Pemba. Opposition party ACT-Wazalendo chairman and first vice President of Zanzibar, Othman Masoud Othman has reiterated his party’s commitment to transforming the country’s leadership to ensure justice, equality, and sustainable development for all citizens.
Speaking on December 7, during the opening of the ACT-Wazalendo National Women’s Conference at Samail Gombani Hall in South Pemba, Othman declared that ACT-Wazalendo’s ultimate goal is to govern with fairness and efficiency, managing national resources for the collective good.
“Leadership based on justice is the only path to true development,” he stressed, highlighting the party’s focus on policies that empower all citizens, particularly women, to overcome economic challenges.
He pointed out that despite the country’s vast resources, poor leadership has kept many citizens, especially women, trapped in economic hardships.
“The wealth in this country is enough to uplift every citizen, including women, but current leadership policies that neglect justice have hindered progress,” he said.
He called on all citizens to unite for the change that will free the nation from oppressive governance and ensure that development benefits everyone, not just the few in power.
Women from various parts of the country attended the conference themed ‘Women and Victory 2025’.
Othman criticised the current government’s focus on spending over 60 percent of national income on salaries, without investing in policies that foster true economic growth and social development.
“This spending pattern shows that the leadership is not focused on long-term solutions to poverty,” he stated.
He emphasized that ACT-Wazalendo is not focused on power for the sake of titles, but rather on governance that is rooted in justice and civility.
“Our development agenda will serve the interests of all Tanzanians, not just our members,” he said, stressing that ACT-Wazalendo is the only viable alternative for the nation.
As part of the build-up to the 2025 general elections, Othman also encouraged Tanzanians to take part in the final phase of the voter registration process, which will be completed by February next year.
He underscored the importance of citizens taking control of the future by actively participating in shaping the country’s leadership.
Deputy Secretary-General of ACT-Wazalendo Zanzibar, Omar Ali Shehe, and Acting Party Coordinator in Pemba, Rashid Ali Abdallah, also voiced their support for the party’s vision, describing 2025 as the perfect opportunity for citizens to assert their power by electing leaders who prioritize dignity and equality for all.
During the conference, the Chairperson of the ACT-Wazalendo Women’s Wing, Janeth Joel Rite, called attention to the challenges women face under the current government and urged them to unite and use their numbers to push for political change.
“We must stand together to remove the ruling party, CCM, and work towards a better future for all Tanzanians,” she said.
The conference, themed ‘Women and Victory 2025’, included important discussions on ‘The Brave Woman’ and ‘Women and Leadership’ and was attended by political leaders, human rights activists, and representatives from the Chadema Women’s Council. It featured cultural performances, including poetry and traditional dances, before concluding with Othman presenting special recognition awards to the courageous women of ACT-Wazalendo.
The event, which showcased the growing momentum of ACT-Wazalendo’s national campaign, highlighted the party’s commitment to building a future where justice, fairness, and development are at the heart of Tanzanian governance.
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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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