Zanzibar. Ali Bakari Ali, 62, ACT-Wazalendo Secretary for the Chaani constituency in North Unguja Region, has allegedly been stabbed to death.
While ACT-Wazalendo claims that the leader was killed by robbers who later fled to an unknown location, the police in the region have stated that he was killed by his business associates, who have already been arrested.
A statement issued today, Saturday, March 30, 2024, by the ACT-Wazalendo head of ideology, publicity, and public communications, Mr Salim Biman, said Bakari died while undergoing treatment after he was abducted, beaten and stabbed by individuals believed to be robbers.
“The circumstances of Ali Bakari’s death are a continuation of criminal acts that have been occurring in Zanzibar, and the continued existence of such acts indicates uncontrolled criminal groups,” said Bimani.
He urged the police to ensure they investigate the heinous incident and apprehend the perpetrators.
While Bimani made these remarks, the Regional Police Commander, Gaudianus Kamugisha, told The Citizen that the killers were the late Bakari’s business partners who had a disagreement with him over an unsettled debt.
The RPC said the incident occurred on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at the Chaani bus station at 11:30 p.m. in North A District.
Businessmen Khamis Nyange Omar, 35, and Feisali Makame Khamis, 19, are accused of committing the crime, according to the RPC. Bakari was stabbed in the right hand and neck with a sharp object.
“Bakari (deceased) owed Khamis Nyange Sh1 million that he borrowed in February. The two were food distributors at a hotel located in the Pwani Mchangani area,” said Commander Kamugisha, explaining the reason for the murder.
He said that on the day of the incident, the suspects, who were driving a Toyota Noah, trailed Bakari in town, where he had gone to collect money for repayment of the loan. When they reached Chaani, he did not settle his debt, and that’s when they stabbed him with a knife and threw him out of the car before fleeing.
The deceased was rushed to the hospital, but he died yesterday, March 29, 2023, while undergoing treatment at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital.
According to Commander Kamugisha, the suspects’ car was set on fire by angry citizens.
Despite fleeing after committing the crime, the suspects were later arrested, and the investigation is still ongoing. When completed, both suspects will be taken to court to answer their charges.
RPC Kamugisha urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands because it could lead to serious retaliation.
Bakari’s body has already been buried in his hometown of Donge, where his funeral was attended by the National Chairman of ACT-Wazalendo, Othman Masoud.
Othman, who is also the First Vice President, offered his condolences to the late Bakari’s family and the party and requested that they remain calm, stating that they are closely monitoring the matter.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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