Unguja. The opposition party ACT-Wazalendo in Zanzibar has stated that Pemba Island owes its current infrastructure to former President Amani Karume, who made a deliberate effort to develop the island.
At a rally held at Jazira Grounds in Mtoni, the party’s Vice Chairman, Ismail Jussa Ladhu, criticised the stalled progress of the Wete-Chake road project.
He attributed the continued delay to internal government issues that aimed at replacing local contractor, Mecco who had constructed the other two roads.
“On January 4, 2021, a letter from the Ministry of Finance instructed the Ministry of Works to restart the process of selecting a new contractor. However, the Saudi Fund and Badea refused, stating that the project was already contracted,” he said.
Jussa added, “In December, a delegation from the Kuwait Fund,Badea and the Saudi Fund visited here. The agreement was that by January, compensation for the road corridor should have been paid to the affected poor people. The government was supposed to apply for a loan review by December but failed to do so in which the disbursement has suspended leading to non-payment to the contractor.
He asserted that no country can progress if it is plagued by theft, corruption, and leaders who are not accountable to their people.
At the same rally, ACT-Wazalendo Chairman Othman Masoud Othman said that true peace on the islands remains elusive, and what is currently observed is merely silence.
He stressed that the party seeks genuine peace and the dignity of Zanzibaris through economic development and progress within Zanzibar.
Othman clarified that ACT advocates for real peace by calling for leadership based on civility, accountability, and justice.
“We are not fighting for positions. We are demanding that our country be governed on principles of civility, justice, and peace. For us, peace in Zanzibar means a thriving economy. What we have now is silence,” he said.
He emphasized that the party is striving for autonomy over its own affairs, arguing that it is impossible to govern effectively when lacking authority over 41 issues.
Othman also criticized the National Unity Government, highlighting that Zanzibar has suffered from deaths, disabilities, and left behind widows and orphans. He noted that the late Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad joined the national government under challenging conditions to advance Zanzibar’s interests.
However, he pointed out that issues of corruption and manipulation have continued in bi-elections in Pandani, Konde, and Mtambwe.
He cited evidence of an ACT candidate being given a fake ID to appear as if they had two identifications, leading to disqualification, but no action was taken despite reporting the issue.
Othman urged Zanzibaris to seize the opportunity to reflect, support the party, and ensure fair elections while combating corruption to bring genuine justice and democracy to Zanzibar.
Mansour Yussuf Himid, a member of the party’s Central Committee, stated that Zanzibaris want to live in a hopeful country and must unite to bring about change and have leaders accountable to the people.
He emphasized the need for leadership that values people’s dignity and is committed to economic development and democratic prosperity.
Juma Said Sanani, also a member of the party’s Central Committee, urged elders in Zanzibar to remember their role in educating the youth to support the party in advocating for justice, equality, and improved job opportunities in the country.
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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
ALSO READ: NBC participates in TFF 2023/24 awards, promises to enhance competition
On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
