which became fully-fledged in the 1980s, had so far received a total of 18, 205 patients by last year.

He said the common eye diseases in the Isles include refractive error, conjunctivitis and fundal disorder

"Some of the causes can easily be prevented and treated if detected early," he said.

An estimated 10,000 people, which is about one per cent of the Isles one million population are severely visually impaired," Dr Adam said.

The major challenges facing the Eye Department here include shortage of staff, inadequate training opportunities both short and long term, inadequate supplies of drugs and equipment and lack of reliable transport for outreach services."

Divorce rate rises in Zanzibar

April 27, 2006,
IRIN
By Andnetwork .com

Bahati Kassim wakes up at dawn each day to prepare mandazi, or doughnuts, which she sells along the narrow, meandering streets of historical Stone Town, the main town in the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar.

The early Arab traders who settled at the coast built Stone Town over 100 years ago. It is a cosmopolitan spice island with a predominantly Islamic culture.

"I have to bake the mandazi for sale every day to support myself and my children after my husband divorced me three years ago," said the 35-year-old mother of four, "I have no hope uniting with him again!"

Kassim earns at least 2,000 Tanzanian shillings (US $2) a day, which she uses to buy food and school supplies for her children. She rarely sees her former husband.

"After divorcing me, my ex-husband, who has another wife, stopped supporting our children," she said. "I have reported him, without much success, to the ministry concerned with gender, just to press him to provide food and clothing for the children because I cannot manage this burden alone."

Kassim is one of the many divorced women in Zanzibar, which is home to about one million inhabitants. According to the island's Ministry of Youth, Women and Children's Development divorce rates in Zanzibar are rising.

The ministry's spokeswoman, Sharifa Maulid, said the ministry had received complaints regarding lack of child support following divorce. "Once the parents separate, it is the children who suffer," she said.

"Between January and March, we recorded 33 divorce cases," Maulid said. "We normally summon male parents to try to resolve the conflicts. If we fail in reuniting the couple, we then at least press the father to care for the children. We sometimes succeed, and at times we fail."

Maulid said her ministry had not yet tabled a law to deal with child support issues because there were adequate Islamic regulations to guide the resolution of family disputes in the island where 96 percent of its inhabitants are Muslim.

Matters concerning marital disputes and childcare are dealt with under the Kadhi - Islamic Shariah (law) - courts. These courts, which were established in the 1830s, are presided over by the Kadhis (magistrates) under Shariah.

It is under Shariah law that most couples enter into marriage. The numbers of civil marriages are negligible in Zanzibar, and are done in the regular courts or regional administrative offices.

Currently, only Islamic Shariah is used in divorce matters in Zanzibar, while criminal and civil cases are heard in the country's regular courts. However, regular courts can be involved in divorce cases when the Kadhi courts have failed. There are 10 Kadhi's courts in Zanzibar.

Divorce is permitted in Islam as a last resort when all other avenues of dispute resolution have been exhausted. Normally, either partner has the right to seek divorce, although under Shariah, it is the man who concludes divorce or who issues the divorce certificate to the woman.

In a bid to curb the rising divorce rate in Zanzibar, the Kadhi's court is now seeking the enactment of a divorce legislation to be applied concurrently with Islamic regulations governing divorce.

According to Kadhi Sheikh Omar Said, more than 95 percent of the 1,753 marriage disputes brought before the court in the last two years had culminated in divorce, with most of the couples involved ranging from the age of 20.

Zanzibar's director of public prosecution, Othman Masoud, linked the rise in divorce cases in Zanzibar to increasing awareness of individual rights, especially women's rights.

"In the past, there were few divorces in the society, as many women did not know their rights - they were suppressed," Masoud said. "But now, the number of women who know their rights has gone up."

One unfortunate result of this, he added, was that the number of divorce cases had also increased.

"Everybody in the society must take the responsibility of making sure divorce cases are reduced, mainly by advocating for the religious teachings in marriage," Masoud said.

He said the introduction of a law governing divorce would not solve the problem because divorce was a human right. However, women like Kassim and their children continue to lead a difficult life in the absence of divorce legislation that would guarantee them support when marriages break down.

Group Files Case Challenging Zanzibar Union

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
April 24, 2006
Zanzibar, Stone Town

Two days before the 42nd anniversary of the political union of Tanganyika and the isles of Zanzibar, forming the United Republic of Tanzania, a group of 10 people in the semi-autonomous island have filed a case in the Zanzibar High Court seeking to have the union quashed because, they say, "it is illegal".

The group wants the union nullified to pave the way for fresh discussions on the formation of a new union, "which will represent the interest of the majority, because the current union has been a mess".

The founders of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere (Tanganyika) and Abeid Amani Karume (Zanzibar) signed the original article of the union that brought into a single political entity Tanzania mainland and the two islands that make up Zanzibar: Pemba and Unguja, with Zanzibar enjoying semi-autonomous status. Zanzibar has its own president and national assembly but recognises the overall leadership of the president of the united republic.

"We have finalised the required legal procedures, and submitted our affidavits," Rashid Salum Addiy, the leader of the 10 Zanzibaris who filed the case, told a news conference on Monday in the Zanzibar capital, Stone Town.

Addiy's group began their opposition to the current union in June 2005 when they went to the high court demanding that Zanzibar's attorney general present the original articles of the union.

However, in a ruling in December 2005, the court said the attorney general's office did not have a copy of the original article of the union signed by Karume and Nyerere. However the attorney general's office responded that this lack of documentation did not imply the non-existence of the article of the union.

In their suit, Addiy's group have named five locally prominent persons on a list of people to be questioned on the "illegality" of the union. These include the UN Secretary-General, Zanzibar's attorney general, the secretary-general of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council, the Speaker of the Zanzibar House of Representative, and the secretary of the ruling political party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

On Saturday, during the launch of a book titled "Zanzibar and the Union Question", a section of Zanzibaris said the union should be nullified as it was of little importance to Zanzibar's economic development.

The new book, edited by University of Dar es Salaam professors Chris Peter and Haroub Othman, is a compilation of papers about the union, written by renowned Tanzanian writers including Issa Shivji, the leader of opposition in Zanzibar House of Representatives, Abubakar Khamis Bakari, Haroub Othman, Mahadhi Juma, and Wolfgang Dourado, Zanzibar's first attorney-general after 1964 revolution, who was detained after questioning the union's formation.

The majority of the speakers at the book launch expressed displeasure with the union. The launch was organised by the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre, in collaboration with Zanzibar Law Society and the Zanzibar Press Club, to mark the 42nd anniversary of the union.

The deputy vice-chancellor of the Zanzibar University College, Mohamed Harith Khalfan, said Zanzibar lawyers had let down the public by not taking action against the union. He said lawyers had left all matters concerning the union to politicians, who often were not transparent.

Facilitators of the meeting, including Othman and Peter as well as lawyers Othman Masoud and Yahya Khamis described the union as problematic. While Masoud and Khamis said the problems facing the union originated from the country's constitutions, Othman said it was possible to make amendments to both the Zanzibar and union constitutions to resolve the existing mistrust and strengthen the union.

Othman also said Zanzibaris were to blame for not being firm in defending the interests of Zanzibar. "I beg to differ with those who think most of the union matters are forced into law, normally the required procedures including dialogue forums, such as parliament, in which Zanzibaris participate, are followed," he said.

Mengi calls for love between Mainland and Isles

2006-04-24 09:00:44
By Gerald Kitabu
Guardian

IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi stands in a group photo with the traditional dance group of the Laureate International School.(Mroki Mroki)

IPP executive chairman Reginald Mengi has called on co-operation, love and solidarity between the citizens of Tanzania Mainland and those of Zanzibar.

Mengi made the remarks during dinner he hosted for the visiting teachers and pupils of Laureate International school located at Chukwani, Zanzibar.

The occasion was held at Mengi’s Kinondoni residence in Dar es salaam during which the guest of honour was the Deputy Minister for Public Safety and Security, Mohamed Aboud.

He said since Tanzania was one country and one people, children should live by principles of nationhood and unity.

’I would like you growing while giving priority to nationhood, don’t talk of regionalism such as ’u-Unguja,’ ’u-Pemba’ or ’u-Bara’ instead talk of Tanzania as a whole’ he said.

He said he was pleased with the arrival of the students who responded to his call when he invited them to his home during the school’s graduation held recently.

’I know you will leave on Sunday (yesterday) for Zanzibar because you are supposed to be in classrooms on Monday, to me it has been a great pleasure but I wish you were to stay here for sometime,’ said Mengi.

He also urged the students to put God at the forefront and pray to him for everything they were doing for their success.

He urged them to work hard in classrooms, saying studying hard and in confidence was the only thing through greater achievement in future.

’Many have failed to sail through due to lack of confidence and for not putting God at the forefront, I ask you not to follow them,’ he said.

Speaking at the occasion, Deputy minister for Public Safety and Security, Mohamed Aboud, thanked Mengi for fulfilling his promise he made during the school graduation to mark ten years when he attended as the guest of honour.

’I thank you for being here with my friend and brother, Reginald Mengi and I thank you for fulfilling his promise.’ He said.

He said Laureate International School of Zanzibar was a model for students’ discipline, outstanding performance and highly qualified and good teachers.

He added apart from strengthening the Union and relationship between Mainland and Zanzibar citizens, the students’ tour has been an opportunity to learn various things.

On his part, Dar es salaam based Laureate school head teacher, John Waliker, thanked the IPP companies, in particular its Executive Chairman, Reginald Mengi for the invitation, saying the move was highly appreciated by the students and teachers of the school.

He thanked him for his continuous contribution in various sectors including education.

The pupils left yesterday for Zanzibar accompanied by their teachers.

In Dar es salaam they visited various places including ITV studios, Coca-Cola Kwanza factory of Mikocheni, Wet’N’Wild Kunduchi and Slip Way.

Scholars support Kikwete on Union

Sunday News
Story by: From ALI UKI in Zanzibar
Date: 23.04.2006


A NUMBER of university dons have supported President Jakaya Kikwete’s position that lack of political will was the real problem behind the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
The president has, on several occasions, admitted that there were problems in the Union brought about by a lack of political will among leaders, but has maintained that there was nothing wrong with its structure.
Speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘Zanzibar and the Union Question’ here yesterday, the academicians said political will was vital for ironing out the thorny issues in the 42-year-old Union.
“Lack of political will in solving administration and constitutional shortcomings is the main problem facing the marriage,” stressed a senior lecturer from the University of Dar es Salaam, Professor Haroub Othman.
The event was part of celebrations to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Union.
The professor was supported by the Zanzibar Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr Othman Masoud, who insisted that Isles politicians should not shy away to talk about the Union snags.
Mr Othman said it was not taboo to discuss the Union structure whether it should be unitary, two governments or a federation and added: “Zanzibaris should be open enough about the matter and speak out with one voice.” The media, especially the government owned media, he said, was doing very little to guide public opinion.
The book contains articles by famous scholars. They included ‘The Union and the Zanzibar Constitutions’ by Mr Abubakar Khamis Bakari, the leader of the opposition in the Isles House of Representatives, and ‘The withering of the Union’ by Professor Haroub Othman.
Other articles were ‘The Consolidation of the Union’ by Judge Wolfango Dourado and ‘The Right of Secession under International Law’ by Mr Mahadhi Juma Mwalimu, the Principal Secretary in the Isles Ministry of State (Constitution and Good Governance). The book was edited by Professor Chris Maina Peter and Professor Haroub Othman both from the University of Dar es Salaam.

New book on Union out

Daily News
Date: 22.04.2006

A BOOK titled 'The Zanzibar and the Union question' is expected to be launched at the Bwawani Hotel this morning as part of celebrations to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

A senior lecturer of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Professor Haroub Othman, said the book contained a collection of a number of articles written by famous legal scholars in the country.

Prof Haroub named some of the outstanding scholars who contributed articles to the book as Professor Issa Shivji and Professor Chris Maina Peter of UDSM.

Prof Haroub, who is also the chairman of the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre, said the articles had discussed the existence of the Union and its administrative and constitutional shortcomings.

The launch ceremony will be preceded by a daylong seminar on the Union, explained Prof Haroub.

The Union was formed on April 26, 1964 through initiatives of the founding presidents of Zanzibar Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume and that of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

It is, however, understood that both sides of the United Republic are of late not happy with some constitutional and administrative shortcomings.

Those Mountains of garbage

Daily News Saturday
Story by: ALI UKI
Date: 22.04.2006

THE recent announcement by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Mr Sultan Mohammed Mugheiry, on fresh outbreak of cholera on both Unguja and Pemba is disgusting and indeed a bad news to many of us.

According to the minister, the communicable disease had claimed lives of nine people and 137 people were admitted to health centres after contracting the disease. The government has so far opened four cholera camps -- two in Unguja and two in Pemba.

As if that was not enough, the government had lodged an application to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef asking for assistance to combat cholera before the situation gets out of hand.

The fresh outbreak of cholera in Zanzibar leaves many questions unanswered. Some people can go to the extent of questioning the credibility and seriousness of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Zanzibaris, in particular, on containing the disease.

This is not the first time Zanzibar to have an outbreak of cholera. It is on record that the Zanzibar experienced a serious cholera outbreak in 1997 claiming lives of more than 150 people.

This means the government, through the ministry of health and the people themselves, should have taken precautionary measures to check the fresh outbreak of disease.

The precautionary measures should have included keeping our environs clean, abide by the basic hygienic rules such as boiling water.

In addition, the government, on its part, should see to it that it has good stock of drugs to treat the affected persons.

On the contrary, it appears nothing has been done and we took things lightly. As a result cholera is back.

There is no need to go on waging war of words, pointing an accusing finger to different authorities for failure to perform their duties.

But, my request is that the fresh cholera outbreak should yet again act as another reminder to all of us to take extra care to combat the disease.

In the first place, deliberate efforts should be taken to get rid of 'mountains' of garbage especially in the Zanzibar Municipality, the most congested place in the island.

Health inspectors should continue to conduct regular visits around the islands as a way of enforcement mechanisms of the public health regulations. Enough garbage collection trucks and cesspit trucks should also be made available to clear filthy environments.

Lastly, construction of all residential houses and public buildings must go in accordance with the Zanzibar Master Plan.

Let us join force in enforcing health regulations so as to check cholera outbreak, which can claims lives of our people.

Airport repairs to resume soon

Daily News
Story by: Correspondent YUSSUF YUSSUF
Date: 22.04.2006

REHABILITATION of the Zanzibar International Airport is expected to resume in August.

This move comes after the World Bank and the Zanzibar government secured a new contractor for the project, which stalled last year.

The Zanzibar Director of Civil Aviation, Mr Malik Mohamed, said that government had concluded discussions with the World Bank on the construction procedures including tendering process.

"We expect the rehabilitation project to resume in August," Mr Mohammed said.

He said the rehabilitation project had stalled and the main sponsor the World Bank had re-tendered after the termination of the first with Chinese firm--CHICO--in April last year, because of allegedly shoddy work.

However, he said the current situation of the airport was up to the standard but the government wants to improve it to attract more airlines as it was previously.

It is said several airlines had suspended their flights pending further improvement of the airport especially the runway, which was said to have full of potholes.

However, Mr Mohammed rejected claims that the airport runway was in poor shape, saying it was only the airline's decisions to stop landing here.

The director said currently SS Mehtta Contractor from Nairobi, Kenya, has been repairing the airport mainly filling and leveling the potholes before the major repair takes off.

In the meantime he said several local and international airlines were using the airport. The airlines, he said, include South African Airlines (SAA), Air Europe, Condor, Launda, Blue Panorama, Euro Fly, Jet Link, Air Plus, Air Italy and Kenya Airways, precisions and ZANAIR land here.

It is understood that the World Bank allocated about 9.5bn/- for the rehabilitation work of the airport. The rehabilitation would cover extension the runway from 2,500 metres to 3,000 metres and repair of the terminal building.

New permanent secretaries named

Source:: Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 21.04.2006

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume yesterday picked seven new principal secretaries, re-appointed four and dropped five others.
A press release issued by the Zanzibar Information Services here said the Mr Julian Raphael has been appointed Principal Secretary in the President’s Office. Formerly, he was the Principal Secretary in the Finance and Planning Ministry.
Mr Ali Rajab Ali, who was a Director of Planning in the Chief Minister’s Office, now becomes the principal secretary in the same ministry.
Mr Karume also picked Mr Khamis Omar Mussa, Principal Secretary in the President’s Office (Planning and Finance). Before the new appointment, Mr Mussa was the Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency.
Dr Mohammed Saleh Jiddawi has been appointed Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Prior to the new appointment, Dr Jiddawi was a senior doctor at the government owned Mnazi Mmoja Hospital.
Mr Mwalim Ali Mwalim, who was the Director of the Zanzibar Stone Conservation Authority, becomes the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Construction, Water, Energy Resources and Land, while Mr Mahadhi Juma Mwalim has been picked Principal Secretary in the Ministry of State in President’s Office (Constitution and Good Governance).
Mr Mahadhi is also the Secretary-General of the Zanzibar Law Society.
The statement further said that Mr Khalid Mohammed, formerly a senior government officer, has been named Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Women and Children’s Affairs, and Mr Salmin Senga becomes the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Before the new appointment, Mr Senga was the Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Women and Children Affairs.
Mr Afani Othman Maalim has been picked Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Investments. Formerly, he was a senior government officer.
Mr Omar Othman Makungu remais the Deputy Attorney General, Mr Msham Abdallah Khamis, who is a retired government officer, now becomes Deputy Principal Secretary in the Ministry of the Chief Minister’s Office. Mr Vuai Iddi Lila becomes the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Transport.
Before his new appointment, Mr Lila was a director in the same ministry.
The press release said four principal secretaries would continue with their respective posts. They are Dr Omar Dadi Shajak (Ministry of Information, Sports and Culture) and Ms Rahma Mshangama (Agriculture and Livestock Development).
Others are Mr Abdulhamid Yahya Mzee (Education and Vocational Training) and Mr Hassan Haji Wambi (Regional Administration and Isles Security Units).
In the new appointments, the president has dropped four principal secretaries and a deputy principal secretary.
They are Mr Pereira Ame Silima (Tourism, Trade and Investments), Mr Abdi Khamis (Communications and Transport), Mr Yassir De Costa (Construction, Water, Energy Resources and Land) and Dr Omar Makame Shauri (Health and Social Welfare).
The president has also dropped Mr Edward Mwakyembe, who was the Deputy Principal Secretary, in the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

Zanzibar: Cholera Claims 9th Victim

20-04-2006
People's Daily

Cholera has claimed its ninth victim in Zanzibar as 38 other people are still hospitalized for the disease in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Zanzibar Health Minister Sultan Mohamed Mughery told reporters that since the pandemic erupted last month there, 137 people had been found vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, according to reports reaching here Wednesday.

Of the cholera deaths so far, five occurred in the Unguja Island while four took place in the Pemba Island. The two are the main islands of the Zanzibar isles.

Cholera is a water-born disease that erupts during the rainy season in tropical regions with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Zanzibar experienced two severe outbreaks of cholera back in 1978 and 1999 when hundreds of people died of the disease.

12 rushed to hospital after food poisoning

2006-04-19 11:01:49
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

At least 21 people, most of them Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives and visitors from Arusha were hospitalised in Zanzibar on Sunday evening after eating poisoned food at a tourist hotel on Easter Monday.

The director of management and information at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Dr Omar Mohamed Suleiman, confirmed yesterday that only one patient was still being treated at the hospital.

He told the press nine out of 21 people, who included members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives and guests from Arusha Wazee Sports Club, were admitted to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital and private health clinics (Imani and Marie Stoppes) in serious condition on Sunday.

’The 21 people, mainly members of the House, were rushed to the hospital after eating poisoned food on Sunday at Nungwi village, north of Zanzibar town,’ Dr Suleiman said.

According to the doctor, a team of health workers was immediately dispatched to the hotel to investigate the incident, but the cause of the food poisoning has yet to be made public.

An impeccable source told The Guardian that accumulated filth near the hotel attracts flies, which are major vectors of germs that cause diarrhoea problems.

About 100 people were in the hotel, but only 21 who ate the food were affected.

Zanzibar is in the grip of cholera, which Minister for Health, Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry said yesterday had killed at least nine people.

Foreigners blamed for working in Zanzibar hotels

Xinhua General News Service
April 19, 2006 Wednesday
DAR ES SALAAM

Some investors are being blamed for employing foreigners to work in tourist hotels in Zanzibar, according to reports reaching here on Wednesday.

They are also allegedly paying more to foreign workers who do the same jobs as their Tanzanian counterparts, said the reports.

Issa Ahmed Othman, chairman of the Zanzibar Tourism Commission, told reporters that the number of foreign workers in Zanzibar was increasing in violation of local labor laws.

"It is alleged that some of the workers who come from Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Burundi, Somalia and Italy were receiving better salaries than their Tanzanian counterparts," added Othman.

The Zanzibar labor law stipulates that only professional jobs should be given to foreigners after efforts to hire local qualified workers failed.

The direct employment by the tourism sector in the Indian Ocean archipelago is estimated to be around 42,000 workers.

Zanzibar is a popular tourist destination of Tanzania.

Tanzania: Zanzibar's Clerics Join Fight Against HIV/Aids

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
April 19, 2006
Stone Town

Muslim clerics on Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar are using religious messages to woo citizens into changing their behaviour to curb the spread of HIV.

Sheikh Khalid Muhammad Mrisho, the main speaker at recent celebrations marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, said the Prophet had taught that one should take precautions, and "the affected person must not transmit to others".

Posters advocating HIV testing before marriage were displayed at the venue, a rarity in this conservative Muslim society.

Muslim clerics have been reluctant to deliver HIV/AIDS messages at public gatherings, despite calls by HIV activists.

Tanzania: Houses Slated for Demolition to Improve Water Supply

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

April 18, 2006
Zanzibar

The government of Zanzibar plans to demolish at least 150 houses to reduce the pollution of water sources on the islands.

"Building houses close to the water sources and the unnecessary harvesting of sand from the riverbanks has caused water and environmental degradation, and is also a threat to the future of the island," Zanzibar's Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha said on Friday.

Nahodha said that the current water shortages facing Zanzibar were brought about by deforestation and unplanned housing.

"Local leaders who permitted the construction of houses near water sources will compensate the owners of the demolished houses," Nahodha said.

However, Zanzibar's main opposition party, the Civic United Front, said it opposed the demolition plan. The government's decision would be a violation of human rights and of the island's land laws, spokesman Hamad Masoud said.

He said that the government should compensate the owners of the houses, some of which were built 15 years ago, and the inhabitants should be resettled.

The government has not yet set a date for the demolition.

Z'bar acts on power thieves, corruption

Daily News
Story by: DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 18.04.2006

THE Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation has formed a unit to deal with illegal power connections and corrupt practices among its staff.
The firm’s General Manager, Mr Suleiman Juma, said yesterday that a survey has indicated that illegal power connection was rampant in residential houses and some tourist hotels here.
He told reporters that the company was losing millions of shillings in terms of revenue collection as a result of illegal connections.
He insisted that an illegal power connection was a criminal offence and the culprits would be prosecuted.
“The unit will have to make a follow-up of every allegation against our staff and prepare a report on the matter,” he said.
He said the report drawn by the unit would later be submitted to the management and to the board of directors for further action.
The manager said that so far some donors had shown willingness to support in the running of the unit as a way to plug all loopholes on revenue collection.
The Isles Chief Minister, Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, ordered the formation of a probe team to look into massive claims of illegal connections of electricity here.
He gave the order when moving a motion to adjourn the recent session of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.

Tanzania: Pemba Channel Elevated Into Marine Conservation Area

The East African (Nairobi)

April 18, 2006
Wilfred Edwin
Nairobi

Zanzibar has elevated Pemba Channel into a Marine Conservation area, a move that is expected to increase tourism.

The Fishing Act, which governs the establishment of Pemba Channel Conversation Area, became effective on September 23 last year and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism has now started an awareness campaign.

The commission's director of planning and development, Issa Mlingoti, told The EastAfrican that the conservation of the channel falls under the Marine and Coastal Environmental Management Project (MACEMP).

MACEMP will strengthen marine management institutions both in Zanzibar and on the mainland with the aim of creating a common governance regime for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It will also support coastal area planning and the establishment of a network of marine protected areas, community management areas and marine management areas.

A total of $328,000 has been made available for training and education, setting up an information centre and funding the awareness campaign. The money will also be used for boundary demarcation and enhancement of transport and communication infrastructure.

Three weeks ago, the commission, through the Ministry for Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Co-operatives convened a meeting with stakeholders -including fishermen - to present a report of the research and new directives and rules after the channel becomes a conserved area.

Mr Mlingoti said through MACEMP, fishermen have been mobilised to undertake their activities in light waters, and plans are underway to finance them to buy small boats to elevate them to modern fishing.

The Pemba Channel Conservation Area is positioned to the west of Pemba Island and it covers 42 nautical miles stretching from the southern tip to the northern one. It has a two-mile width stretching from Funda Island.

Mr Mlingoti said that because of its underwater wonders - which include an ancient town with mosques and roads - the Pemba Channel has been proposed by a recent research for elevation to a World Heritage Historical Site.

Four boats have been ordered from South Africa to strengthen the surveillance capacity of the Conservation Area, Mr Mlingoti said. He added that weak capacity to guard the Pemba Channel has resulted in frequent invasion by foreign illegal fishing vessels.

Pemba Channel was at one time the cause of a border dispute between Tanzania and Kenya. According to Mr Mlingoti, the dispute was solved amicably with both parties signing an agreement that identified the channel as belonging to Tanzania.

The Permanent Secretary in Zanzibar's Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Co-operatives Rahma Mshangama said there would be surveillance to curb illegal fishing mostly by Kenyan fishermen.

"Legal action will be taken against those who are caught for illegal fishing," she said.

Pemba Channel has tourist attraction sites such as Ras Mkumbuu, Menai Bay and Chumbe Island. Tourism has been Zanzibar's main foreign exchange earner.

In the year 2004/05, the tourism sector earned $58.9 million compared with $39.4 million the previous year, a growth of tourist inflow of about 34.8 per cent.

According to the Bank of Tanzania's annual report of 2004/5, Zanzibar undertook institutional measures to develop the tourism sector. As a result, the capacity to accommodate tourists increased tremendously.

Since then, there have been numerous opportunities for investments in the tourism sector, ranging from world class business hotels, conference centres, restaurants and catering facilities, including those providing traditional services like cruise ship transport, diving and game fishing.

Additional Reporting by Faustine Rwambali in Dar es Salaam

Zanzibar threatens paper about graft story

April 15 2006
By Ali Sultan

Zanzibar, Tanzania - Zanzibar's government threatened to take a local newspaper to court on Saturday after the publication of a story accusing the president of involvement in corruption.

The privately owned tabloid Tathmini - Evaluation in Swahili - reported April 12 that Zanzibari President Amani Karume and his family were involved in a dubious deal to buy three dilapidated government-owned hotels on the semiautonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania.

But Ame Silima Pereira, the top civil servant in the ministry of trade, tourism and investments, said Saturday that the story was incorrect and that the weekly newspaper, based on the Tanzanian mainland, was trying to tarnish Karume's reputation.

'Zanzibar govt a flop' - Hamad

April 10, 2006
IPP Media
By Andnetwork .com

The Civic United Front (CUF), has said the Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) is ’a flop’ in implementing the leadership style under President Jakaya Kikwete’s ideology of new zeal, vigor and speed.

Addressing a huge public rally at Kibandamaiti ground in Zanzibar at the weekend, CUF Secretary General, Seif Shariff Hamad, said that SMZ under Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume had failed to tackle the problem of chronic corruption, which had caused deepening economic crisis.

Hamad said the decision to postpone the project on the refurbishment of Zanzibar Airport due to bad tendering process had demonstrated SMZ was still ’paying a lip service to corruption,’ instead of taking concrete action.

He cited the cases for the halting of projects for renovation of Zanzibar ports and airports, and alleged that the projects were affected by bribery in the tendering process.

He also alleged that there were billions of shillings, which were wasted as a result of exempting some investors from paying electricity bills without, sound reasons.

’The SMZ is yet to tackle the chronic problems affecting Zanzibar residents. They are just paying lip services to those problems.

Corruption is still ruining the Zanzibar economy.

Economic crisis is deepening as shown by skyrocketing of prices of basic consumer goods,” Hamad said.

He praised President Kikwete in recognising that there is still a political rift between Unguja and Pemba, which must be bridged, saying that he was ready to support him in tackling such a problem.

But he said the rift was artificial in that some politicians within SMZ created it for their personal motives, because Zanzibaris had been unified for many years.

He reiterated his stand that the last October general elections in Zanzibar was not free and fair, calling for re-run of it under the supervision of the United Nations, like what had been done in Indonesia.

Hamad further said CUF was against the new identity cards for Zanzibar residents, because they were issued without proper procedures agreed by the stakeholders.

Zanzibar's new water law 'unfriendly to the poor'

Published in: Legalbrief Africa
Date: Mon 10 April 2006
Category: Zanzibar
Issue No: 175

Opposition groups on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar have criticised new legislation that declares all water on the island the property of the government and introduces fees for water, says an IRIN report.

The Bill also includes penalties and possible jail terms for those who waste water. Hamad Masoud, chief spokesperson of the opposition Civic United Front on water matters, said some clauses in the Bill were 'unfriendly to the poor people of Zanzibar, such as declaring ocean, rain and well water government property.' He said water charges would pose a burden to most Zanzibaris, who live in 'extreme poverty'.

Mansour Himid, minister for water, land, energy and construction, said the main purpose of the new law was to control water usage on the island and to establish a governmental authority to manage water provision. The fees would take into consideration the economic status of the general population, which would start paying for water only “after the services have been improved on the island," he said. No one would be penalised for using rain or ocean water. "We have to control water for domestic purposes, agriculture, development, tourism activities, industrial and other uses," he said.

Zanzibar is currently facing water shortages following a prolonged drought in East Africa. Boreholes for Zanzibar's municipality, which serve more than 400,000 people, are now producing one-fifth of their usual output.

Taxman hits Zanzibar opposition

10/04/2006
Ali Sultan
Zanzibar

The Zanzibar Revenue Board padlocked 20 shops in an opposition stronghold over the weekend.

Shadid Ismail, a tax official on the semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, said the shops had been closed for evading local taxes.

Ismail said: "The ZRB cautioned traders to settle their overdue taxes, but they resisted to pay.

"We decided to lock their shops pending their settlement of tax bills."

He dismissed accusations the board was acting politically because it targeted businesses in known opposition strongholds.

Ismail said: "We don't punish them. We acted under the law of Zanzibar allowing the ZRB to take action against tax evaders."

The board's enforcement operation has collected $90 000 in unpaid taxes so far.

Ismail said ZRB investigators had found many businesses operating without the required licenses.

On Monday, Zanzibar business owners lined up outside the board's offices to settle their disputes. Many say the ZRB had not acted fairly.

Political tensions have run high on Zanzibar since the ruling party won a disputed election in November.

Isles teaser: Is JK also missing the core issue? (I)

2006-04-09 09:09:45
By Hilal K. Sued

The Zanzibar teaser has been boggling the minds of Tanzanians since the word GO, which roughly translates as since the Revolution 42 long years ago.

Later, when it was evident that it needed solving, the brokers were reluctant, and those who stepped forward to do it, were always missing the point, either through sheer ignorance ? by not knowing how to go about it ? or deliberately ? by sidestepping the core issue.

The underlying reason for this latter group is the fear that the solution would drastically change the status quo and consign the islands into uncharted waters ? meaning delivering them to their political adversaries ? you know who. And that’s where the teaser lies.

In the circumstances, the obtaining apprehension has given room for politicians and other stakeholders to portray the crisis in ways that are designed to frustrate solutions, however committed the brokers may seem to be.

For example, JK now says that the crisis is being exacerbated because officials from both sides of the Union are not meeting frequent enough to iron out the Zanzibar-Mainland differences, and directed them to meet at least thrice a year even if to just say ”hello” to each other.

I sincerely hope that he was not referring to the core issue, but only the ’’Union’’ issue, specifically the Mainland-Isles differences, which, admittedly, continue to be manufactured every day ? with the latest one being the disputed applicability in the Isles of the law on Human Rights and Good Governance ? a Union law. However, these inter-Union squabbles are only part of the core problem.

And talking about the issue of the disputed application in Zanzibar of the aforementioned law, that in itself is a clear symptom of what ails the Zanzibar authorities ? their fear to open themselves up for scrutiny on the alleged human rights violations in the period before, during and after the elections last year.

In effect, the law seeks to ward off future incidents such as those of January 26 and 27 of 2001, which saw the Union government, (and not the Zanzibar Government) being tasked at international forums to respond to Tanzania’s poor human rights record.

At the end of the day, it is the Union government that has to bear the brunt of the accusations, even including, in the case of the January 2001 incidents, in creating, for the first time in its history, refugees who fled to a neighbouring country, running away from state persecution at home ? Tanzania, not Pemba or Unguja.

Last week JK visited the island of Pemba as part of his ongoing tour of the regions to say hello to the citizens and to thank them for having elected him.

However, in the case of Pemba, could it be accurate to say he went there to thank them for rejecting him?

For the two regions of Pemba were the only ones among the Union’s 26 regions whose majority gave him an emphatic ’’NO’’ vote on the ballot last year.

On a serious note perhaps, the main reason for the Pemba visit was to test the political waters, to extend an olive branch and see how he was being viewed by the Pembans following his statement, immediately after being sworn in to the presidency, that he would earnestly do his best to solve the political crisis in the Isles.

He therefore wanted to feel how that pledge had sank in the minds of the Island’s population, where in the last election, his ruling party, CCM, drew blank ? without a single legislator both in the Isles House of Representatives and the Union Parliament.

Needless to say, the other reason for his visit is that Pemba is part of the Union and he is the Union President, hence he has the prerogative to visit it any time he wished.

However, visiting Pemba by the Union Head of State is not a tricky undertaking, but what he says whilst there is. It would perhaps be accurate to say that his speech there was read between the lines and assimilated by the Pembans accordingly.

To start with, there is no doubt that JK understands the Isles crisis well enough, including its terrible nature.

However, his speech at Gombani Stadium forces me into some hesitation, and I hold an inkling that he would go through the same Byzantine route as his predecessor(s) to arrive at nought.

He said, for example that it’s time the Pembans moved on, forget about the election (as that is now history), smile and concentrate on their Island’s development.

The usual stuff that has been heard two times before. He also warned them that they were carrying partisan politics too far, the practice that has brought much disharmony in the island and is set to instil even more division among them if they don’t abandon the practice.

He cited for example that members of the two parties in the island (i.e. CUF and CCM) hardly cooperate on anything, including burials, transport and other social functions. If it is a way to kickstart a peace process, then I’m gobsmacked.

The Pemban political divide’s line-up he was talking about pits about 85 percent CUF and about 15 percent CCM in terms of supporters.

No doubt he appeared concerned with the rights of the minority that he sees are being threatened by the majority for what he sees to be no apparent reason.

It’s certain that had the two sides swapped places, he would not have given any concern over the ”infringement” of the rights of the minority.

Did he show any concern about human rights violations the majority are being subjected to at the hands of the minority that wields all power? If he did, he never showed it, and that is my concern on his sincerity in his quest to solve the teaser. He dwelt more about the manifestations of the issue than its root cause.

I therefore assume that JK knows that the Islanders cannot forget the election and move on without having the core issues solved first, even if it is the third time now they are so told to do so.

In 2001, the Union Police Force (now under his jurisdiction) fired at demonstrators in Pemba - killing dozens of them ? not because the island’s majority and the minority were not befriending, or smiling at each other, but because of a more underlying issue eating at the Isles’ political and social fabric ? the authorities refusing to address the core problem.

We should not forget that it has all along been the practice by officials to present the whole Isles crisis as an issue wholly concerning Pemba and Pembans.

They are fond of prising Pemba off the main Unguja Island and treat it as their main punching bag, singing, in the process, that all the current conflict emanates from there.

They also cite the much talked about rift existing between the people of Pemba and those from Unguja as being another factor contributing to the Isles crisis.

I have never been subjected to such nonsense. Admittedly, the Pemba-Unguja rift exists, but grossly mirepresented, and is always cited to ward off minds from the core issue. Besides who doesn’t know how Pemba’s economy was exploited to the hilt to develop Unguja? Economically and educationally, Pembans are generally advanced than their Unguja counterparts.

For example, the huge presence of Pembans in Unguja, has always been a teaser in itself, in fact a thorn in the flesh of the politicians in power.

Even though they need it because of its economic significance, they are always on alert that if this is left unchecked it can easily take over political power.

That is why tough laws on voters registration centred on residence requirement have been instituted, designed to place hurdles on their registration.

Apart from rigours on registration, the division of constituencies has also been designed to ensure that the gains by other party during elections do not translate into many seats.

I therefore assume that JK know all these machinations, and if he does, he should ensure that he cannot afford to fall into these cheap traps, else he will surely fail in his quest for settlement.

The truth is, the Isles conflict is by far above Pemba, is historical and is even racial in its outlook.

It is a result of scars inflicted during the excesses of post-Revolution era and which repeated administrations refused to admit, let alone heal.

So whenever officials utter ’’Mapinduzi Daima’’ they are no doubt aware that about half of the Isles population undergo a twinge of pain ? the loss of their dear ones ? relatives who disappeared or got killed in the hands of authorities in their excesses in the aftermath of the Revolution.

At that time, the authorities used to boast that it was necessary to kill these people as they were mere reactionaries.

Can they say that now? The current authorities in Chile are still struggling to heal the wounds that were brought by the Pinochet regime in the 70s. For Zanzibar, it is still not too late.

Zanzibar’s fifth President, Salmin Amour came close to admitting these excesses, but only reached as far as saying they were inflicted by the first two administrations, and not his, hence he could not be held responsible. He said this at a time he saw the Isles’ political reality building up following the ushering in of multiparty democracy.

Many advised him that he should have gone beyond mere admitting, and institute a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the scars and even compensate the victims whose relatives ’’disappeared’’ during the periods of ’’excesses.’’ He never took heed because he was more concerned with his political survival in the face of the stiff opposition that was building up.

He went along with his ’’cheap’’ confrontational politics that earned him the title of ”Commando.’’ In the plural democracy set up, that alone should have banished him as an earnest stakeholder in the first political Accord brokered by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

However, the long turbulent Zanzibar history can be cut short by only looking at its problems that came up since the (re)introduction of multiparty politics in both parts of the Union in early 90s.

In hindsight, many can now also say that in the Isles, the stage for the current crystallised politics was built in 1977 even though no one knew that at the time, as there was no way of knowing any way.

It was the time when the two political parties that each ruled the two parts of the Union decided to unite to form the monolithic Chama cha Mapinduzi ? CCM that in effect turned the whole Union into a de jure single party state. This topic will be discussed in my next presentation.
Email:hilkharb 46@yahoo.com, hilal_sued@hotmail.com.

Go to people, Shein tells Z’bar Reps

Source:: Sunday News
Story by: SUNDAY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
09.04.2006


THE VICE-President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, has emphasized the need for political leaders to work closely with the people in implementation of the Zanzibar National Poverty Reduction Plan.
Opening a three-day seminar for members of the Isles House of Representatives at Ocean Paradise hotel in Pwani Mchangani Village in Unguja North Region yesterday, he said the implementation of the Plan was important for easing economic hardships the people were currently facing.
‘’You have a great role to play in supporting government’s efforts in implementation of the Poverty Reduction Plan,’’ stressed the Vice-President.
The seminar has been organized by the Isles House of Representatives in collaboration with the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre and financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Dr Shein reminded the representatives that they should translate their electoral promises into action by working hard to ensure the people’s development.
In fulfilling their obligations, he said, the legislators should demonstrate their leadership qualities by adhering to the laws of the land and observe the Good Governance.
He said the Union and Isles government were all out to strengthen the rule of the law and strictly observe the Human Rights as part of the democratisation process.
However, he challenged the legislators to educate themselves with reforms taking place worldwide to be able to create strategies for pushing development programmes in their respective areas and the nation as a whole.
Eleven papers would be presented at the seminar, the first of its kind to be held here since the last October polls.
The topics include the doctrine of the separation of power, rule of law, good governance and the basic principles of both the Union and Zanzibar constitutions.
East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdulrahman Kinana is expected to close the seminar.

Tanzania: Polls re-run only solution to Isles’ crisis, says Shariff

April 9, 2006

By ANDnetwork .com
Source : Sunday Observer

The Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary General, Seif Sharif Hamad, has said that the lasting solution to political division in Zanzibar is to have a re-run of what he calls a free, transparent elections in the Isles as soon as possible.

Addressing a public rally at Kibanda Maiti grounds in the municipality, Hamad said that he was ready to work closely with President Jakaya Kikwete in resolving the political stalemate in Zanzibar.

’’The root-cause of political division in Zanzibar is that Zanzibaris were robbed of their democratic rights.

Therefore having fresh polls is inevitable,’’ Hamad told the cheering crowd.

He claimed that some people, benefited from the division, ’’and therefore they do not want to see people of Zanzibar unite.’’

This was the first rally Hamad addressed since the October 30, 2005 Zanzibar general elections, whose conduct and outcome CUF has all along disputed.

He emphasized the need to have fresh elections in Zanzibar under the supervision of the United Nations, and ’’President Kikwete should consider that if he reality wants to resolve the Zanzibar crisis.’’

Hamad maintained that his party would stick to its decision not to recognise the Zanzibar government.
The majority of Zanzibar election observers gave a nod to the elections despite the reported irregularities.

In the last elections, the Zanzibar Electoral body declared the incumbent president Amani Abeid Karume winner by 53 per cent against Hamad’s 47 per cent.

However, CUF has rejected the results accusing the ruling party of fraud.
Meanwhile, a representative for Chambani Constituency in Pemba, Abasi Juma Mhunzi (CUF) accused sate media for not covering the Opposition in House of Representatives sessions.

Zanzibar govt pledges to promote sports

Sunday News
Story by: YUSSUF YUSSUF, Zanzibar
Date: 09.04.2006

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume said here yesterday that his government was determined to support sports improvement in the island, and challenged sportsmen and women and other stakeholders to join efforts to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Opening a two-day seminar to discuss the Zanzibar sports policy draft, the president said he expected productive deliberations from the seminar in sports development.
“This seminar is timely; let us join hands to make sure that sports in Zanzibar is revived. We have been performing poorly in sports, I hope you will come up with best guidelines for sports improvement,” Karume noted and promised to follow up the implementations of the recommendations after the seminar.
The president said that Zanzibar had many talented sports youths, but that lack of serious training has been a drawback in their development.
“In your discussions you should also deliberate on how to revive traditional sports, such as dhow race, donkey race and bull fighting,” he observed.
In his brief speech to welcome the guest of honour at the official opening, the Deputy Chief Minister, Ali Juma Shamhuna, who is also the Minister for Information, Culture, and Sports, said that the objective of the seminar was “to reform sports in Zanzibar, urging sports stakeholders to support the government’s plans in sports.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, and Sports, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, expressed hopes that Zanzibar would be able to compete successfully at major competitions after the envisaged reforms.
Mohamed Seif Khatib, the Union Minister for information, culture and sports and his deputies Joel Bendera and Emmanuel Nchimbi attended the seminar as well as Zanzibar Minister for Education and Vocational Training Haroun Ali Suleiman.
In attendance also were First Lady Shadya Karume, the Urban Regional Commissioner (RC), Abdallah Mwinyi, Asha Bakari, chairperson of the Zanzibar copyright board, and renowned sports administrator Said El Maamry, and representatives from at least 27 sports clubs in Zanzibar.

It is Karume Day today

Daily News
Date: 07.04.2006

TANZANIANS today observe the 34th anniversary of the death of the founding president of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume.
Sheikh Karume was assassinated by counter-revolutionaries on April 7, 1972, just eight years after the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution which toppled the sultanate oligarchy.
The late Karume, the father of the present Zanzibar President, Amani Abeid Karume, will always be remembered by Zanzibaris for his practical development agenda that provided for free social services including education, health and water supply.
He also nationalised land and provided three acre plots to peasants as a means of production.
President Karume will today lead Zanzibaris at special prayers in memory of the fallen leader. It is a public holiday both in Zanzibar and on the Mainland.
 

Kapuya cautions on security organs

Daily News
Date: 06.04.2006


THE government has warned that it was dangerous for the country’s security organs to be divided on Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar lines.
The Minister for Defence and National Service, Prof Juma Kapuya, said this in the National Assembly when responding to a supplementary question by Yahya Kassim Issa (Chwaka-CCM), who sought to know why there were a few officers in the army from Zanzibar compared to those from the Mainland.
The MP also wanted to know the ratio of officers from the Mainland and those from Zanzibar and the criterion applied to employ them.
Prof Kapuya said members from Zanzibar, who join the army, are recruited as Tanzanians and not as ‘Zanzibaris’.
“Your Honourable Speaker, this is dangerous if we divide the country’s security system in segments of Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar,” he said.
He said that there were Zanzibaris who were recruited on the Mainland and vice versa.
The minister said this in reference to another question from the same lawmaker that a few officers from the Mainland based in Zanzibar were bringing their brothers and sisters to join the army.
Earlier, the Deputy Minister, Mr Omar Mzee, had said that the number of soldiers in the army from Zanzibar could not match with those from the Mainland.
“Taking into account the size of Zanzibar, the number of soldiers in the army would also be small. This also applies to senior officers in the army,” he said.
He said that history shows that there were a few Form Six leavers from Zanzibar who were interested in joining the army.
For example, the deputy minister said in 2002, only 13 out of 450 qualified to join the army while it was only five out of 345 were selected the following year.
He said that soldiers from the army could be posted anywhere in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Zanzibar govt defends ban on ‘Dira’

Daily News
Date: 05.04.2006


THE Zanzibar government yesterday defended its decision to slap a ban on privately owned newspaper, ‘Dira’, saying the tabloid had concentrated on publishing articles that bent on destabilizing the unity and solidarity.
The Deputy Isles Chief Minister and the Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, Mr Ali Juma Shamuhuna, told the House of Representatives that the ban was “a proper dose” and is aimed at discouraging unnecessary sentiments that could lead to friction and controversy.
He insisted that the government had no plans to lift the ban on the newspaper.
The minister explained that the tabloid was carrying negative articles of the 1964 post revolution events with the view to reopen old wounds and scars.
This, he said, if left unchecked, could have caused animosity among the people in the society.
Minister Shamuhuna said the tabloid management had opened a case in the Zanzibar High Court challenging the government ban on the newspaper but it lost the case.
He added that they had the legal right to appeal against the High Court decision to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania.
Before banning the tabloid, the minister said the government had summoned the editors concerned and ordered them to be careful on their reporting before the situation got out of hand.
Winding up a debate on the Zanzibar Media Information Policy, he stressed that the government was all out to promote the press freedom contrary to speculations by some sections in the society.
He invited investors to start electronic and print media projects to widen the press coverage on economic and social issues.

Creative accounting in Zenj

Daily News
Story by: Adam Lusekelo
Date: 05.04.2006


THE pay is not the greatest in Zenj, The pay is not the greatest in all Bongo. Unless, of course, you are a politician in the winning party.
Which is why most people have decided to ëeatí using their offices. I remember a colleague (now doing time in jail) decided to ëkillí his father three times before we found out his tricks.
Some 22 accountants in Zenj also decided to be creative and earn themselves some more dosh. The Zanzibar government painfully found out that the guys siphoned off a billion shillings, paid ghost workers and promptly pocketed the money themselves.
Which makes sense to me. How do I starve when millions pass through my hands everyday? You become, you know, creative.
Personally, I would never have made an accountant. I would have been in jail ages ago. Besides, I hate the power thing. Personally, I believe that accountants are subconsciously dictators and sadists
I mean it! Look at the sadistic glee your accountant wears on his or her face when they tell you that your money is not ready yet. You wonder if the guy is about to get an orgasm or something.
Over the years, societies realised that accountants had this ëthingí about them. They created another department ñ the audit section. Many an accountant ended up in the lam. Itís not even a newsworthy story when an accountant is jailed.
Rock star Sting had 3.5 million pounds (7 billion) siphoned off by his accountant. Sting is a multi-millionaire. He never felt the sting of his accountant ëeatingí his money. It was the auditors who found that out. The accounting thief was jailed for five years.
Now with some 22 accountants in Zanzibar fired and reportedly to be sent to court for stealing billions ñthat is a story!
Partly, the trouble with the Zanzibari system is names. Do you know that Haji Salum Haji and Salum Haji Salum are different persons? Not even related.
Okay try this: Iddi Pandu Iddi and Pandu Iddi Pandu. Not related. They donít even know each other. Jecha Haji Jecha and Jecha Haji Jecha are two different geezers. An auditorís nightmare.
So the accountants in Isles got busy and creative. They discovered 1,400 Salum Haji Salums and lived it up ñ maybe acquiring more wives in the process (Itís s an African thing). Well they got nabbed.

Zanzibar: Human Rights Body Has No Legal Role
 

05-04-2006
ANDnetwork.com

Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance chairman, Justice Robert Kisanga, has admitted that the commission is only legally mandated to work in Zanzibar on Union matters.

Justice Kisanga said in an interview yesterday in Bagamoyo that the law which established the Commission legitimises it to operate in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, but on Union matters only.
"As a Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance, we are allowed to work in the entire country. But in Zanzibar, we can only work on Union matters," he said.

He was responding to a recent statement by Zanzibar Attorney General, which said the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance is not legally mandated to work in Zanzibar.

Justice Kisanga said the Zanzibar Constitution says any law passed in the National Assembly that requires implementation on both sides of the Union has to be endorsed by the House of Representatives to effectively work in Zanzibar.

He said the law that established the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance in 2003 was rejected in the House of Representatives after members demanded amendments before its implementation.

Justice Kisanga said one of the issues the House of Representatives demanded equal roles for Ministers for Justice and Constitution Affairs in the commission.

The law ascribes roles only to Union Minister for Justice and Constitution Affairs to present human rights issues in the National Assembly.

"We shall continue working on Union matters until the law is amended to allow the Zanzibar Minister for Justice and Constitution Affairs to play an active role in the Commission," he said.

Zanzibar - Festival of the DHOW - Call for arts entries

Apr 4, 2006
Represent, South Africa

So you're an artist right? And you've always dreamt of visiting Zanzibar, Africa's magical island? Well use your kops and get your work onto East Africa's annual Festival of the Dhow which is taking place in July this year. They're looking for music, performing arts, exhibitions, workshops and music to showcase and celebrate "the unique cultural heritage of Africa". Entries close end of May so SHESHANI!! Click here to go to the site.

The ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries, East Africa's largest cultural event is located in Zanzibar around the magnificent, historical venues along the waterfront of Stone Town. The festival celebrates the unique cultural heritage of Africa and the Dhow countries of the Indian Ocean region and their global Diaspora.

The Festival promotes an extensive programme of Films, Music & Performing Arts, Exhibitions, and Workshops for Women, Children, Film Industry, Music Industry and Literature. The Festival also includes events in selected villages of the Zanzibar islands, Unguja and Pemba.

From the vantage point of Zanzibar, ZIFF Festival of the Dhow Countries provides an opportunity to offer perspectives on contemporary trends in global culture which address the defining ideas of the twenty-first century incorporated in the themes of cultural diversity, individual integrity, social justice, women, children, diaspora culture and conservation.

Tanzania: New water law "unfriendly to the poor" – opposition

Stone Town, Zanzibar, 4 Apr 2006 (IRIN) –

Opposition groups on the semiautonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar have criticised new legislation that declares all water on the island the property of the government and introduces fees for water, which had been free.

"Water in whatsoever form, location or state, including fresh, saline, marine, surface, ground flowing or dormant water bodies and any kind of public water is hereby declared to be owned by the government," said the bill, which also included penalties and possible jail terms for those who waste the precious resource.

Hamad Masoud, the chief spokesman of the opposition Civic United Front on water matters, said some clauses in the bill were "unfriendly to the poor people of Zanzibar, such as declaring ocean, rain and well water government property." He said water charges would pose a burden to most Zanzibaris, who dwell in “extreme poverty”.

Mansour Himid, minister for water, land, energy and construction, said the main purpose of the new law was to control water usage on the island and to establish a governmental authority to manage water provision. The fees would take into consideration the economic status of the general population, which would start paying for water only “after the services have been improved on the island," he said. No one would be penalised for using rain or ocean water. "We have to control water for domestic purposes, agriculture, development, tourism activities, industrial and other uses," he said.

Zanzibar is currently facing water shortages following a prolonged drought in East Africa. Boreholes for Zanzibar's municipality, which serve more than 400,000 people, are now producing one-fifth of their usual output.

Over 1bn/- needed for streetlights

Daily News
Date: 06.04.2006

About 1.7bn/ is needed for the repair and installation of new streetlights in the Zanzibar Municipality, the House of Representatives was told yesterday.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Isles Security Units) Suleiman Othman Nyanga said the project would start soon the funds were secured.
He said the government was communicating with several donors including the World Bank (WB) on the possibility to fund the project.
The minister said the government was aware of the streetlights problem in the Municipality but lacked funds to deal with it at the moment.
He said the expansion of the Zanzibar town including construction of residential houses without following the town master plan had also hampered relevant authority from installing new streetlights.
He however, said vandalism of the streetlights was another problem calling on the legislators to educate the people at their respective areas on the importance of the lights.
The minister was answering Haji Mkema Haji (Koani-CCM) who wanted to know reasons behind the failure of the Municipal Council to repair and install new streetlights.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated 1,479 plots of land to the Zanzibaris at Tunguu area in Unguja Central District, South region for the construction of modern residential houses.

Isles govt to confiscated property

Daily News
Story by: ALI UKI in Zanzibar
Date: 31.03.2006


THE Zanzibar government has said it will request the court to allow confiscation of some properties of officials who will be convicted of being part in the financial scandal involving 1,400 ghost workers in different ministries.
The Principal Secretary (Central Establishment), Mr Ramadhan Muombwa, said when addressing a press conference that the number of ghost workers in ministries in Pemba was alarming.
He said 1,400 ghost workers were found in different ministries in Pemba making the government lose 1bn/- every year in salaries.
A similar verification exercise of government employees will be done in Zanzibar very soon, he added.
‘’We will act tough on this issue to avoid similar cases in the future,’’ stressed Mr Muombwa.
He said that all the concerned officials who will fail to account for assets they had acquired, would have them confiscated.
He said the report on the scam compiled by some Principal Secretaries in Zanzibar indicated that some government officials working in key sections such as the Personnel Office and Accounts Section had a hand in the scam.
He said some ministries had featured prominently in the ghost workers’ cases. He named them as the Ministry of Education with 822, Health Ministry with 251, the Ministry of Transport and Communications with 162 and the Ministry of Agriculture with 96 ghost workers.
Others in the list were the Ministry of Water with 28 and the Ministry of Regional Administration with six workers.
He said from now onwards civil servants would be paid their monthly salaries upon production of identity card.

ZECO bill sails through
 

DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar
Date: 31.03.2006


THE Isles government is losing 3bn/- every year in illegal connections of electricity in a number of residential houses in Unguja and Pemba, it has been said.
The Minister for Energy Resources, Mr Mansour Yussuf Himid, said when winding up a debate on a bill on the establishment of the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO) in the House of Representatives here yesterday.
The bill seeks to repeal the Isles Presidential Decree No 12 of 1964 that established the present Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation which is responsible for the generation, supply of power in Zanzibar and Pemba.
He told the House that a team of experts with the Corporation had established that some dishonest officials with the firm colluded with the people in illegal connection of the power causing huge loss to the firm.
The minister assured the House that deliberate measures were being taken to control the illegal connections and that the culprits would be taken to court.
He said under the proposed ZECO, a chain of procedures would have to be followed before making connections and regular house to house inspection would be done to net illegal connectors.
‘’We are very serious on this issue and we will leave no stone unturned,’’ stressed the Minister in his winding up remarks.
He discouraged an idea of the formation of a special House Committee to investigate the matter saying the government was able to control unauthorized power connections and punish the culprits accordingly.
The minister further said that the Power Corporation management was still investigating reports that 14 tourist hotels in the Zanzibar coast had evaded taxes charged on the power used.
He assured that legal actions would be taken against those found to have been involved in the vice.
He said the Norwegian government would provide 4bn/- to address technical problems contributing to the loss of power.
The House approved the bill.

Tanzania: Zanzibar sets up anti-cholera taskforce

Stone Town, Zanzibar,
30 Mar 2006 (IRIN)

Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar has launched an anti-cholera taskforce following an outbreak of the disease, which has resulted in four deaths in Unguja and Pemba, the two islands that make up Zanzibar.

At least 100 cases of severe diarrhoea had also been recorded in the islands, Zanzibar's health and social welfare minister, Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry, said when he launched the taskforce on Wednesday in the capital, Stone Town.

Of the dead, three were from Mwambe, south of Pemba Island; and the other one was from Uzi village, south of Unguja Island.

Mugheiry told a new conference after the launch that the taskforce - comprising local health officials, regional administrators and the UN World Heath Organization (WHO) Zanzibar Liaison Office - would look into ways of preventing the disease from spreading in the islands.

He said two special cholera centres had been opened in the affected areas, one at Mwambe and the other at Uzi, to cater for the patients.

He added that the main Mnazi Mmoja Hospital had also recorded cholera cases.

Mugheiry said preliminary findings by health officials sent to Pemba last week showed that "contaminated water and lack of proper toilets in the affected areas had contributed to the cholera outbreak, plus shortage of chlorine to treat water".

He said the water department was working hard to obtain chlorine.

He added that the newly formed taskforce had given the Ministry of Education one week to resolve toilet problem at Kengeja School, "or risk closure of the school".

Mugheiry urged Zanzibaris to observe health safety measures, including boiling drinking water and making use of toilets. He also appealed to the local media to help in the awareness campaign.

The African Development Bank (ADB), which funds a number of health projects, has constructed 180 public toilets mainly in rural areas, "but some people are still reluctant to use toilets and instead go to relieve themselves in bush or at the beach", Mugheiry said.

Zanzibar has repeatedly been hit by cholera epidemics, the most severe of which was recorded in late 1997 - killing at least 123 people with more than 1,065 reported cases.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease, with patients suffering from rapid loss of body fluids leading to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, usually with fluid infusion, death can occur within hours.

Armed robbers wound victims during raid in Zanzibar

March 29, 2006
ANDnetwork .com

Three men armed with sub-machine guns and a pistol wounded a businessman, his wife and son during a late night attack in Zanzibar on Monday, according to police sources.

Zanzibar West/Urban Regional Police Commander Bakari Khatib told reporters on Tuesday that the incident had taken place at the Mombassa area in Zanzibar.

The bandits opened fire at the family when it approached home.

The family members were rushed to a local hospital for treatment of gun wounds, according to reports reaching here.

The bandits made away with 3.5 million Tanzanian shillings (2,910 U.S. dollars).

The armed robbery happened within 24 hours of another robbery incident, in which four armed men raided a local supermarket in Zanzibar.

The four armed men attacked the supermarket late on Sunday and made away with millions of Tanzanian shillings worth of cash and valuables.

Zanzibar police have launched an intensive man-hunt and appealed to the public to cooperate with the police in locating the whereabouts of these bandits.

Armed robbers have raided the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar several times since last August.

Bandits attacked two tourist hotels and one general store in August and September last year.

They raided a Zanzibar bureau de change in Stone Town, the capital town of Zanzibar, in January this year.

Police have so far detained several people in connection with these armed robberies.

Zanzibar: Clash Over Rights Body

Zanzibar wants contentious issues amended before the Act can come into force on the Isles, but Tanzania Mainland says there is no legal requirement for this.

29-03-2006
Reported by Faustine Rwambali and Wilfred Edwin

The Zanzibari and main- land Tanzania governments are headed for a collision over the isles failure to ratify the Human Rights and Good Governance Commission.

The Commission was established by parliament five years ago under the Human Rights and Good Governance Act 2001. It was signed into law by the then President Benjamin Mkapa on May 2, 2001, but the Zanzibar government has not allowed the commission to carry out its activities.

According to Section 3 of the Act, "on its application, the Act shall apply to both Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar".

The Zanzibar Deputy Attorney General Omar Othman Makungu told The EastAfrican last week that there are three contentious issues that need to be amended in the Act "otherwise it will never come into force in Zanzibar".

The contentious issues are understood to revolve around the need for an autonomous human rights commission in Zanzibar that would tackle cases from Zanzibari entities that are not established under the union constitution. This is likely to lead to a Constitutional crisis.

"Our lawyer has travelled to Tanzania Mainland to see the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Dr Mary Nagu over the matter," Mr Makungu said. "We told our Mainland counterparts that the amendments be made for the Commission to operate in Zanzibar."

But the director of constitution and human rights in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Fredrick Werema said there was no legal requirement to be fulfilled for the Commission to work in Zanzibar.

"I think there is no political will on the part of Zanzibar. The law does not interfere with Zanzibar’s constitution," Mr Werema said. "I see no reason why the two parts of the Union want to involve themselves in this unnecessary tug-of-war.

Mr Werema said the issue being raised by Zanzibar will complicate the decision making process.

"Putting two authorities to implement one law may bring about a stalemate," he said.

The chairman of the commission Justice Robert Kisanga had earlier told The EastAfrican that the commission was yet to function in Zanzibar because of legal technicalities in dealing with Acts passed by the Union parliament whose functions are extended to Zanzibar. He said for such Acts to be applicable in Zanzibar, they must be endorsed by Zanzibar’s House of Representatives. In this case, the Act was tabled and endorsed in the Zanzibar House of Representatives on June 23, 2003.

He said the Zanzibar House of Representatives agreed the Act had the jurisdiction, powers and functions in Zanzibar but these "would apply only after making the amendments".

However, last week Justice Kisanga said his commission was allowed only to investigate Union institutions. Entities falling under the Zanzibar government such as a special force to curb smuggling were not subject to its investigation.

According to Justice Kisanga, the thorny issues include a requirement by Zanzibar that the minister responsible for human rights in the Isles should be clearly stated in the Act and that the commission report on Zanzibar should be submitted to the minister who would then submit it before the House for deliberations. Zanzibar also wants the minister in Tanzania mainland making the regulations under that Act to consult his counterpart in Zanzibar.

Those forming the Commission are Justice Robert Kisanga (Chairman), Ambassador Mohammed Ramia Abdiwawa (vice-Chairman) Catherine Harrieth Mbelwa Kivanda, Stephen Zacharia Mwaduma, Jecha Salim Jecha, Robert Vincent Makaramba and Safia Masoud Khamis.

The Civic United Front's deputy director of foreign affairs and human rights Ismail Jussa said last week that Zanzibaris have been subjected to human rights abuses for long but had nowhere to seek redress.

He said Zanzibar demanded that the Union government amend some sections in the Human Rights Commission Act, but there has been deliberate efforts to block the commission's existence in Zanzibar.

He said in the past, there were plans to start an independent body to be known as Zanzibar Human Rights Association (ZAHRA), but it was blocked. the reason given, he said, was that the mainland commission and courts were enough.

Mr Jussa told The EastAfrican that even a recent attempt by a Zanzibari legislator, Abubakar Hamis, to have a parliamentary committee formed to probe human rights abuses in Zanzibar was frustrated.

The CUF chairman Professor Ibrahim Lipumba said the non-existence of a human rights commission in Zanzibar has paved the way for the island's authorities to "systematically abuse human rights there".

He said that paramilitary institutions such as the Jeshi la Kujenga Uchumi and the anti smuggling unit were at the centre of human rights abuse claims as they perform their duties while breaking the law, but are never punished.

CUF Member of Parliament Hamad Rashid Mohamed said denying Zanzibar a human rights commission is a violation of the Isles’ constitution.

He said he had written to Prime Minister Edward Lowassa asking the government to form a parliamentary committee to investigate human rights abuses alleged to have occurred in Zanzibar. The request was rejected.

Both Mr Mohamed and Mr Jussa are of the opinion that the Union government should form an independent committee to investigate the human rights abuses the same way it formed other committees of such nature.

In 2004 Zanzibar’s concerns were submitted to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs so that they could be stated in the law that establishes the commission.

Zanzibar bans imports of poultry against bird flu

March 25, 2006
Xinhua

Zanzibar on Friday announced a ban on imports from foreign countries of poultry and poultry products to prevent the spread of bird flu into the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Special permits are needed from the Zanzibar ministry for agriculture to import such poultry and poultry products as chicken, chicken meat and eggs from the Tanzania mainland.

The ban was announced after government officials had seized 40 imported chickens at a local supermarket, according to reports quoting Kassim Gharib Juma.

Kassim Gharib Juma, director of the livestock development department under the agriculture ministry, told reporters that the ban was aimed at preventing the spread of bird flu from Asia, Europe and some African countries.

Up till now, no case of bird flu has been reported in Zanzibar, where migratory birds have gathered on the Lanthan island, in the Bwawani area in the Unguja island and on the Kisiwapanza island.

ZANZIBAR : Cholera outbreak kills three : government

March 25, 2006
Andnetwork .com

Three people have died and nine others admitted to hospital following a cholera outbreak on Tanzania's semiautonomous Island of Zanzibar, government officials said on Friday.

The deaths occurred in Pemba Island, a sister island of the mainland of Unguja Island that forms Zanzibar. By Friday nine patients had been admitted to the cholera special centre, two in critical condition, Zanzibar's minister of health and social welfare, Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry, told a news conference in Stone Town, the Zanzibar capital.

"We had diarrhoea patients last Saturday and one patient died before receiving treatment at Abdallah Mzee Hospital in Pemba," he said. "Diarrhoea cases increased on 20 March, and after the laboratory examination, the cholera virus was identified at least in five patients."

Mugheiry said his ministry had launched awareness campaigns on how to contain the disease. He said the ministry had also sent a team of three health officials to Pemba to help curb the epidemic. He attributed the outbreak to negligence in keeping the environment clean and public consumption of unsafe drinking water.

The African Development Bank has supported the construction of about 180 public toilets mainly in rural areas in both islands of Unguja and Pemba, but, according to Mugheiry, some people in villages were still relieving themselves in bush or on the beach, instead of using the toilets.

Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease, is caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium "vibrio cholerae". The infection is often characterised by profuse watery diarrhoea and vomiting. Patients suffer from rapid loss of body fluids leading to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, usually with fluid infusion, death can occur within hours.

Zanzibar: Severely Drought-Hit, Assessment Team Says

22-03-2006
IRIN

At least 4,000 hectares of food crops have wilted and 50 heads of cattle have died in Tanzania's semiautonomous Island of Zanzibar due to severe drought that has hit parts of the island, according to a report by the Rapid Vulnerable Assessment Task Force Committee.
The assessment team issued the report on Tuesday following its completion of a two-week study.

"My team surveyed nine out of 10 districts of Unguja and Pemba islands, finding that most of the food crops planted in September 2005, including cereals, maize and potatoes, had wilted," Ali Hajji Ramadhani, the chairman of the 14-member committee formed on 27 February, said.

He said the eastern coastal region of Zanzibar was more affected, with livestock - mainly cattle - dying. He said his team did not survey the island's capital, Stone Town, because little farming took place in the area.

"If we compare drought in Zanzibar and that of other parts in the East African region, we are better," Ramadhani said. "However, some homes are now having shortages of food, but fortunately our shops are full of food stuffs."

He said that prices of livestock had dropped drastically such that one cow, which would normally cost at least US $350 was now about $150.

"Many farmers have also involuntarily slaughtered their cows and sold the meat," he said.

According to the 2003 Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock records on livestock survey, Zanzibar had about 170,000 cattle - many kept by free grazing methods.

Ramadhani said his team comprised agricultural experts from the island as well as those from the meteorological department, the Food Agricultural Organization (FAO) and those from Tanzania mainland, where drought has also hit severely.

"Since we have started to witness some rains, the government has distributed 10 tonnes of rice and seven tonnes of maize seeds to the most affected farmers in the island to plant," he said. "We have suggested to the authorities also to distribute cassava and other food crop seeds."

Ramadhani said farmers in Jambiani, Paje, Nungwi, Ukongoroni, Tumbatu, and Makunduchi in Unguja, and Pemba areas of Micheweni, Mwambe, Vitongoji, Kangagani, Pujini, and Kengeja would receive the seeds.

He said the government had decided to give the selected seeds, "because it is what can be grown in Zanzibar and it is the food used by the majority".

The majority of Zanzibar's 981,745 people are small-scale farmers, fishermen and traders.

Over 10,000 acres farmlands destroyed by drought in Zanzibar

Xinhua News Agency
Date: 21 Mar 2006
DAR ES SALAAM

More than 10,000 acres or 4, 046 hectares of farmlands have been destroyed or severely affected by the ongoing drought in Zanzibar, according to the report from a special fact-finding mission.

Ali Haji, chairman of the fact-finding mission, said on Tuesday that the eastern areas of Unguja and Pemba had been hit the most by the drought, according to reports reaching here.

Drought has affected the growth of such plants as banana, cassava, yam, rice, bean, millet and maize.

Unguja and Pemba are the two main islands of the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar.

The western areas of these two islands fared a little bit better than the eastern areas.

Drought has also affected local livestock raising and water supplies, according to the same report.

Some cattle keepers had to slaughter to prevent their animals from losing more weight to persistent drought.

The Zanzibar government last week distributed relief grain seeds to farmers in drought-stricken areas where the relief grain seeds were expected to replace the crops already destroyed by the drought.

Number of tourists to Zanzibar up by 8 percent in 2005

March 21, 2006
Xinhua

The number of overseas tourists visiting the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar increased by 8 percent in 2005 to reach 125,443, according to the Zanzibar Tourism Commission.

Commission Chairman Issa Ahmed Othman told local media on Monday that improvement on tourist facilities and services had attributed to the increase of the number of overseas tourists.

The contribution by the tourism sector toward Zanzibar's economy has also risen to account for one fifth of the gross domestic product.

Othman said that his commission is striving to improve the tourist environment in the isles so as to attract more tourists all year round, according to reports reaching here.

At the time being, the months between October and January are the on-season of tourism.

Zanzibar intends to turn into sightseeing spots some of the isles' historical sites related to missionary and explorer David Livingstone whose corpse was sent home via Zanzibar after he died in 1873 in Zambia.

Tanzania: Bars, Sex Trade Fuelling HIV Spread, Say Zanzibar's Muslims

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

March 20, 2006
Stone Town

The battle against HIV/AIDS in Zanzibar will not succeed as long as trade in alcohol and commercial sex work continue to thrive on the island, according to Muslim leaders.

"Zanzibar would have been free of HIV/AIDS if Muslims stuck to their religious teachings but, mainly, if the government was serious about controlling the spread of pubs, especially in residential areas," said Sheikh Azzan Khalid, deputy leader of the Zanzibar Islamic Propagation Group. "The state television has been a key player in moral decay by showing programmes which promote sex."

Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar, with a population of just under one million, is predominantly Muslim. While HIV levels in Zanzibar remain significantly lower than the seven percent prevalence on the mainland, the government's senior epidemiology and surveillance coordinator, Ameir Khamis, estimated that by the end of 2005, some 8,000 Zanzibaris were living with HIV/AIDS, up from 6,000 in 2002.

"HIV/AIDS activists tell us that pubs, commercial sex, poverty and lack of awareness have been among the causes of the spread of the virus," said Ali Abdurrahman, a resident of Stone Town, Zanzibar's main urban centre. "But what have the authorities done to at least control the mushrooming of pubs and commercial sex on the island?"

At a recent one-day HIV/AIDS seminar for residents by the Stone Town Heritage Society, Abdurrahman noted, "We have done hundreds of seminars and workshops, but instead of recording progress in controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS, figures show an increase. The government has not been serious about controlling the obvious cause of the spread of the epidemic."

He noted that "in the late 1980s, the whole of Zanzibar had hardly 10 pubs, but you now talk of hundreds; our island had no people in commercial sex, but now it is almost legal work in Zanzibar".

Khalid said HIV/AIDS would continue to spread as long as the government was issuing licenses to pubs and not bothering to control rising transactional sex on the island.

During Friday prayers in the island's mosques, Imams regularly call on their followers to abstain from sex outside marriage. They have expressed strong opposition to the escalating number of bars, and have condemned the growing number of advertisements for alcoholic beverages, despite government policy prohibiting this.

Fadhil Soraga, from the office of Zanzibar's Mufti [senior Muslim scholar], which is responsible for Muslim affairs on the Island, commented, "Only reshaping the public to abstain from illegal sex and alcohol will help the fight against HIV/AIDS."

Zanzibar plays Tunisia in African Champions League tie

March 15, 2006
Xinhua

Zanzibar's AS Police Club is scheduled to play Tunisia's Etoile Sahel Club on Saturday in their second-round tie at this year's African Champions League soccer tournament.

The match will be played in Zanzibar.

The AS Police entered the second rounder thanks to the abstention of its first-round opponent, Malawi's Civo United Club.

Zanzibar Football Association Executive Secretary Juma Sadat told reporters on Tuesday that preparations had been complete at the Zanzibar Aman Stadium, according to reports reaching here.

The Tunisian squad is expected to arrive in the Indian Ocean archipelago on Thursday.

The return leg of the Zanzibar-Tunisia encounter is slated for the weekend two weeks from now.

The Etoile Sahel got a first-round bye thanks to its runner-up finish at the 2004 and 2005 Champions League tourneys.

Thirty-two out of the 58 clubs advanced into round two of home- and-away matches starting this weekend.

Zanzibar police arrest 5 over theft of salaries

2006-03-15 13:26:01
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Five Zanzibar government civil servants have been arrested for allegedly pocketing millions of shillings earmarked for paying 251 ghost workers of the Ministry of Health and Social Security.

The Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, Ameir Juma Ameir, said yesterday that the police had arrested the five suspects last Sunday following the on going investigations to net the culprits.

He said that it was too early to disclose the names of the arrested civil servants as investigations were still at premature stage.

He said in order to protect the process of on going investigations geared at obtaining substantial evidence, the police had decided not to reveal the names of the arrested suspects.

He also said the police were still hunting for more suspects in connection with the same case.

Police reports from Pemba said already some suspects in Pemba had run away to escape arrest.

The Zanzibar Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Mohamed Mugheiry, announced the theft of government funds through dubious payment of ghost workers recently, alleging that the government had been losing 21.7 m/- a month through the fraud.

He said the Zanzibar government would ensure that all civil servants who were involved in that dubious deal were arrested and taken to court.

Following this fraud, the Zanzibar government has devised a new procedure whereby each civil servant is required to possess three identity cards.

The identity cards include the Zanzibar Residential card, the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF) card and the Employer’s card.

Cancellation of tourism promotion event angers...

2006-03-13 07:41:48
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar government has raised concern over last minute cancellation of a scheduled trip of 150 participants in the Miss Tourism Model of the World, saying the move was unfair and negates ongoing efforts to consolidate the Union.

Executive Secretary of the Zanzibar Tourism Commission Vuai Mwinyi said yesterday that the cancellation of the trip had a negative impact on Zanzibar’s tourism promotion campaign.

He said the models from all over the world were scheduled to visit Zanzibar for one day, during which they would have toured historical sites as part of the Isles’ tourism promotional campaign.

In addition, Mwinyi said, the beauties would have met Zanzibar First Lady, Shadya Karume.

’’The cancellation of the trip is a big blow to Zanzibar bearing in mind that it was a golden opportunity to publicise Zanzibar worldwide,’’ he said.

Mwinyi said Zanzibar had estimated to spend about 30m/- cover to air transport, meals and ground transport for the models.

He said the Tanzania Tourism board had cancelled the trip to Zanzibar on flimsy grounds.

Instead of coming to Zanzibar, he said, the models were taken to Bagamoyo to tour historical sites.

He said the cancellation of the Zanzibar trip did not take into consideration the interests of Zanzibar, bearing in mind that the Union government represents Zanzibar interests as well.

’’We were shocked by the eleventh hour cancellation,’’ he said.

Miss Tourism Model of the World event was held on Saturday night at Ubungo Plaza in Dar es Salaam and beamed to living rooms of millions of people worldwide.

Zanzibar is promoting tourism as part of its economic diversification programme following the collapse of the spice industry, which was the main foreign exchange earner.

Tourism contributes about 20 per cent of the island’s gross domestic product and the sector offers about 42,000 jobs.

It is understood, however, that Zanzibar has all along refused to participate in the national beauty pageants to ’’protect its cultural heritage.’’

Skillsmodel hailed

10 March 2006
Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN'S expertise in vocational training may soon be helping people in African countries.

Zanzibar Education and Vocational Training Minister Haron Al Sulaiman led a delegation to learn more about how the Bahrain Training Institute operates.

He travelled to Bahrain specifically to visit BTI, after hearing about its pioneering projects aimed at improving local skills and getting job-seekers ready for the workplace.

BTI director-general Mohammed Dirbas gave a brief presentation about BTI, explaining its vision in education and to be an internationally recognised vocational training provider.

Mr Dirbas also stressed the institute's objective to provide high-quality, life-long vocational and entrepreneurship training.

BTI, which falls under the umbrella of the Labour Ministry, is unique because of its relationship with the various service, commercial and other industries, he told the delegation.

Zanzibar starts partial power rationing

March 09, 2006
Source: Xinhua

Zanzibar has started a one- hour-per-day power rationing in its West/Urban region in the wake of the failure of a transformer, according to reports reaching Dar Es Salaam, on Wednesday.

The power rationing will remain in force until further notice, said Suleiman Ali Juma, manager of the Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation.

The manager explained that the transformer breakdown had been caused by the malfunction of its circuit breaker.

Local technicians are waiting for the arrival of a new circuit breaker from a European country to fix the problem.

Juma told local reporters that the daily power rationing would only affect residents in the West/Urban region while the four other regions on the Indian Ocean archipelago would not be affected by the load shedding.

Zanzibar falls into five administrative regions, with three on the Unguja island and two on the Pemba island. Unguja and Pemba are the two main islands of the archipelago.

Can Muslim radicals make Zanzibar the Hong Kong of East Africa?

DAVID EVAN HARRIS:
The Providence Journal
March 9, 2006


ZANZIBAR CITY, Tanzania (SH) - No one could understand why three Americans would want to venture into the headquarters of a political party that is not exactly known for its love of the West.
Walking down a quiet semi-paved road on the periphery of Zanzibar City in Tanzania, Gordon, Helen, and I were clearly out of place. We were three young, sweaty, white Americans looking for the headquarters of Zanzibar's radical opposition party, the Civic United Front. There, we hoped to interview Ismail Jussa Ladhu, a higher-up in the party. Our directions to the office were vague, but we were told to "just ask anyone" if we couldn't find it.

I caught the attention of a fairly well dressed man walking past us. Hoping that he would speak English, I said, "Excuse me. Could you please tell us where the CUT (pronounced "cuff") office is?"

"Coffee? No coffee here," he said.

I decided to try out my freshly acquired Swahili: "CUF iko wapi?"

"No coffee. Coffee over there." He pointed toward the center of town. "You want Internet?"

The four of us looked in confusion at one another for a few long seconds.

The heat made the afternoon seem a bit surreal. Then I pulled my phrasebook from my pocket and found the word for office.

"Miendeni CUT?" I spelled it out for him: "C-U-F."

"Ohh, CUP. Why you want to go there?" He looked at us as though we were aliens and shook his head, but pointed us in the direction of the office and continued on his way.

Part of his look probably stemmed from CUT's not being known for a love of Western tourists. The party's anti-Western graffiti appear throughout the streets of Zanzibar, and in recent years CUT's efforts to usurp control from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, "The Revolutionary Party") have been met with violent repression. Since the 1964 union of Tanganyika (today's mainland Tanzania) and the islands of Zanzibar, to form Tanzania, CCM and its predecessor parties have ruled the nation.

Zanzibar's population of nearly 1 million is more than 98-percent Muslim. On the mainland, however, Muslims make up a much smaller part of the population, ranging, in reports, from 35 to 45 percent, most of whom live in coastal areas.

The total mainland population is about 36 million, 35 percent of whom are Christians and 30 percent of whom hold "indigenous beliefs."

International observers agreed that the 1995 and 2000 Zanzibar elections were corrupt, and most said that CUT represented the majority of the Zanzibari electorate. Zanzibar, while part of Tanzania, enjoys nominal "self-rule," which since the '60s has let it have its own president and legislature, although they have little power.

The CCM has often sought in recent years to portray CUT as an Islamic-fundamentalist movement, and sometimes goes so far as to conflate all Islamic organizations with terrorist groups to justify arbitrary repression. In fact, as of December 2001, a small contingent of Osama bin Laden supporters were affiliating themselves with CUT through appearances at Zanzibar rallies.

However, as we later found out, the party is officially non-religious, condemns terrorism, and has a large base of non-Muslim support in mainland Tanzania.

Gordon, Helen, and I continued on our way toward CUT headquarters, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.

After a few other encounters with incredulous locals and another 15 minutes of walking, we arrived at a two-story building decorated with streamers and flags, and covered top to bottom with posters for the CUT presidential candidate for Zanzibar.

As we were stepping toward the door, a taxi zipped up behind us. The disturbed-looking driver opened the window and blurted, "This is not a hotel!

"Where you wanna go? No accommodation here! Get in the taxi."

It was as if we were about to step into a snake pit. We convinced this kind man and concerned passers-by that we really were there to talk with Ismail Jussa Ladhu, private secretary to the secretary general of CUT, Zanzibar. The strange looks didn't stop there.

As we stepped into the air-conditioned building, the entire experience began feeling like a dream. One young man greeted us with an odd look and some questions, then ran off to find his boss. After about half an hour, we were told by one of the CUT volunteers that we would continue waiting in our absent host's private office.

We were led up some stairs and into a roomy office with a large desk, a couch, and a rather intriguing bookshelf, filled with various strands of radical political literature, including Mao's biography, Hoxha's "Imperialism and the Revolution," and a number of other works on economy, socialism, communism, and capitalism. I wondered how the owner of these books might relate such theoretical and historical frameworks to the current predicament of Zanzibar.

But nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to hear.

The first clue was Ismail Jussa Ladhu's shirt: a starched white short-sleeved polo, with an embroidered HSBC logo practically jumping off his chest.

Having passed through the United Kingdom on my way to Tanzania, I recalled seeing the same logo of the British banking giant emblazoned atop a London skyscraper and on countless ATMs. The shirt didn't quite fit with the bookshelf.

In any case, Ladhu was an extremely welcoming and edifying host. As it turned out, he, too, had been in Britain, having received a law degree from the University of Hull before coming back to his native Zanzibar to work for CUT.

After making some small talk and telling him about our study-abroad program, we decided to pop the big question: What does your party really stand for?

"First and foremost," he said, "we stand for free markets."

Our jaws dropped. "But we don't want investment from the West. We want it from the East. We want to see Zanzibar become the Hong Kong of East Africa, with investments coming in from across the Arab world."

And thus began our lesson in Zanzibar's history and geography a la CUT.

It is difficult to find land that has changed hands more times than Zanzibar. Former rulers include India, Persia, Portugal, Germany, and Britain. Needless to say, Zanzibar's post-colonial identity is fraught with historical baggage.

In the 1960s, the independence movement brewed in the climate of growing Pan-Africanism. When the revolutionary forces took to the streets of Zanzibar in 1964, "Arabs" were publicly slaughtered by the hundreds because they were seen as the local representatives of the British Empire.

Forty years later, the tide has turned. The percentage of Zanzibaris identifying their heritage as partly Arab and/or Persian has risen significantly, despite very small changes in the demography. As frustration with Pan-Africanism and highly corrupt "socialist" rule has risen, CUT, the radical opposition, has struck a chord with the populace by presenting itself as the alternative to the status quo.

Ladhu told us, "The government here has a very confused ideology. No one can tell you: Is it capitalism? Socialism? Liberalism?"

Despite widespread discontent with the ruling CCM, President Amani Karume was re-elected last November, claiming 53 percent of the vote, against CUT candidate Seif Hamad's 46 percent. CUT rejected the results, declaring election fraud.

It remains to be seen what, if any, progress will be made in the long-hoped-for social and economic development that Zanzibaris have watched slip through their fingers time and time again.

David Evan Harris is pursuing a master's degree at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on a Rotary Club Ambassadorial Scholarship. This article originally appeared in Glimpse Magazine, glimpseabroad.org.

Zanzibar villagers ask for aid

09/03/2006
News24 (SA)

Zanzibar - Villagers on the Zanzibar archipelago - hit by a drought that has hurt farmers across East Africa - have appealed for food aid.

The drought has also led to hunger in mainland Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

"We are facing a serious shortage of food in our village and we appeal to the government to help us. We can't afford to buy expensive food," said villager, Mwatima Amir.

The poor harvest and subsequent food shortage has driven up the price of rice, Zanzibar's staple food. A kilogram now costs a $1, nearly four times the normal price.

The food shortage was worse in the central and southern regions of Zanzibar's main island of Unguja, where more than 50 cows have died due to lack of food and water.

Ali Haji, chairman of a special government committee to assess the crisis, said he understood the villagers' needs and would report back to the archipelago's semi-autonomous government.

Seasonal rains were expected to begin this month, but experts predict they will be below average.

Abdulla Mwinyi, a regional commissioner in central Unguja, toured farms on Wednesday.

"The government is keen to resolve this or reduce the burden on you," Mwinyi told villagers.

EU assists Tanzania to further develop tourism

Angola Press
03/08
DAR ES SALAAM,

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday offered a tourism development package to the United Republic of Tanzania.

The package consists of a grant of 2.5 million euros (2.97 million U.S. dollars) in support of a three-year tourism training program, according to reports reaching here.

The package was signed in Zanzibar by Gray Mgonja, permanent secretary of the Tanzanian Finance Ministry, and Frans Baan, EU Ambassador to Tanzania.

Mgonja said after signing the package that the EU fund would help promote the tourism sector in the east African country. Tourism has been making increasing contribution to Tanzania`s economic growth.

Between 1995 and 2004, according to available statistics from the Finance Ministry, tourism revenues increased from 259.44 million dollars to 746.02 million dollars as the number of overseas tourists increased from 295,312 people to 582,807 people.

The tourism sector has created 198,557 job opportunities in the country during this period.

Frans Baan said that out of the tourism development package, 114 million shillings (100,000 dollars) would be used on improving the hotels and tourist-related facilities in the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar

Zanzibar hikes electricity charges

2006-03-06 11:04:37
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar has announced the increase of power tariffs by 25 per cent starting April this year, according to the Isles Minister for Land, Construction, Energy and Water, Mansour Yussuf Himid.

The Minister said the hiking of power tariffs has been necessitated by the increasing cost of supplying electricity in the Island, and the need to improve services.

He said the Zanzibar State Fuel and Power Corporation (ZSFPC) was faced with some problems including Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) debt of about 19bn/-, and that Zanzibaris still pay reasonable amount for electricity compared with Tanzanians in the mainland.

”Zanzibar government had not increased electricity rates since 2001 because the government does not want to load its people with burdens. But now we have thought of increasing something small just to improve our services,” Himid said.

Zanzibar’s main Island of Unguja gets its 45 megawatts main electricity supply from the Tanzanian Mainland power grid through Fumba from Rasikiromoni power station. Pemba depends on the thermal generators.

Yussuf also told reporters that the Zanzibar government was working closely with some donors to improve electricity supply to Zanzibar, mainly by replacing the submarine cable from the Mainland, as well as connecting Pemba Island with Tanga electricity.

He said the current submarine cable which was installed in 1979 is about to reach its life span, which is 30 years.
He said that the government was in discussions with some donors including the AfDB, and the US Millennium Account on life improvement in developing countries.

He also disclosed that his Ministry is expecting to table a bill in the next Zanzibar House of Representatives, which would allow business people to import and sell electricity generating equipment.

Preparations for 'Sauti za Busara' Music on course

By PETER INGOLO
Jan. 14, 2006
Kenya Times

The third edition of Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) takes place from 9th - 14th February 2006. This five-day extravaganza of diverse and top-quality music, theatre and dance brings together people of all ages and backgrounds in celebrating the wealth and variety of Swahili music.

The venue will be at the Old Fort in Stone Town for four nights and then it decamps to Kendwa beach on Zanzibar’s north coast for a special grand finale featuring international DJs.

Organised by Busara Promotions, a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit cultural organisation based in Zanzibar, the 2006 Festival showcases a rich and dynamic programme including ngoma traditional music, taarab, kidumbak, rumba, muziki wa dansi, mchiriku, Swahili hiphop bongo flava, Afropop fusions, mystic and religious music, theatre, comedy, acrobatics and dance.

Of the 40 groups participating, most are from the Swahili-speaking nations: Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi, with six or seven specially selected groups from Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Europe.

According to Busara Promotions Director, Yusuf Mahmoud, among confirmed artists include Ferooz (Bongo Flava megastar), Mchinga Sound (Muziki wa Dansi), Jagwa Music (Mchiriku from Dar es Salaam - favourites at WOMEX UK 2005), Lady Jaydee is also expected to show up with a live band, Culture Musical Club (Zanzibar taarab), Amina (Mombasa taarab), Sinachuki Kidumbak, Bi Kidude Msondo group, Black Roots (Zanzibar), Mkalimala Culture Group (traditional music from Mtwara), Taffetas (Kora fusion from Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Europe), Fanaza (Swaziland), Ukoo Flani MauMau (Nairobi hiphop), New Sound Band (Burundi), Atongo Zimba (Ghana) and The Shrine Synchrosystem featuring DJs Rita and Max from London, performing live with musicians and rappers from West and East Africa. Other artists are yet to confirm.

The extravaganza aims at encouraging audiences to celebrate pluralism of cultural and religious diversity; to promote and develop opportunities for musicians and performing artists along the Swahili coast and islands to connect, learn and perform together; and to develop regional artistic cooperation, for the social, cultural and economic growth of East Africa and the Swahili region.

In October 2005, 93-year old Zanzibari legend Bi Kidude bint Baraka was presented with the World Music Expo (WOMEX) lifetime achievement award and Busara Promotions made it possible for her to travel to the UK.

WOMEX is the world’s premier networking event exclusively dedicated to international music of all kinds. Attending were more than 2,000 international professionals, 500 musicians, 300 exhibitors representing record companies, festival and concert promoters, agents, cultural institutions, the media and other sectors gathered from more than 84 countries.

A moving tribute to Bi Kidude was delivered in recognition of her more than 80 years of singing and serving as a cultural mediator and advisor of the younger generations, on matters of sex and marriage - a proper symbol of World Music’s emancipatory, liberating and strengthening power.

As Bi Kidude walked on stage to accept her reward, the two thousand WOMEX delegates gave her a five-minute standing ovation. A proud day it was indeed for Africa.

The past festivals have attracted more than 12,000 people and interest for the next edition indicates that more will be in attendance.In three short years, Sauti za Busara (Swahili Music) Festival has firmly established itself as one of East Africa’s finest annual events

Zanzibar opposition leaders slam government

2006-01-14 09:03:33
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Opposition party leaders expressed dismay yesterday at what they termed as discrimination by the Zanzibar government during national celebrations, including Thursday’s 42nd Revolution Day.

Speaking to reporters in Zanzibar, NCCR Mageuzi, TADEA, UPDP and CUF leaders said they did not take kindly to the government’s decision to sideline them during Revolution Day celebrations that were held at Amani Stadium on Thursday.

NCCR Mageuzi Zanzibar vice-chairman Haji Ambar Khamis said opposition was dismayed by the conduct of the government, saying sidelining them would not contribute to the healing of the differences that emerged during the last general election.

He said that since President Karume came to power in 2000, he has been inviting opposition parties to attend national functions, but they were surprised that they were excluded from the Mapinduzi Day activities.

’The turn of events shocked us as it went against the spirit of national unity and reconciliation as preached by the government,’ Ambar said.

TADEA organising secretary Juma Ali Khatib said that had Chief Secretary Shamsi Vuai Nahodha been in the country, they would have been invited to attend the celebrations.
The Chief Secretary is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for Hajj (pilgrimage).

The leaders said that, it is normal practice for leaders to be invited to national events in keeping with established protocol.

Commenting on opposition leaders’ complaints, Principal Secretary in the Office of the President (Regional Administration) Hassan Haji Wambi dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded.

’I’m sure they were all invited, but it has become their habit to complain. They have resorted to giving lame excuses after failing to honour the invitations,’ Wambi said.

He said that if the leaders were serious about attending the celebrations, they would have done so just like the rest of the people who went to the stadium.

Commenting on President Karume’s speech, the opposition leaders disputed the statistics he gave regarding Zanzibar’s economic growth during his first five years at the helm.

Ambar observed that the Isles’ agricultural and commercial sectors, which are the mainstay of the economy, had collapsed since President Karume came to power in 2000.

He noted that most businessmen had relocated to the Mainland after the Isles government failed to institute tax regimes to match the Mainland.

’President Karume’s speech was political and failed to factor in the prevailing economic reality. It is not possible that the economy grew by 6.8 per cent, yet most people still live on one meal per day,’ argued Khatib.

He said that, in the past 42 years, earnings from the manufacturing sector, which is the benchmark traditionally used to gauge the economic health of a country, had slumped.

UPDP’s Haji Othman doubted President Karume’s statistics because, he said, had they been true, the government would be able to pay civil servants better salaries and on time.

When he addressed the nation on Thursday, President Karume said that the economy had expanded by 6.8 per cent during the five years he has been in power. He projected the economy would surge with same robustness in the next 10 years.

Karume tells of overdependency danger

Business Times
Friday, January 13, 2006
By Bernard James

ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume has called on Zanzibaris to cherish principles of self-reliance to protect their revolution.
He said overdependency on assistance from foreign countries could jeopardise the isles revolution.
President Karume made the remarks yesterday in his speech to mark the 42nd Zanzibar revolution at the Amaan stadium.
Zanzibar revolution took place on January 12, 1964 when nationalists armed with guns, machetes, clubs and stones overthrew the Arab sultanate oligarchy.
"It is important that we live in solidarity and work hard to make our nation self reliant rather than a nation surviving through donor funding. Unless we take self-reliance seriously we would jeopardize our independence," he said.
The president, however, also used the occasion to thank donor countries, international financial institutions and development partners for their role and contributions towards Zanzibar's political and economic development.
He also thanked Zanzibaris for their confidence in him and his government as reflected in his victory in the October 30 elections held in the isles.
"CCM's victory in last year's elections is truly a reflection of your confidence in CCM policies," he said.
He said in the last five years, there had been remarkable successes in political as well as economic sectors in the Isles.
He cited the signing of CCM-CUF accord in October 2001 and the building of infrastructure as some of the leading success stories. "Zanzibar revolution aimed at emancipating the African population. Since that time, we have gone through great political, economical and social changes.
" But still we have to make sure that we uphold freedom and defend the dignity and the sovereignty of all Zanzibaris, brought by the 1964 revolution," he stressed.The ceremony was also attended by the Union President Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, retired president Benjamin Mkapa, leaders of the opposition and members of the diplomatic corps.

Mwinyi, Mkapa grace the fete in Zanzibar

2006-01-13 08:24:51
By Guardian Reporter
Guardian

Two former presidents of Tanzania were yesterday among the dignitaries that graced the 42nd anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution that put an end to the Omani sultanate on the isles.

Former presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa were among the dozens of leaders who attended the commemorative occasion marked with pomp and flare.

The celebrations began with the arrival of the guest of honour, Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume at Aman Stadium at about 10 o’clock in the morning.

Before his arrival, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete had been ushered in at 9.55 accompanied by the First Lady Salma Kikwete.

This was President Kikwete’s first public function since he was sworn-in on December 21.

On arrival, the two presidents were accorded a standing ovation before they took their seats.

Others who arrived before the duo were Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, Vice President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, former Zanzibar president Dr. Salmin Amour and envoys among others.

At the stadium, they were all received by Urban West Regional Commissioner, Abdallah Mwinyi Khamis.

President Karume inspected a special guard of honour mounted by defense and security forces from various units, before colourful processions from various groups and workers of Zanzibar, filed past the dais.

The groups were from Unguja and Pemba. Others who filed past the dignitaries were CCM zealots donning the party uniforms.

They sung and praised the revolution.
The groups in the procession comprised youths who filed past the President and his guests chanting ’revolution will live forever.’

Zanzibar expects 10 percent economic growth

Xinhua
January 13, 2006

The residents of Zanzibar are expecting to see the annual growth rate of their economy to increase to 10 percent instead of the present 6.8 percent.

The growth increase was promised by President of Zanzibar Amani Abeid Karume during the Zanzibar Revolution anniversary celebration held on Thursday.

The president promised in his anniversary speech, of which the official translation was available here on Friday, that with the new increase in economic growth, his government would create more jobs and improve the living standards of the Zanzibari people.

Special emphasis will be placed on infrastructure development in Unguja and Pemba, the two main islands of the Indian Ocean archipelago, according to the president who won reelection in October last year.

These infrastructure development will attract more local and overseas investment into road construction, rural electrification and port rehabilitation.

With the expected increase of economic growth, the president also ensured to implement the second phase of the Zanzibar Poverty Reduction Plan this year.

Zanzibar, though part of the United Republic of Tanzania, has its own president, cabinet and parliament. It holds concurrent general elections every five years along with the Tanzanian mainland that is also part of the united republic.

Z’bar in major power scheme

2006-01-09
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Zanzibar Electricity Company Ltd has unveiled a plan to connect rural people to electricity on credit.

The plan is intended to speed up the implementation of the national poverty reduction programmes and conserve the environment at the same time.

The firm’s managing director, Suleiman Ali Juma, said in a statement that the programme, to be implemented from this year, would benefit Unguja and Pemba rural villages.

It will target poor families who cannot afford to meet the high cost of power connection because of low incomes.

’Under the project, the company will increase its customer base and reduce environmental destruction caused by massive felling of trees,’ said the MD.

The project would help villagers from Unguja and Pemba to develop small-scale income generating activities such as sale of fish and animal products.

’This is in line with the government’s commitment to enabling people in the rural areas to engage in alternative income generating activities, besides farming, ’ he said.

To reduce accumulated debts, the company will install pre-paid meters (Tukuza) in Unguja.

Currently, the company has 52,100 connected customers, out of who 13,550 use Tukuza and 38,550 others use ordinary meters.

To boost efficiency in the supply of electricity, Suleiman said the power company is shopping for a donor to finance a project to fetch electricity from Tanga to Pemba through the Indian Ocean.

Besides, he said, the company is conducting a feasibility study to generate electricity from sea waves instead of relying on electricity from Kidatu Hydro Power Station on the Mainland.

The company is one of Tanesco’s customers, which has accumulated debts amounting to billions of shillings.

Zanzibar rations water

07/01/2006
News24 (SA)

Zanzibar - Authorities in Tanzania's semiautonomous state of Zanzibar on Saturday started rationing water in the capital due to shortages at reservoirs caused by a searing drought that has placed millions at risk of famine across east Africa, officials said.

Zanzibar's water department said pumping at the island's two main reservoirs has dropped from 14 million litres per day to four million litres owing to a shortage of rain.

"The only option is to start rationing the little water we get. This is the only immediate solution to help people to get little water in Zanzibar Town," said Hemed Salim, the department's head.

Of the island's population of about a million people, some 350 000 living in Stone Town, the historic centre of Zanzibar the densely-populated capital, would be largely affected by the rationing.

Under normal circumstances, the Stone Town's population require about 50 million litres of water a day.

Despite being surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar draws its water from natural springs and boreholes.

Apart from Tanzania, and Uganda, that are part of east Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Friday warned that 11 million people in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia were on the brink of starvation in the Horn of Africa.

Zanzibar attracts expected number of tourists in 2005

January 02, 2006
Xinhua

A total of 113,237 foreign tourists came in the past year to the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, meeting the expectations of the isles' tourism trade.

Issa Ahmed Othman, director of the Zanzibar Tourism commission, said on Sunday that most of these tourists came from Europe, especially from Italy.

Other countries that produced large numbers of tourists included Britain, Spain and the United States, according to reports reaching here.

Of the total tourists who came between January and December 2005, 45,065 were from Italy while 11,914 were from Britain.

South Africa brought the most African tourists, with a total of 7,574 visitors as against 2004's 4,676.

The number of foreign tourists to Zanzibar has been increasing by an average 13 percent each year in recent years, boosting national economic growth in terms of gross domestic product by an average of 15 percent a year.

Tourism has come to account for one fifth of Zanzibar's gross domestic product as the 2004/2005 fiscal year ending in June last year earned more than 55 million US dollars from tourism.

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