Zanzibar Secure Sh 370 Billion For New Port

Existing Port.
THE government of Zanzibar has signed a 230 million US dollars (over 368bn/-) deal with a Chinese company for construction of a new port at Maruhubi area, a milestone to the development efforts of the Isles.

The China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Vice Chairman, Mr Lin Yi Chong and the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communication, Dr Juma Malik Akil signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday.

Zanzibar Minister for Finance, Mr Omar Yussuf Mzee, Minister and Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Communications, Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman and Mr Issa Haji Ussi respectively, joined the CHEC delegation led by its chairman Mr Sun Zi Yu, civil servants and journalists to witness the signing of the contract.

"I fell in love with Zanzibar and we are ready to work," said Mr Sun Zi Yu, as his deputy Mr Lin told the gathering that Zanzibaris should expect a new port of high quality with security facilities. The construction period is 36 months.

Mr Suleiman expressed his joy about the start of the port project, saying: "China is our brother and therefore we hope the construction of the port will be of the required standard."

According to the PS, this is the first phase of the long-term port development project. "The new port will have a 300 metres docking space and 65 metres land craft, modern handling equipment with capability to handle 200,000 containers and 250,000 tonnes of loose cargo," he said.

The finance minister said the dream to have a modern port is now a reality. "The Exim bank will provide a loan of 200 million US dollars while the contractors (CHEC) have agreed to release 30 million US dollars through equity financing of the 36 months project construction period," he said.

Mr Mzee also said that his office is still following up on the release of the funds from Exim bank as soon as possible so that the construction begins. He noted that the union government through the Ministry of Finance will have to sign the loan agreement before it is released, because the union government is the guarantor of foreign loans and grants.

He said Zanzibar will have 25 years including a grace period of five years to repay the loan from the time the money is released and that the agreement includes CHEC enjoying 13 per cent of the port shares for an undisclosed period.


By Issa Yussuf - Daily News

Milipuko ya Mabomu Leo Hii Zanzibar.

Mgahawa wa Mercury



Kanisa la Anglikani Mkunazini Zanzibar.

Kumetokea milipuko miwili ya mabomu leo huko Zanzibar, moja likilipuka katika lango la kuingilia kanisa la Anglikani la Mkunazini na bomu lingine kulipuka katika mgahawa maarufu Mercury.



Eneo la tukio la bomu Mkunazini.

Matangazo Katika Hoteli Za Kitalii Zanzibar. ...

Zanzibar Yaongoza Kwa Ukatili Wa Kijinsia Kwa Watoto.

Hii sio habari njema hata kidogo kwa kisiwa chenye kujitambukisha duniani kama ni kitovu cha ustaarabu na furaha katika mwambao wa Afrika ya Mashariki. Aidha unapozungumzia udhalilishaji wa kijinsia au ukatili kwa watoto kwa hapa Tanzania mara nyingi mikoa ya Tanzania Bara imekuwa ikishika nafasi za juu kulinganisha na Visiwani. Ukatili wa kijinsia unalenga zaidi katika jinsia ya kike, ambapo kumekuwepo na ndoa nyingi chini ya umri, mimba kwa watoto walipo skuli na hata ajila kwa watoto.

Vitendo vya ndoa, ubakaji, ulawiti, ukeketaji na ajila kwa watoto kwa mapana ndio unajenga kuwepo kwa ukatili kwa watoto kwa jinsia zote, hapa nchini.

Taarifa ya kitafiti iliyotolewa na TAMWA hapo siku ya Jumatano tarehe 19.02.2014, imebaini kuwa Zanzibar kuna matukio mengi ya ukatili wa kijinsia ukilinganisha na Tanzania Bara. Hii sio mara ya kwanzakwa TAMWA kufanya tafiti za aina hii hapa nchini, ila kinachosikitisha ni kwa Zanzibar sasa kuongoza katika jedwali la ukatili tofauti na hapo miaka ya nyuma ambapo mikoa kama ya Singida na Mara ilivyokuwa ikishika nafasi za juu katika ukatili huu.

Katika tafiti zilizopita zilitafiti zaidi vitendo vya ubakaji na ulawiti wa watoto huku ukeketaji ukitafitiwa zaidi katika mikoa ya bara. Tatizo la ubakaji na ulawiti kwa Zanzibar linaonekana kupungua kwa mjibu wa Kitengo Cha Uhifadhi Mtoto (Child Protection Unit). Kitengo hiki kilianzishwa mwaka 2010 ambapo kwa mwaka huo jumla ya kesi 141 za ubakaji zikiwemo 30 za ulawiti ziliripotiwa kituoni hapo, kulinganisha na mwaka 2011 ambapo kesi 8 za ubakaji na 2 za ulawiti zilifunguliwa kiyuani hapo, huku mwaka 2012 kesi zikishuka zaidi hadi 6 za ubakaji na moja ya ulawiti, hii ni katika kipindi cha kuanzia mwezi Januari hadi Mei.

Wakati tatizo la ubakaji likishuka, tatizo la ndoa na mimba kwa watoto waliopo skuli limeongezeka na kusababisha kuwa kikwazo cha maendeleo kwa mamia ya watoto wa kike visiwani humu.

Katika tafiti ya TAMWA kwa Wilaya ya Kati Unguja na Kusini Pemba kulikuwepo na jumla ya matukio 288 ya mimba za umri mdogo na matukio 42 ya ndoa za umri mdogo. Hali hii inatisha na inatoa pi ha kubwa juu ya ukatili huu kwa watoto wa kike visiwani na inapaswa kutazamwa kwa ukaribu kabisa ili kuondoa tatizo hili Visiwani.

Moja ya sababu ambayo inaweza kuchangia ukatili huu, ni sheria ya sasa inayotoza faini ya Shs 15,000 kwa mzazi/mlezi atakaye muozesha mtoto wake aliyeopo skuli. Zaidihakuna sheria yoyote ambayo inamzuia mzazi/mlezi kumwozesha mtoto ambaye hasomi skuli. Ukiangalia kwa sheria ya ndoa ya mwaka 1971 kifungu cha 13(1) kimeelezea umri wa kuolewa ni mika 15, umri ambao kwa watoto wengi wanakuwa bado wapo skuli. Sheria hii inaweza kutoa mwanya mkubwa kwa ndoa za aina hii na kukatiza maendeleo ya mtoto wa kike.

Kwa upande mwingine wazazi/walezi wamekuwa katika nafasi ya mbele ya kuendeleza kuwepo kwa ndoa aina hii, na vitendo vingine ambavyo vinasababisha kuwepo kwa mimba nyingikwa watoto wa skuli. Malezi duni, uchumi mbovu na tamaa ya wazazi wengi inatajwa kuwa ni moja ya sababu ya kuendelea kuwepo na ukatili huu kwa watoto wao. Hata baadhi ya sheria kama ile ya kuruhusu kwa watoto walipata mimba kuendelea na masomo inaweza kuwa kichecheo kwa watoto hawa kupata mimba kiholel holela. Sheria hii hata hivyo aina sio wengi wameweza kuitumia kwa kurudi skuli baada ya kujifungua.

Pengine ukatili huu unaweza kupunguzwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kupitia Katiba Mpya ya Tanzania inayoendelea kujadiliwa huko Dodoma. Hii imetokana na TAMWA kupendekeza kuwepo na vipengele vya kuzuia ukatiliwa kijinsia katika rasimu ya pili ya Katiba.

Meneja Programu wa kuelimisha demokrasia na KATIBA wa TAMWA, Bi Shufaa Faisal Ubuni, ametaja kipengele kilichoingizwa kwenye rasimu ya pili ya Katiba ibara ya 43, ibara ndogo ya 3 ambacho kinasisitiza wajibu wa kila mzazi/mlezi pamoja na mamlaka ya nchi kuhakikisha kuwa watoto wanalelewa kwa maadili sawa na umri wao.