stoney stone town

Zanzibar: A drug-fuelled paradise?
Why is it an A list must go destinantion for backpackers ze"vishukas"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Dickinson

Just a few minutes walk from the winding picturesque alleyways of Zanzibar's historic and much-visited Stone Town is a sight that most tourists will not get to see.
Crouching in small fishing boats and dugout canoes on the shore of Malindi, Stone Town's port are a number of young men injecting themselves with a cocktail of heroin and cocaine.


Tourists come from Europe to sample cheap heroin and cocaine

It is a scene at odds with Zanzibar's image of an exotic beach paradise for well-heeled tourists, but for a growing number of Zanzibaris this is the reality of life on an impoverished island off the coast of Tanzania. Saluum Ibrahim Jiddawi started taking drugs when he was just 15 years old. His reasons for doing so were probably no different from teenagers anywhere in the world; he thought it was cool, his friends were doing it, he was bored at school.

Wasted life

And his life unravelled along predictable lines.
He graduated from smoking cannabis to injecting heroin and over the 15 years of his addiction, lost all his friends, his self-respect, put his family under huge stress and took to stealing and lying to feed his $15-a-day habit, a heavy financial burden on an island where the average wage is less than $1-a-day.


I wasted 15 years of my life, and I regret all the pain I put my family through
Saluum Jiddawi Ex-heroin user

Saluum managed to kick the habit two years ago and now runs an outboard motor repair shop on the Malindi shoreline where addicts remind him on a daily basis of the "biggest mistake" of his life. "I wasted 15 years of my life, and I regret all the pain I put my family through," he said. Saluum was lucky to get out of the drugs scene when he did as the temptation of drugs on the island is as strong as it has ever been.

"Drugs are more available now as Zanzibar is on the international drug routes, but the quality is deteriorating as cocaine and heroin are being mixed with flour." Small packets of foil wrapped brown sugar, as heroin is called locally, is easy to pick up in Malindi for just $1, but because of the poor quality addicts are increasingly injecting rather than smoking it. "Users prefer injecting as the drug goes straight into the blood stream and has a bigger effect," said Saluum.

Spread of HIV

And now addicts are adopting a new technique which is worrying drug abuse specialists. It is called "flash blood".
A user injects heroin, then withdraws a syringe-full of blood which contains a smaller amount of heroin and which is passed to a second user who injects it. The technique means that addicts who cannot afford to buy their own drugs can still get a fix, however diluted. "Such sharing is terribly dangerous," says Dr Steven Nsimba of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences.

"It could have devastating consequences for HIV/Aids. If the first person is infected the second person will get a direct transmission of the virus." The prevalence of HIV is under 1% in Zanzibar, well below the 7% on mainland Tanzania, but Dr Nsimba believes that could change. "The spread of HIV could be very fast depending on the number of people who are doing flash blood." No-one knows just how many addicts are using the flash blood technique, although the health authorities in Zanzibar are now trying to gather reliable data.

Drug-fuelled paradise?


Mgeni Hassan from Zayedesa, a local NGO which offers support to addicts, paints a gloomy picture.


Young people do not know what they are doing.

We believe every household in the urban centres has one or two children affected
Mgeni Hassan Zanzibari ngo worker "We are seeing the effects of drug abuse, the increase in crime. Young people do not know what they are doing. We believe every household in the urban centres has one or two children affected." And it seems that Zanzibar may be getting a reputation as a place for drug tourism.
One hotelier, who wants to remain anonymous, said he had met tourists who came from Europe to sample cheap heroin and cocaine. One recent case involving a British tourist ended in tragedy. A 26-year-old man collapsed and died after taking drugs he had bought on the island. Most tourists will, of course, enjoy drug free holidays in Zanzibar and will not be aware of the growing local addiction problem. The authorities on the island are no doubt hoping that Zanzibar never picks up a reputation as a drug-fuelled paradise.


Soma Hapa

Rais alipewa majina ya wauza unga lakini ameyaweka kapuni ni lini atayashughulikia? Hadi vijana wote walewe unga? Taratibu tunaanza kupata sifa ambazo haziendani na U

TV Zanzibar(TVZ): Kuondokana na Analogy kwenda Digital

Luninga ya SMZ imeingia mkataba na serikali ya Japan ambapo, Luninga hiyo itafanyiwa malekebisho ya hali juu toka mfumo wa sasa wa urushaji wa matangazo wa Analogy na kwenda kwenye mfumo wa Digital.

Kwa mjibu wa Mdau hapo juu kwenye picha, matengenezo hayo yanategemea kuanza mapema 2008. Mfumo huu wa digital katika Tanzania upo kwenye TVT, Star TV huku ITV na Channel 10 wakiwa semi digital. Zaidi Wachina nao wamekubaliana na serikali ya mapinduzi zanzibar kuvungua kituo kimpya na cha kisasa zaidi cha Tv. Kituo hicho kinatazamiwa kujengwa katika maeneo ya Masingini. Tv hiyo itakuwa ni full digital na yenye nguvu kubwa zaidi kuliko hiyo ya sasa (TVZ).

Jumuwata inakuhitaji..

Jumuiya ya Wanablogu wa Tanzania inawakaribisha wanablogu wote katika kuchangia, kurekebisha, kukosoa, kutoa ushauri n.k katika katiba ya jumuiya.

Mchango wako wa kimawazo unahitajika sana ili kuweza kupatikana kwa katiba nzuri kwa manufaa ya wanablogu wote.

Usomapo Tangazo hili tafadhali mjulishe na mwanablogu mwenzako.

Wajane waweka rekodi mpya huko zenj....!

Wajane wa kisiwa cha Zanzibar wameweka rekodi mpya katika fani ya mavazi. Ni baaada ya kuwa wabunifu wa kwanza kupaka/kuchora hinna kwenye vitambaa ambavyo hutumika kutengenezea nguo mbalimbali. Ubunifu huu waliupata kutokana na kuhudhulia kozi ya muda mfupi juu ya kuchora hinna kwenye vitambaa.

Ili lengo la mafunzo hayo liweze kufanikiwa ambalo ni kuongeza kipato kwa Wajane hao, ni muhimu kuona kuwa wanakuwa na sehemu rasmi ya kufanyia biashara zao. Kwa upande huu wa fani zisizo rasmi kuwekuwepo na usumbufu mkubwa wa sehemu za kufanyia shughuli zao, pengine ni kutokana na serikali kutowajali, hivyo kuwasumbu sumbua kila kila.

Sehemu ambayo Wajane hawa na wafanyabiashara wengine katika fani hiyo wamekuwa wakiitumia ni Eneo la mji mkongwe na sehemu ya Uwanja wa Forodhani na baadhi ya mitaa ambayo hutokea katika uwanja wa forodhani kama vile mtaa wa gizenga. Halmashauri ya Mji kupitia maelekezo ya Mamlaka ya Mji Mkongwe, Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa Mjini Maghalibi na ofisi ya Waziri Kiongozi wamekuwa mara kwa mara wakiwaondoa wafanyabiashara hao kwa madai mengi, ambayo mengine uhusisha mambo ya dini.

Kwa kuweza kuweka rekodi ya Dunia, ambapo sasa wataweza kujiongezea mapato yao maradufu, Ni vema kwa serikali kutowasumbua sumbua Wajane hao. Soko lao hilo linawalenga watalii ambao hupatikana katika maeneo ya forodhani ambako kuwa vivutio kadhaa vya Utalii. Na zaidi SMZ sasa iweke mikakati ya kuweza kutambua fani zisizo rasmi, kwani zaidi ya kutoa ajila kwa wahusika zitaweza vilevile kuingiza mapato ndani ya serikali na kusaidia juhudi za serikali kupunguza umaskini kwa wananchi wake.

Ni Msimu wa Beer za Mafichoni...Zanzibar

Mwezi wa Ramadhan huko Zanzibar, hubadilisha sura ya kawaida ya visiwa hivyo, aidha pilikapilika nyingi za kawaida huenda likizo ya muda, huku pilika nyingine huchukua nafasi katika kipindi hiki.

Kwa wanywaji wa bia ambao hawafungi, uungana na wananchi wengine ambao wana imani zingine kuendelea kunywa bia, kwa staili ya kujifungia ndani ya nyumba za ulevi....Kwa ufupi katika kipindi hiki cha mfungo, migahawa, hoteli, baa na majumba mengine yote ya starehe hufungwa. Hakuna sheria rasmi ya kufanya hivyo, ila kwa kuwa imekuwa ikifanyika kwa miaka nenda rudi sasa inaonekana ni kama sheria. Na iwapo ukishikwa unakula mchana katika mfungo huu, basi utasekwa rumande na kuachiwa baada ya siku moja au kushitakiwa kabisa!

Miaka kadhaa huko nyuma Beer ilikuwa ikiuzwa katika hotel za serikali tu wakati wa mfungo huu. Tena waliokuwa wanakusudiwa hapo ni watalii tu...! labda na wageni wa serikali ambao wana imani tofauti. Zaidi ya kuuza bia, hoteli hizo pia ndio zilikuwa zikiuza msosi. Hata hivyo mambo sasa yamechukua sura mpya. Baa nyingi huendelea kufanya kazi katika kipindi hiki, zikiuza bia na misosi. Tofauti ya mwezi huu na miezi mingine ni kuwa unywaji ufanyika kwa kujificha, na katika mazingira ya ukimya kabisa, huku wengi wakisubiri king'ora cha kufuturu...!

King'ora kikisharia, kumbi hizo ufunguliwa milango, redio hufunguliwa na kelele za kawaida za kwenye baa huanza kusikika! Hali hii uwepo kwa muda wa mwezi mzima.

Karibu Kahawa...

Kwa wale waliofika Zenj na kunywa kahawa na kashata mitaani, kahawa hiyo sasa inapatikana kwenye makopo kwa matumizi ya nyumbani.

Karume Boys hamna aibu?

Karume Boys imepewa jina hilo baada ya rais wa Zenj kujitosa katika kudhamini mchezo wa mpira wa miguu huko visiwani na hata katika ngazi ya afrika ya mashariki na kati. Rais huyo amekuwa mstari wa mbele kusimamia mchezo huo kwa kuhakikisha kuwa timu za Taifa kama hii ya vijiana wa umri chini ya miaka 17 wanashiriki katika mashindano makubwa.
Kwa kufanya hivyo nina imani kuwa lengo la rais ni kuwajenga vijana hao kimchezo tokea wakiwa vijana ili waje kuingia kwenye timu za wakubwa wakiwa na uzoefu mkubwa katika mchezo huo.

Kilichotokea hivi karibuni huko Burundi, kinatia shaka na kinyaa katika medani ya soka visiwani humo. Kuna tuhuma kuwa vijana hao waliuza mechi kwa jirani zao wa Kenya, ili timu hiyo ya Kenya iweze kuingia hatua ya nusu fainali. Kuuza mechi za kitaifa kwa kweli kunatia shaka sana na kama ni kweli basi itakuwa ni hujuma mbaya kabisa kutokea katika fani hii ya kusakata kabumbu katika visiwa hivyo na hata kwa Tanzania kwa ujumla.

Nikirudi nyuma kuangalia maandalizi ya timu hiyo na safari yake ya Burundi yalikuwa ni ya kusuasua na hasa katika suala zima la gharama za timu hiyo kuanzia kambini kwao hadi nauli ya kwenda huko.

Kuanzia timu za Taifa, hadi kwenye vilabu vya Zenj vimekuwa na tatizo la udhamini, hivyo kufanya kuitegemea zaidi serikali katika kushiriki mashindano ya kimataifa. Rais huyo wa Zenj nina hakika alikubali kuanza kudhamini timu hiyo kutokana na kukosekana kwa wafadhili wenye ridhaa ya SMZ. Kwani sio kila mfadhili hukubalika huko Zenj. Hali ya sasa ya udhamini wa soka, na hata uwezo wa vilabu vya soka huko visiwani ni wa kutia shaka, na hii inadhibitishwa na klabu bingwa ya visiwa hivyo timu ya Miembeni kutaka kujitoa au kuuza nafasi yao ya kushiriki mashindano ya klabu bingwa afrika, kutokana na kukosa fedha za kugharamia maandalizi na ushiriki wa mashindano hayo. Hata yule mfadhili wao ambae aliweza kuwaingiza wapenzi wa Miembeni na watu wengine bure kujaza uwanja wa Amani amejitoa kuidhamini timu hiyo katika mashindano hayo muhimu.

Tatizo kubwa la soka visiwani huko ni kukosekana kwa wafadhili. Kipindi kile cha Mzee Ruska, timu za Zenj zilikuwa zikitamba sana, na ilitokana na kuwa na wafadhili. Kwa mfano timu ya Malindi iliweza kununua wachezaji nyota wa timu ya Taifa ya Zambia, kuchezea timu yao, zaidi waliweza hata kuleta wachezaji toka Ulaya ya Mashariki. Mlandege nayo haikuwa nyuma katika kuwakilisha vizuri visiwa hivyo, ambao wachezaji walikuwa wakilipwa kama ni wachezaji wa kulipwa.

Kuanguka kwa ufadhili wa mtu mmoja mmoja kulifungua ukurasa kwa makampuni makubwa kama ya Bia kuingia katika anga za soka. Hata hivyo SMZ ilipinga vikali udhamini wa makampuni ya Ulevi... Kwa kudai kuwa unakwenda kinyume na maadili ya Nchi. Taratibu vilabu vilianza kudorola na hata kufikia kwa timu ya Taifa.

Kilichotokea huko Burundi kinawezekana kutokana na hali halisi ya maandalizi ya timu hiyo. Inaonekana kuwa timu hiyo haikuwa na motisha wa aina yoyote zaidi ya kushiriki mashindano hayo ili siku ipite na warudi makwao. Timu hiyo inawezekana ilikuwa katika hali ngumu kimaisha huko, kiasi ikiwa ni rahisi kurubuniwa ili kudhibiti njaa zao.

Waziri kiongozi nae aliona hali ngumu ya ufadhili kwa timu hiyo, na kabla ya timu hiyo kwenda huko Burundi alinukuliwa akisikitishwa na wafadhili kutojitokeza kuidhamini timu hiyo. Hayo, pamoja na mengine itakuwa ni busara kusubiri uchunguzi wa ZFA dhidi ya timu hiyo. Aidha itakuwa ni jambo la mbolea kwa ZFA kutujulisha matokeo ya uchunguzi wao. Ambao utatuwezesha kujua kipigo cha magoli matano kilikuwa ni kuzidiwa kimchezo au hujuma!

Zenj Watatoa Lini Miss Tz......?

Mshindi wa Miss Tz mwaka huu amewasha moto mkubwa kwa wadau wa urembo wa huko bara, ikiwa ni pamoja na mamiss kadhaa waliopita. Moto huo ambao kuzimika kwake ni songombindo unatokana na madai kuwa miss huyo hana asili ya Utz bara, ukinondoni n.k Usishangae sana kusema Utz bara, kwani huko visiwani hakuna mambo ya Umiss, na nina shangaa huyo mdosi...sori huyo miss kuitwa Miss Tz wakati Warembo wa Zenj hawakushiriki mashindano hayo...

Mara ya mwisho kwa kumbukumbu zangu, warembo wa marashi ya karafuu walishiriki mashindano hayo wakati yakidhaminiwa na fegi za aspen.. sijui bado zipo au la! manake fegi hizo zimeadimika sana mitaani.

Awali ya yote inaonekana kuwa Watz wameshindwa kabisa kuficha makucha yao ya kibaguzi kwa kupiga kelele kwa mdosi huyo mzalendo kutwaa taji hilo. Mimi binafsi sishangai sana, kwani ile dhambi ambayo ipo visiwani huku, imeweza kuvuka bahari na kutua huko Bongo...Tz bara.

Iwapo kungekuwpo na Miss Zenj basi yoyote yule ambae angebahatika kutwaa taji hilo, angechunguzwa kuwa ana asili ya wapi...! Kama ni kutoka kisiwa cha pili basi angeitwa ni mpemba, na iwapo angekuwa anakaa Ng'ambo iliyo karibu na Mji mkongwe basi wangesema ni Mngazija, zaidi iwapo angekuwa na chongo basi moja kwa moja angeitwa ni mnyamwezi( mtu yoyote toka bara).

Utamaduni wa kuangalia mtu ana asili ya wapi upo muda mrefu katika visiwa hivi, kiasi kwamba umeleta kujitenga kimakaazi kwa watu... Tabia hii huko bara haikuwepo huko zamani, lakini sasa naona inaingia kwa kasi kubwa. Sijui inaashiria kitu gani, kwani, huko bara waasia wamekuwa wakishika dhamana kubwa kubwa katika kuongoza nchi pasipo mashaka wala malalamiko yoyote. Leo hii kupatikana kwa miss mdosi wa kitz imekuwa nongwa!

Iwapo tulikuwa tukitembea vifua mbele kupinga ubaguzi wa rangi miaka ile, iweje leo tutoe machozi kwa mtz wa kiasia kutwaa taji la Utz? Au ile dhambi toka Zenj tayali imeshaanza kuingia huko bara? Tuliwahi kuonywa kuwa dhambi ya ubaguzi ni mbaya sana, eti ni sawa na kula nyama ya binadamu, kwani hutoishia kuionja tu, bali utaendelea kuila tu!... Mwakani Watz watahoji ni kwanini Mass wanatoka Kinondoni, au kwa nini wamiss wanatoka katika kabila fulani kila mara... Dhambi hiyo itaendelea tu!

Wazenj mara nyingi wamekuwa wakisoma mifano imara ya Tz bara katika suala zima la kuishi bila kujali huyu anatoka wapi au ana asili ya wapi... Iwapo leo hii mmefikia hatua hii, basi mnapoelekea sio kuzuri kabisa. Mfano wa karibu upo huku visiwani!