Uamusho Wawachimbia Mkwara Polisi...

Lidia Kucharcyk Anatafutwa na Familia yake.

Tendwa akihakiki ADC Zanzibar

Makontena yameondolewa Darajani

Jana usiku kulikuwa na vunja vunja kwenye Makontena ya darajani ili kupisha ujenzi wa bustani na parking za magari

Kiwanda kipya cha Nguo Zanzibar- "Frasi Africa"

Source: Frasi Africa- Zanzibar

Mji Mkongwe(Stone Town) Wasafishwa

Siku ya Jumapili iliyopita, Mji Mkongwe ulisafishwa kwa kufagia barabara na chochoro zake pamoja na kuzoa taka mbalimbali katika Mji huo. Usafishaji uliwashirikisha Sustainable East Africa, FAZACH, Conservation & Education-Chumbe Island Coral Park na skuli kadhaa za Mji Mkongwe.

I love Zanzibar... "T-Shirt"

BARUA YA WAZI KWA MH.RAIS Dr.SHEIN – UTEUZI WA MAJAJI

Our Ref:ZLS/IKULU/001

Mhe. Dk. Ali Mohamed Shein
Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti
wa Baraza la Mapinduzi
Ikulu, Zanzibar

Mheshimiwa Rais,

KUH: “PETITION” YA CHAMA CHA MAWAKILI WA ZANZIBAR JUU YA KUTORIDHIKA KWAO NA UTEUZI WA MAJAJI WA MAHKAMA KUU ULIOTANGAZWA TAREHE 29 NOVEMBA 2010

Kwanza kabisa sisi Chama cha Mawakili wa Zanzibar tunapenda kukupa pongezi zetu za dhati kwa kuchaguliwa kuwa Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi katika utaratibu mpya wa Serikali ya Umoja wa Kitaifa. Tunakuombea kheri na mafanikio katika kuwatumikia Wazanzibari ambao wamekupa ridhaa zao na kuonesha imani kubwa juu yako

Chama cha Mawakili wa Zanzibar (ZLS) ni Chama kinachowaunganisha Mawakili wote wa Zanzibar ambao wanafanya kazi ya uwakili katika Mahkama Kuu ya Zanzibar pamoja na mahkama zinazofanya kazi chini ya Mahkama Kuu isipokuwa Mahkama za Mwanzo na Mahkama za Makadhi. Mawakili hawa pia huendesha kesi katika Mahkama ya Rufaa ya Jamhuri ya Muungano ya Tanzania. Katika nafasi yao hiyo, Mawakili wanakuwa ni maofisa wa mahkama. Chama hiki kimeanzishwa mwaka 1998 chini ya Sheria ya Jumuiya ya mwaka 1995. Chama kinaongozwa na Baraza lake lenye Rais, Katibu Mkuu, Mshika Fedha na wajumbe wengine wawili.

Mhe Rais, tarehe 29 Novemba 2010 ulitangaza uteuzi wa majaji wanne wa Mahkama Kuu pamoja na Mwenyekiti wa Mahkama ya Ardhi. Uliowateua kuwa Majaji ni:
1. Mhe: Abdul-hakim Ameir Issa
2. Mhe. Fatma Hamid Mahmoud
3. Mhe. Mkusa Isaac Sepetu, na
4. Mhe. Rabia Hussein Mohamed

Mhe. Rais, katika uteuzi wako huo, ulikuwa unatumia mamlaka uliyopewa na Katiba ya Zanzibar, 1984 kifungu cha 94(2) na (3). Aidha Chama cha Mawakili hakina mashaka na uteuzi wa Mhe. Abdul-hakim Ameir Issa, wala uteuzi wa Mwenyekiti wa Mahkama ya Ardhi, Mhe. Haroub Shehe Pandu. Mashaka yetu yapo katika uteuzi wa waheshimiwa kuanzia nambari 2 mpaka 4 hapo juu.

Mhe. Rais, sisi tunaelewa kwa dhati kabisa kwamba wewe binafsi humjuwi wala huna sababu ya kumjuwa yeyote katika Majaji wanne uliowateua. Uteuzi wako, tunaamini kabisa, unatokana na ushauri uliopewa na Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama iliyoanzishwa chini ya Sheria Namba 13 ya mwaka 2003 ambayo Mwenyekiti wake ni Jaji Mkuu wa Zanzibar, Mhe. Hamid Mahmoud Hamid pamoja na wasaidizi wako wengine katika sekta ya sheria.

Mhe. Rais, sisi mawakili ambao tumetia saini barua hii tukiwa ni wadau wakubwa katika sekta hii, tuna imani kubwa nawe Mheshimiwa Rais, lakini tunaamini washauri wako hawakukutendea haki walipokushauri uwateue Mhe. Fatma, Mhe. Mkusa na Mhe. Rabia kuwa ni Majaji wa Mahkama Kuu. Mhe. Rais, haitoshi tu kusema kwamba Jaji Mteule ametimiza masharti ya Katiba na hivyo anafaa kuwa Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu. Mhe. vipo vigezo vyengine ambavyo ni lazima viangaliwe kabla ya uteuzi wa Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu kufanyika. Nafasi ya Ujaji ni nafasi ya juu kabisa katika ngazi ya Mahkama zetu na pia ni nyeti. Utaalam uliobobea, rekodi iliyothibitika, umakini wa hali ya juu, kujiamini, uadilifu na umahiri wa hali ya juu – vyote kwa pamoja vinahitajika.
Mhe. Rais, kifungu cha 94(2) cha Katiba kinasomeka ifuatavyo:
Majaji wa Mahkama Kuu watateuliwa na Rais kutokana na mapendekezo ya Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama.

Mhe. Rais, Chama cha Mawakili kina mjumbe katika Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama. Pia wajumbe wengine wa Tume ni watu walio karibu na Chama cha Mawakili. Tunapenda kukuthibitishia kwamba hakuna kikao chochote cha Tume hiyo ambacho kimejadili jina la Mhe. Rabia Hussein. Hivyo uteuzi wa Mhe. Rabia umefanywa kinyume kabisa na Katiba ya Zanzibar na hauwezi kusimama katika macho ya sheria.

Mhe. Rais, sisi kama Chama cha Mawakili, tunaamini hata uwepo wa Mhe. Hamid Mahmoud kama Jaji Mkuu wa Zanzibar una mashaka tele ya kikatiba. Inaeleweka kwamba Mhe. Hamid Mahmoud alistaafu kwa hiari alipotimiza miaka 60. Baada ya hapo, Kikatiba, alisita kuwa Jaji Mkuu na Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu. Iwapo alitakiwa kuendelea kushika wadhifa, alipaswa kwanza kupewa mkataba wa kuwa Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu.

Mkataba wa aina hiyo ulilazimu kujadiliwa na Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 95 cha Katiba ambacho tunaomba kukinukuu:
95(1) Bila ya kuathiri masharti ya kifungu hiki, Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu ataendelea kushika wadhifa wake hadi kufikia umri wa miaka sitini ambapo anaweza kustaafu kwa hiari ama kuendelea hadi kufikia umri wa miaka sitini na tano ambapo atastaafu kwa lazima.

(2) Bila ya kuathiri masharti ya kijifungu cha (1) cha kifungu hiki, Rais kwa kushauriana na Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama anaweza kumteua tena Jaji aliekwisha staafu kushika madaraka ya Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu kwa muda au kwa ajili ya kesi maalum. (Msisitizo ni wetu).

Mhe. Rais, ni wazi kwamba pale Mhe. Jaji Mkuu alipoamua kustaafu kwa hiari alipotimiza umri wa miaka 60, hakukuwa na sababu yoyote kuendelea kufanya kazi katika mkataba kwa kuwa Katiba ilikuwa inamruhusu kuendelea na ajira hadi kufikia miaka 65. Vyovyote iwavyo, endapo Mhe. Jaji Mkuu alitakiwa aendelee na nafasi yake baada ya kumaliza utumishi wake, ililazimu mambo yafuatayo yafuatwe kwa mujibu wa Katiba ya Zanzibar (kifungu cha 94(1), 94(2), 94(6)(a) na (b). Mambo yenyewe ni:
a) Ateuliwe kuwa Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu;
b) Mapendekezo ya (a) yatokane na Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama;
c) Endapo ni Jaji wa Mkataba, “masharti ya kazi, marupurupu na kiinua mgongo cha Jaji wa mkataba wa kipindi maalum yataamuliwa na Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama.” (Kif.94(6)(b).
d) Iwapo atateuliwa kuwa Jaji basi atakula kiapo cha Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu.

Mhe Rais, Jaji Mkuu wa sasa ambae ndio Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama, alipostaafu kwa hiari, utaratibu ulioainishwa hapo juu haukufuatwa na magazeti yaliripoti na jamii ya wanasheria pia ilifadhaishwa mno. Aidha, iwapo Mhe. Hamid Mahmoud alitakiwa awe Jaji Mkuu, pia ilipaswa masharti ya Katiba yafuatwe. Vyenginevyo kuendelea kwake kuwa Jaji Mkuu kunakuwa na mashaka ya Kikatiba na sisi tusingependa nchi yetu iwe na Jaji Mkuu ambae uteuzi wake umegubikwa na kasoro kadhaa za Kikatiba.

Hata suala la kuwa Jaji au Jaji Mkuu wa Mkataba ni suala linalopigwa vita sana katika Mahkama za Jumuiya ya Madola kwa sababu mikataba inaondowa kinga ya Kikatiba aliyonayo Jaji wa Mahkama Kuu na hivyo kudumaza uhuru wa Mahkama (independence of the Judiciary). Aidha Jaji wa Mkataba hawezi kufanya kazi yake bila ya hofu wala woga kwa mamlaka ya uteuzi.

Mhe. Rais, siri ya maiti aijuwae muosha; na sisi mawakili ndio waosha wa waheshimiwa majaji na mahakimu wetu. Mhe. Rais, bila ya kuzunguka, sisi tunataka tukuthibitishie kwamba Mhe. Fatma na Mhe. Mkusa hawana sifa kiutendaji na kiuwezo za kuwa majaji wa Mahkama Kuu ya Zanzibar. Mhe Rais, uwezo wa Jaji unapimwa kwa namna anavyoendesha kesi na kuandika hukumu zake. Chombo cha Mahkama ni chombo cha kutoa haki. Na haki inatakiwa isifanywe tu lakini ionekane waziwazi kuwa inafanywa. Mhe Rais, haki haiwezi kupatikana ikiwa wanaosimamia haki hiyo ni watu wasiokuwa na sifa zinazotakiwa.

Mhe. Rais na Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi, tunakuhakikishia kwamba sisi Mawakili wa Zanzibar ambao saini zetu zimetiwa hapa chini tuna imani kabisa na wewe binafsi na wala hatuandiki barua hii kuhoji mamlaka yako ya Kikatiba ila tunatoa tahadhari hii kama mchango wetu katika kujenga mahkama iliyotukuka, hasa kwa vile wananchi wamepoteza imani kwa mahkama zetu ziliopo sasa.

Ni vyema kuepuka mambo yanayoonekana dhahiri kulenga katika kudumaza zaidi ufanisi wa mahkama katika suala zima la utoaji haki. Tujinasuwe sasa kuliko kuendelea kujizamisha kwa kuweka watendaji wasiofaa.

Sisi, kama wadau wa jamii, tunahisi tuna wajibu wa kukutanabahisha kuhusu uteuzi huu. Aidha tusingependa Mahkama Kuu ambayo tayari kuna malalamiko mengi ya utendaji usiokidhi haja iendelee kuchukuwa Majaji bila ya ushauri wa Tume ya Utumishi ya Mahkama na bila ya umakini katika tathmini ya wateule hao.

Mhe. Rais, wateule wa Ujaji tuliowataja hapo juu, hawatokuwa Majaji rasmi Kikatiba na kuanza kazi ya Ujaji wa Mahkama Kuu mpaka baada ya kula kiapo. Hilo likishafanyika, itakuwa dhiki sana kuondosha uteuzi huo. Hivyo, tunakuomba Mhe. Rais, utafakari upya juu ya uteuzi huo na uridhike kuusitisha. Tunaamini wanasheria wenye sifa na maadili yanayotakikana wapo na wanaweza kufanya kazi ya ujaji, Zanzibar.

Wako katika kusimamia haki,
Yahya Khamis Hamad Salim Rais
H. B. Mnkonje Katibu Mkuu
Abdulla Juma Mohammed Mshika Fedha
Salma Ali Hassan Mjumbe, ZLS
Mussa Kombo Mjumbe, ZLS
1. Ajar Amar Patel …………………………..
2. Ussi Khamis Haji …………………………….
3. Hamid A. S. Mbwezeleni …………………………….
4. Salum Toufiq Ali ………………………………
5. Awadh A. Said ……………………………….
6. Nassor Khamis Mohammed ……………………………….
7. Adam S. Abdulla ………………………………
8. Is-Haq Ismail Shariff ………………………………..
9. Uhuru Hemed Khalfan ………………………………..
10. Mahadhi J. Maalim (ameridhia)
11. Masoud H. Rukazibwa ………………………………..
12. Ramadhan Makame ……………………………….
13. Mbwana J. Mbwana ………………………………
14. Fatma A. Karume …………………………….
15. Rajab Abdalla Rajab ……………………………….

Vunja Jungu - Golf Club

Memba wa gofu wakiwa katika vunja jungu jana jioni katika ukumbi wa gofu...

Maharamia Yawavamia Watalii Zanzibar...

Machete-wielding pirates attack Yoav and Esther Peled; Yoav fights back, loses some fingers – but surgeons managed to reattach them.

A honeymoon turned sour this week for an Israeli couple who were attacked by pirates in Zanzibar.

Yoav and Esther Peled of Givatayim married on May 30 and travelled to the Tanzanian islands after the wedding. On Sunday, a group of pirates armed with machetes attacked the couple. Yoav, who confronted them, lost some of his fingers to the pirates' blades.

Peled managed to reach medical help, and was flown from Zanzibar to Dar es-Salaam, the largest city in Tanzania, where he had emergency surgery. The cut he sustained from the pirates' machete was extremely deep, reaching the nerves of his hand, but the doctors nevertheless reattached his severed fingers.

The Foreign Ministry said that it was familiar with the incident. "It happened Sunday during a robbery. The man is currently hospitalized in Zanzibar. His family knows, and so does (the couple's) insurance company, Harel."

Hilik Magnus, who conducts search and rescue operations for the Phoenix insurance company, said that tourists must act with the understanding that if they encounter pirates, they must cooperate quietly.

"Tourists are the preferred targets for criminal incidents, because they're defenseless. In addition, from the perspective of politics, everyone involved wants to gloss over the incident so the place doesn't gain a reputation as dangerous for tourists," Magnus added.

Source: Ynetnews

Kisonge Leo Asubuhi...

Vijimambo Stone Town...

Rais Shein Katika Uzinduzi wa Zakka

Uzinduzi wa Zakka Zanzibar katika ukumbi wa Bwawani.

"Mimi sio Uamusho" - Mansoor Yussuf Himid

WAZIRI wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar, Mansoor Yussuf Himid amekanusha kuwa yeye si Uamsho na wala hawaungi mkono kama inavyodaiwa mitaani licha ya kukubaliana na kauili mbiu yao.

“Mimi sio Uamsho wala siwaungi mkono nataka kusema wazi hapa maana kuna watu kazi yao kusingizia wenzao, lakini kwa hili la tuachiwe tupumuwe mie nakubaliana nao kwa maana kaulimbiu hii nakubaliana nayo, lakini sio vurugu zao” Alisema Waziri Himid.



Source: Salma Said

Baraza la Habari Tanzania Leo wapo Zanzibar...

Ayub Rioba, Leo kwenye kongamano la MCT anategemewa kuchokoza mada...

Semina ya Viongozi wa Dini -Zanzibar

Rais wa Zanzibar na Mwnyekiti wa Baraza la Mapinduzi
Dk.Ali Mohamed Shein,alipokuwa katika picha ya pamoja na Viongozi wa kidini katika kukuza dhana ya Utalii kwa wote,mara baada ya kuifungua semina ya siku moja iliyofanyika leo katika ukumbi wa Salama Bwawani Hotel Mjini Unguja.


Source:Salma Said

Nipo Zanzibar

Nipo Zanzibar sasa kwa takribani mwezi mmoja... siku zinakwenda kasi pasipo mfano! Mara ya mwisho kuja Visiwani hapa ni zaidi ya miaka sita sasa. Mengi yametokea katika kipindi hicho, ikiwa ni pamoja na kumpoteza baba yangu mzazi, ndugu na marafiki wengi! Safari yangu ya kuja Zaznibar ilikuwa ya ghafla mno na ninawashukuru sana watanzania wa Finland kwa kuniwezesha kusafari kwa wakati na kuwahi maziko ya baba yangu.

Bado nina tongotongo machoni juu ya mabadiliko mengi niliyokwisha yaona mpaka sasa.. Zanzibar imebadilika sana na bado kuna kila dalili za mabadiliko zaidi kutokea katika kipindi cha miaka mitatu ijayo. Sio rahisi sana kwa mwenyeji kuona tofauti kwa haraka kama kwa mgeni. Wenyeji bado wana kiu kubwa ya maendeleo zaidi,ambapo ni jambo la msingi kwa maendeleo ya nchi kwa ujumla.

Kuna mipangilio mingi mipya na plan kadhaa mpya baadhi ni kama kuondoa ofisi za serikali kadhaa ndani ya Mji Mkongwe, kuwepo na udhibiti mzuri wa aina ya magari yaingiayo Mji Mkongwe, upanuzi wa barabara(baadhi)katika maeneo ya Ng'ambo, ujenzi wa barabara mpya kuunganisha Ng'ambo na Mashambani.

Huduma nyingi zimekuwa na mafanikio ya kiasi na makubwa. Zantel bado ina tatizo la upatikanaji katika maeneo kadhaa visiwani hapa, ili ni la kushangaza kidogo! Lakini ndivyo lilivyo! Mabadiliko katika bandarini yamezidisha misongamano kwa abiria na vyombo vya moto.... Nimesikia hili linafanyiwa kazi, ingawa wahusika wanataka kwanza kuboresha upakuaji wa bidhaa toka melini. Kwani kwa sasa bandari ya Malindi ina uwezo wa meli moja tu kufunga gati! Mipango mipya ni kuwa na bandari yenye uwezo wa kuchukua meli nne kwa pamoja!

Mafanikio mengine yapo kwenye suala zima la usafi, ambapo sio rahisi tena kuona mifuko ya plastiki ikipepea angani, sasa kuna matumizi makubwa ya mifuko ya khaki na magazeti. Awali nilitegemea kuwepo na Vikapu vingi vya ukili, ikiwa ni kuongeza ajira na vipato kwa watengenezaji wa vikapu hivyo. Hata hivyo kutokana na uwekezaji mkubwa katika mahoteli malighafi ya vikapu hivyo imekuwa adimu na inauzwa kwa bei kubwa mno kwa mwananchi wa kawaida.

Kwa sasa kila barza ya kahawa hadithi ni muamsho, wengi wanapenda kuwepo kwa muamsho ili kujitenga na Tanganyika na wengi bado wanapenda kuwapo na muungano. Hii itatoa changamoto kubwa katika tume ya katiba. Muamsho zaidi ya kutaka kujitoa kwenye muungano, bado hawapo wazi katika sababu kubwa ama tatizo kubwa la muungano.

Nilipita hapo Airport na kuona ujenzi mpya wa Airport, hata hivyo unaonekana umesimama kwa muda mrefu, zipo tetesi kuwa Serikali serikali na wajenzi wamekuwa wakipisha juu ya ujenzi huo kiasi cha kufikia hatua hiyo.

Anyway nipo hapa Mesi ya Jeshi(Migombani) na tayali zantel imeanza kugomagoma... nitaendelea na stori katika siku zijazo....

Legislators Decry Tourism Invasion By Foreigners

Zanzibar — SOME members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives are alleging that the tourism sector is dominated by non-Zanzibaris contrary to the isles ambition of establishing the industry three decades ago.

"We have evidence that more than one-thousand "foreigners" including Kenyans have dominated jobs in most tourist hotels. Some are staying illegally and holding Tanzanian passports," Mr Makame Mshimba Mbarouk (CCM- Kitope) alleged.

Debating the report from the House committee responsible for "livestock, Tourism, economic empowerment and Information," Mbarouk accused the government and the immigration for not taking "any action despite receiving reliable information about foreigners working in Zanzibar illegally."

The legislator also alleged that there has been serious violation of employment laws in the tourism sector, including lack of contracts and uncalled-for expelling of work, giving an example of Blue Bay, Karafuu, and Serena Hotels. Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF-Mjimkongwe) said that unemployment problem in Zanzibar can be solved by implementing job restriction rules, "mainly making sure all jobs in the tourist hotels are for Zanzibaris, unless the position cannot be filled by a Zanzibari."

He also blamed some ministers for abusing their position by accepting bribes from some investors to violate the existing laws. Jussa also expressed his disappointment with some leaders including minister who use the Bwawani Hotel (state owned) without paying bills. Other legislators such as Ms Ashura Sharif Ali (Special seats), and Mr Suleiman Hemed Khamis (CUF- Konde) decried moral decay from mainly youths copying western lifestyles of living.

Meanwhile, Jussa also asked media owners and the government to improve the welfare of journalists who have been working hard in "unfriendly environment without proper working tools, no transport, and poor payment."

BY ISSA YUSSUF,
15 APRIL 2012

Murder case accused acquitted...

WANTED MAN IS AT LARGE IN ZANZIBAR

A MAN charged with the murder of a charity worker from Newcastle has been acquitted by a judge during court proceedings in Zanzibar.

26 year old Robert Stringer was found dead on a beach in Zanzibar in August 2009 having suffered multiple head injuries. He had spent the previous five weeks carrying out volunteer work in Tanzania before taking a short break on the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar.

A popular figure locally, Robert's death sent shockwaves throughout Newcastle and surrounding areas. In the months leading up to his trip to Tanzania Robert had carried out a number of successful local fundraisers to help fund his volunteer work.

Judge Abraham Mwampashi acquitted Hamad Khamis of Mr. Stringer's murder in the High Court in Zanzibar. He also criticised the prosecution over the lack of ' hard evidence' presented during the case.

In a 25-page judgment, Judge Mwampashi said Mr. Khamis had to be acquitted because the prosecution was too heavily reliant upon circumstantial evidence when ' hard evidence was of critical nature' in order to convince the court.

Mr. Stringer was found dead on a beach a few days after befriending Mr. Khamis. The pair had discussed business matters as Mr. Stringer was a volunteer and IT expert.

Evidence was presented in court which found that the victim had been hit over the head with an implement during an attack and died from those injuries. The defence for the accused argued that the only connection between Mr. Khamis and Mr. Stringer was the fact that they knew one another.

Mr. Stringer's laptop, ipod and speakers, sun glasses, digital camera and a wallet containing 1,000 Tanzanian shillings and $30 were found to be in the possession of Mr. Khamis. However, the judge ruled that this did not prove an 'evil element.'

The judge also blasted the prosecution for failing to gather what could have proved to have been vital evidence.

'I am baffled as to why no effort was taken to see what evidence could have been drawn from bank cards that were found with the accused person, or from the digital camera or from the computer to help support the case against the accused person.'

In his judgment he added, ' the prosecution case against the accused person is based wholly on circumstantial evidence.'

The court was told a second man wanted in connection to Mr. Stringer's death still remained at large.

No appeal was lodged by the prosecution when Mr. Khamis was acquitted.

Wicklow people

Karume Day

Leo ni siku ya kumbukumbu ya Rais wa kwanza wa Zanzibar A.A Karume

Hotel za Kitalii Kuvunjwa Zanzibar?

Over 60 per cent of more than 200 tourists’ hotels in Zanzibar face demolition because they are built on the sea side, contrary to environmental regulations. A prompt survey by members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives identified massive violations of the regulations.

The lawmakers have since declared war on such premises. “This is unacceptable, all structures built on beaches contrary to the law should be demolished. The department of environment should make sure the order is implemented,” said Mr Hamza Hassan Juma, Chairperson of the House Committee on Environment.

Hamza and his team blamed the environment department and other responsible authorities for failing to make sure that investors abide by the laws, particularly at this time when the environment is a global issue. According to Mr Sheha Mjaja, Director of the Department of Environment, regulations require any project to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before taking off, and any structure should be built at least 30 metres and 10 metres from sandy and rocky beach respectively.

Mr Mjaja said that his department has identified over 60 per cent of the tourists projects in Zanzibar particularly tourist hotels, which have either not done any EIA at all or just ignored it. “Unfortunately we have not been serious in enforcing the law because of bureaucracy. This is a complex issue because it involves many public institutions and investors.

“We are planning to convene a meeting to involve investors, public institutions, and my department to discuss and find out the best way to solve the ongoing reckless construction of building at the beaches,” he noted. In addition to trade, and cloves production, Zanzibar relies on the booming tourism industry which contributes about 25 per cent to its GDP.


By ISSA YUSSUF
Tanzania
Daily News

Aspara

Muungano

Wafinn na Zanzibar

HS.fi

Soko la Samaki

Women in Unguja and Pemba Happily Making Money and Saving

Pemba — A popular Kiswahili proverb known by many Zanzibarians goes like this "Haba na haba hujaza kibaba" in other words drop by drop the vessel will get filled.

This wise saying has been vividly demonstrated by women in the rural areas of Unguja and Pemba and is calling on others to follow suit.

Women in Unguja South and Pemba North have for a long time never engaged themselves in income generating activities and they had little hope for any sort of economic improvement of their lives.

In 2008 Women Empowerment in Zanzibar (WEZA) initiative was introduced and their lives took a new turn bringing hope for the women.

Around 8742 women at their own individual pace saved between 200 and 1,000 shillings each week after receiving savings and financial training from the Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA), Jozani Credit and Development Organisation (JOCDO) and Pemba Savings and Credit Association (PESACA). The project was co-financed by the European Union (EU), Government of Austria and Care Austria.

The training marked the beginning of a big take off and by 2011 the women collectively had saved a total of 693,790,000/=.

This was a big surprise not only to the Zanzibari population but to women themselves who could not believe they had the potential.

"How can we save 500 /- a week while at the same time we did not receive that amount of money for our family meals?" asked a section of women members in Kiungoni Shehia of Pemba North during the sensitisation meetings before the savings began.

Now the very same women save more than 2,500 shillings per week owing to the various business activities they are engaged in including the making of handicrafts and agro- business.

The general rule for acquiring a loan is that a member has to convince the group that she has something useful to do with the loan. Secondly she needs to have four sureties (wadhamini) from the group who sign contract which among others request them to take due responsibility in case the member fail to repay the loan.

In the case a member fails to repay the loan, her weekly shares are first taken away by the group in addition to that of her sureties. However, this has only appeared once at Jambiani in Unguja while Pemba it has never happened. Most of the members repay their loans in three months and if one fails giving reasonable grounds, the group gives her additional two weeks in which to settle the debt before further action is considered.

Mr. Omar Khamis, a Shehia leader of Kiungoni, Shehia in 2009 said WEZA changed the perception and status of his Shehia. Speaking to the project's representatives and the villagers, he said that before WEZA was established the women in his village were not involved in any business contrary and now every woman is struggling hard to earn an income and erase illiteracy.

Ms. Fatma Ali Haji (40) of the same Shehia narrated her experience while talking to Daily News recently. Fatma says her life has changed drastically from struggling to make ends meet to setting up business person while she save 15,000/= per week.

"WEZA taught us how to and utilise the resources around us. I now buy for basic items such as food and clothes for myself and my family," she said.

She sells coconuts and tailors clothes for women wiping out the old stereotyping of women staying indoors. She sells coconuts at Kiungoni and as far as Chake chake, Pemba South. An officer for Savings and Loans with Women Empowerment in Zanzibar (WEZA), Muhiddin Ramadan said on average members' savings stands between 1000/- and 5,000 each week. He said the saving shares were raised as a result of the increased income generating activities.

He says that the common business activities are locally made hand bags, spice based soaps, batik, rosella juice , liquid soaps and selling of fresh vegetables. As much as Zanzibar appreciates the achievement there are challenges which that need urgent redress. Mwanakhamis Mrisho, an officer from TAMWA mentioned the challenges as lack of reliable market of the finished products and low quality products to face stiff competition in the competitive market.

She attributed the challenges to financial constraints, lack of mobility and confidence calling for concerted efforts to improve the quality of women's products in order to be fully fledged entrepreneurs. She feels that the government in particular should put more emphasis in promoting women's products of these areas as well as introducing more women into the business world.

This will help the women fully utilise the Sunday market launched recently by the government at Mwembeshauri Grounds, Unguja Urban, which is albeit at its fragile stage. Most of the women currently do not have bank accounts as they consider still consider themselves poor. For the time being they are concentrating on expanding their businesses, building and or repairing their homes and taking their children to school.


Daily News

KUMBUKUMBU.

Ni miaka 23 sasa tangu umetutoka lakini sisi kama watoto wako pamoja na baba ulietuacha huku tunaona ni kama jana tu umeondoka maana umeenda kimwili lakini kiroho bado tupo nawe, na kamwe hatutaacha kukumbuka malezi yako bora!

Tukiwa kama familia (watoto wako pamoja na mumeo (baba)) daima hatuishi kukuombea DUA njema kila kukicha upate kupumzika kwa kwa amani huko uliko.

Ni matumaini yetu mungu anasikia dua zetu MAMA.

Ni sisi wanao wapendwa Mariam, Hussein, Salum, Mariam Hawa pamoja na Baba yetu (mumeo) Sheikh Suleiman hatuna la zaidi ila ni dua tunakuombea.

INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAAJIUN.


Salum Suleiman Lyeme (Sule Junior)
Entertainment writter (Freelance), Graphic Designer (Freelance) / Mwananchi Communication Ltd
C.E.O of SULE'S Inc. & ENTERTAINMENT

A rare mind revelation from the Civic United Front

Interviewed by Mlimani TV station early this week about why his party recorded abysmal performance in the just ended by-election in Uzini constituency on Zanzibar island, Ismail Jussa Ladhu, deputy secretary general of the Civic United Front, declared that CUF didn’t win the seat because there are more Christians and churches in the area than Muslims and mosques.

It’s a rare mind revelation from one of the more highly trusted CUF officials, better educated than average and with considerable exposure locally and outside, becoming a symbol of what kind of leaders we have in this country.
It’s perhaps the clearest illustration of what some of the CUF leaders especially those who defected have been saying about this political party. They have accused CUF of being a Muslim-dominated party, saying it has a clear religious bias.

Though we don’t believe those allegations seriously because the Political Registration Act of 1992 has proper safeguards on such misdirected politicking, one cannot ignore even the more glaring signals, as in this case. The Act provides that any party that is statutorily identified with religious activities and faith partiality can’t be registered, but the revelation from Jussa confirms what its party dissidents, past and present, have all along critics have been saying.

Jussa simply wants us to believe that Christians are anti-CUF while Muslims are pro-his party. We thought and believed that those who have been voting for the party in the past elections in Tanzania did so because of being attracted by CUF’s policies.

But according to Jussa, it’s the opposite. He clearly believes that his party can win easily in those areas where there are Muslims in majority and Christians as a minority. Jussa might be right because being one of the members of the CUF’s inner circle; he has all the facility to understand why in some areas his party is popular while in others it registers abysmal performance.

What is appalling is that we still have leaders who believe in the politics of divisions along race, ethnicity and faith based issues, instead of advocating for a clear policy that will eradicate poverty as well as bringing prosperity economically, politically and socially.

From Jussa’s verdict, those who voted for CCM and Chadema are Christians because in Uzini constituency there are more churches and Christians than Muslims. While Jussa might have some details in the area’s demography or psychology which most other observers may not be aware, his comments can only be qualified, unavoidably, as totally unacceptable.

The point here is that if this is how politics is going to be managed in this country, then Tanzania is slowly descending into chaotic politics in future. It means that the CUF, when it has its back on the wall, is ready to abandon statutory rationality (policies), pluralism (non-racial and non-sectarian) attitude in favor of playing to the gallery of religion, to attract irrational fears and votes, with readiness for violence. All religious politics ends in violence, by definition.

That Jussa might statistically be right doesn’t count, but rather that his comments are unjustifiable if they represent the spirit of that political party, their line of action in the months to come – that is, in any future polls and in preparing for polls.

Those sentiments and the political orientation implied therein is what must be avoided at all costs and are consequently harmful to the political climate, to the peace and understanding constituting the reason both for the constitution and the formation of a Government of National Unity. He has simply shown how he treads in cheap politics of divide and rule.

In a country that has been battling and weathering serious allegations of religious division between Muslims and Christians in the history of the ruling party, Jussa’s comments serve to add petrol to the fire, worsening the situation.

Our leaders have to be careful about what they say to the public and what they shouldn’t, the sort of imagination they should keep to themselves, so that they don’t stir up the tiger of revolt that is part of politics, itching for a fight for whatever reason, so long as an important person has said it is right to burn and kill. They should be mature enough to distinguish between ‘pillow talk’ and public discussion.


IPPMEDIA

Bweju

Stone Town

Zanzibar na Madawa ya Kulevya...

PALM Beach playboy and cigarette importer Mark Coulton has had drug conspiracy charges dropped after the case against him collapsed.

This is good news for his brother-in-law barrister Don Grieve, QC, and Grieve's wife, Dixie Coulton, who each put up $500,000 as caveats against their Paddington home.

Ms Coulton is a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney.

It comes as a the Sydney magistrate overseeing the case criticised the Australian Federal Police for "jumping the gun" against five men.

They had been accused with conspiring to import drugs from Zanzibar, Tanzania.


More New: New.com/au

Spice and Easy, a story of Zanzibar and Pemba - Rory Bremner

I've been very bad at arranging swanky holidays recently. That is, proper breaks, without the children. In fact, over the past 18 months, the sum total of Mr and Mrs Bremner's trips away have amounted to just four nights in the South of France and two nights in Harrogate. I'd highly recommend both, by the way, but they're hardly in the Hello! category.

When the chance did finally come for us to enjoy something more exotic, I faced an immediate problem - where, exactly, do you go for sunshine at this time of year? Political unrest in Egypt and the Maghreb, the bursting of Dubai's bubble and the likelihood of bumping into Michael Winner in the Caribbean have all conspired to narrow the choice.

Our criteria for a week's holiday were simple: less than ten hours' flying, preferably overnight; and a manageable time difference to somewhere offering both adventure and relaxation.

The beaches of India, the Maldives, Indonesia and the Far East were deemed too far, even though Burma looks tempting now that Aung San Suu Kyi's 15-year staycation has come to a welcome end.

Eschewing old favourites Cape Town and Morocco, we contacted Scott Dunn and plumped for Zanzibar off the East African coast. Great call.

Zanzibar - the original Spice Island. The very name conjures up exotic images in the mind's eye: tropical beaches, spice markets, dhow sails in the sunset. Well, what your mind sees is what you get.

In just under ten hours, good old British Airways had got us, comfortably and right on schedule, to Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, where the tourists divide - some heading for the safari reserves of Ruaha, Selous or the Serengeti to see the animals (and the minibuses) in the Ngorongoro crater or climb Kilimanjaro.

Others, ourselves included, were transported to await our local onward flight in the VIP terminal.

This is in fact a basic concrete waiting room with open sides where birds hop in and out, a handful of Africans doze and a couple of locals sit chatting at a cafe called The Art of Coffee - the 'art' apparently being to dispense coffee with as much nonchalance and lack of interest as it's possible to muster. Welcome to Africa.

After a longish wait, our pilot arrived to tell us (reassuringly) that rather than wait another hour for fuel, we'd pick up some in Zanzibar before flying to our final destination: Pemba Island.


Read more: Daily Mail

Zanzibar Music Festival Faces Financial, Cultural Challenges

The Sauti za Busara music festival kicks off in Zanzibar this weekend - an event meant to promote Swahili music to a younger generation of Tanzanians raised on Western Top 40 hits. But the Stone Town festival has had a hard time connecting with a local audience, and is now facing funding challenges.

This weekend the ancient buildings and narrow alleyways of Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, are awash in the sound of music. This is Sauti za Busara, an annual festival that draws crowd from around the world to Stone Town’s old stone fort for four days of music, dancing and cultural celebrations.

Although Sauti za Busara attracts acts from across the continent, the focus here is on East Africa’s own Swahili music. Around two thirds of the artists performing are from Tanzania, many from Zanzibar itself. The musical styles on display range from traditional drumming and taarab, to hip hop and jazz.

The festival’s director is Yusuf Mahmoud, an Englishman who has been living in Tanzania for the past 14 years. He says the idea behind Sauti za Busara was not just to attract tourists, but to help locals appreciate their own musical heritage.

“When we started doing Sauti za Busara, I remember being very surprised that a lot of the young local artists were not really appreciating the value of the local music here. They were listening a lot to foreign music from Europe or the U.S. I think this has helped local artists to understand that what they have here is very special, very unique and very valuable, and something that is attracting people from all over the world," he said.

Now in its ninth year, the festival tries hard to attract local audiences. Tanzanian citizens pay less than $2 to get in, while foreigners are charged $26. Of the 4,000 people who attended Sauti za Busara last year, the majority were from Tanzania.

The festival is run by an NGO, Busara Promotions, which depends on private donations to keep ticket prices for locals low.

But lately, Sauti za Busara has been facing some serious financial challenges. This year the festival had to be cut from five days to four, and one of the events outside Stone Town had to be scrapped. Mahmoud blames these problems on the slowdown of the international economy.

“It’s been tougher and tougher, over the last couple of years particularly, to get financial support from international donors. It’s been also very tough to get financial support from local businesses. The global recession doesn’t just affect our festival here in Zanzibar, but all over the world people are struggling to raise money for cultural events," said Mahmoud.

But Amour Haji, director of a tour company in Zanzibar, thinks this is only part of the answer. Most Zanzibaris are Muslim, with a conservative culture at odds with the party-like atmosphere of an international music festival.

Haji says that despite Sauti za Busara’s efforts to reach out to local people, many still think of it as an event only for tourists. “The mass of the people of Zanzibar, they think it is not beneficial for them. It is a benefit for foreigners, not for the local people," he said.

Tourism to Zanzibar in February has grown by 400 percent since the festival was first held in 2004. Haji says that although local businesses do benefit from the added tourism revenue, few are willing to support the event financially.

“In economical [terms], we benefit. The event is a very major thing for the tourists. Many restaurants and many shops, they benefit, but they didn’t contribute anything," he said.

Still, some Zanzibaris say Sauti za Busara has succeeded in making people proud of their island’s music.

One local festival goer says it gives musicians a chance to show off their talents both to foreigners and to their own countrymen. “It benefits, because we are getting ways for participating in this festival and we show our skills for the whole people in Zanzibar," he said.

Despite Sauti za Busara’s financial problems, Mahmoud says the organizers will keep holding it for as long as possible, and do intend to maintain the festival’s local focus.

“We’re determined to carry on, and we’re also determined to carry on organizing a festival which is accessible for local people, which means we can never be fully sustainable through ticket revenue unless we make an event for tourists, which is not our primary intention," he said.

Around 30 groups are performing at Sauti za Busara this year. The festival runs through Sunday night.


VOA

Mwanafunzi