Hidden roadblocks: Why Zanzibar development projects keep stalling

Hidden roadblocks: Why Zanzibar development projects keep stalling

Unguja. Political interference and corruption continue to pose significant obstacles to major development projects in Zanzibar, resulting in the misallocation of billions of shillings of state funds.

This assertion was made by the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo during a rally held on Sunday at Mwenge Grounds in Makunduchi, South Region.

Addressing attendees and supporters, vice chairman Ismail Jussa Ladhu singled out the stalled reconstruction of Pemba Airport, attributing the delay to political meddling in the contractual agreements between the project’s handling companies.

“In June 2023, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) entered into a $428 million (Sh1.01 trillion) agreement with UK Export Financing to expand Pemba Airport and construct various road networks in Unguja and Pemba,” he stated.

The financing for these projects is facilitated by Citibank London and Deutsche Bank London, guaranteed by the British government through the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF).

According to Mr Jussa, commercial contracts with contractors Mecco and Propav, operating under a joint venture, were approved and signed by the Zanzibar government in September 2022 and January 2023.

The comprehensive road projects include the 48km Tunguu-Makunduchi Road in Unguja South Region, the 12km Kisauni-Fumba Road in West Urban Region, and the 43.5km Mkoani-Chake Chake Pemba Road. However, the High Court of Zanzibar issued temporary orders on January 10, 2024, halting project progress pending the resolution of a legal dispute.

Grievances cited include alleged abuse of majority shareholder positions, political interference, and failure to adhere to contractual terms.

Despite attempts to settle disputes out of court, political interference persisted, as highlighted by ACT-Wazalendo’s leadership.

Mr Jussa also raised concerns regarding the 275km feeder roads project, where the Ministry of Works, Communication, and Transport is seeking an additional $79 million for the same roads already funded with $89.3 million.

“The initial contractors used cheap seal technology, and now new contractors from Turkey are requesting nearly the same amount to apply asphalt concrete, essentially doubling the expenditure,” Mr Jussa commented.

He emphasised that cheap seal technology, despite being proven ineffective during trials in the Pemba South roads project between 2011 and 2012 under the seventh phase of government led by Mohammed Shein, was still implemented, burdening taxpayers with unnecessary costs.

“It is incomprehensible that the contractor proceeded with cheap seal technology and the government approved it despite known and proven risks, now resulting in taxpayers bearing the brunt of double funding,” he concluded.

The outspoken politician further said that the awarding of most of the tenders has failed to follow established procurement procedures that are established by the laws of Zanzibar; instead, the companies are hand-picked.

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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
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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).

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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Muslims in Pemba conduct special prayer against ZAA decision
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Investment News Editor

Muslims in Pemba conduct special prayer against ZAA decision

ZANZIBAR: More than 200 Muslims in Vitongoji Village, South Pemba Region over the weekend conducted a special prayer to condemn the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) move to appoint DNATA as the sole ground handler in Terminal III of the International Airport of Zanzibar. Abeid Amani Karume.Continue Reading