Unguja. President Hussein Mwinyi announced that Zanzibar, while celebrating 61 years of the revolution, takes pride in several significant achievements, which include maintaining peace, unity, and solidarity, as well as boosting the economy.
In his speech on January 11, 2025, during the 61st anniversary of the Revolution celebrated in Gombani, Pemba, he emphasized the development of infrastructure, increased investments, and business growth, improvements in social services, and the strengthening of democracy and good governance.
Dr Mwinyi stated that these accomplishments are rooted in the 1964 Glorious Revolution and the efforts made by the people and leaders of all previous administrations.
“The eighth government, which assumed office four years ago, has worked tirelessly to continue the progress made and ensure that Zanzibar advances in development across all sectors, while upholding the principles of peace, patriotism, and national unity,” he said.
President Mwinyi reported that Zanzibar’s economy has been steadily growing, with a growth rate of 7.5 percent as of September 2024. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at market prices increased to 6.04 trillion shillings in 2023, up from 4.78 trillion shillings in 2021, representing a 26 percent rise.
He added that the growth of GDP and economic expansion have been primarily driven by advancements in the services sector, which experienced an average growth of 9.9 percent in 2023 compared to just 1.3 percent in 2021.
“The tourism sector has seen significant growth, with the number of tourists visiting Zanzibar increasing by 145 percent during this period. Moreover, government revenue collection has risen by 51 percent, from 858.2 billion shillings in 2020/21 to 1.3 trillion shillings in 2022/23,” he said.
He also pointed out that the pace of investment has accelerated, noting that the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) has registered 449 projects worth $5.9 billion, which are expected to create over 22,966 jobs. These projects encompass investments in hotels (169), businesses (99), factories (43), agriculture (28), sports (28), and other sectors (82).
Regarding investments in blue economy sectors, President Mwinyi mentioned that the government has allowed investments on small islands. A total of 17 islands have registered investment projects with an expected investment of $377.5 million (approximately 954.34 billion shillings). The government is taking further steps to attract investors and promote opportunities in areas like the Mangapwani Multi-Purpose Port.
Tourism and fisheries
President Mwinyi highlighted major achievements in tourism, reporting an increase in tourists from 568,312 in November 2023 to 645,144 in November 2024, representing a 14 percent rise.
He also indicated that government efforts have led to a 107.2 percent increase in fish production, from 38,107 tons in 2020, valued at 205.35 billion shillings, to 78,943 tons in 2024, valued at 618.18 billion shillings.
“The government will continue to support fishermen by providing equipment, loans, and expertise to enhance their fishing efficiency and enable them to reach deeper waters,” he said.
Additionally, Dr. Mwinyi mentioned significant improvements in port services and maritime transport, announcing the signing of a contract with Africa Global Logistics (AGL) to manage operations at Malindi Port, also known as Zanzibar Multipurpose Terminal (ZMT). This engagement aims to improve ship docking times and container handling capacity.
Energy, Education and Health
He stated that the government has reduced the cost of electricity connections from 464,000 shillings to 200,000 shillings for connections not exceeding 30 meters, representing an average reduction of 50 percent. As a result, 115,242 new electricity customers have been connected between November 2020 and August 2024.
In the education sector, the government has constructed new modern schools with laboratories, libraries, and computer rooms while also renovating older facilities. He noted that 2,773 new classrooms have been built through 35 new multi-story schools, achieving 184.8 percent of the target to construct 1,500 classrooms.
He mentioned an increase in the education budget from 265.5 billion shillings in 2021/22 to 830 billion shillings in 2024/25, a 212.6 percent increase.
To address the shortage of teachers, particularly in science subjects, the government has recruited 3,531 new teachers and plans to hire an additional 1,867 teachers for the 2024/25 fiscal year.
In healthcare, the government has enhanced health services by constructing 10 new modern district hospitals and one regional hospital equipped with specialized services and advanced diagnostic equipment. Additionally, 10 new health centers and 35 dispensaries have been established, alongside two major water supply projects valued at $92.18 million.
Union and elections
President Mwinyi mentioned the achievements made in the political, economic, and social spheres of the Union.
He stated that since the establishment of the system for addressing Union issues in 2006, a total of 26 issues have been discussed, 22 of which have been resolved.
“60 cooperation meetings between Union ministries and institutions have been held. Zanzibar continues to benefit from the distribution of external aid resources,” he said.
Dr Mwinyi also addressed the upcoming general election, stating that both governments, through their respective electoral commissions, are preparing to ensure the election is conducted fairly and legally.
He emphasized that everyone has a responsibility to maintain the peace of the nation before, during, and after the election.
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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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