Zanzibar, Unguja:
The Revolutionary government of Zanzibar has said that there will be no parade for the culmination of the 59th anniversary of the Revolution of Zanzibar this year.
In this regard, the budget of Sh450 million that was planned to fund the celebrations will be directed to solve the challenges in the education sector.
The peak of the celebration takes place on January 12 of every year where the celebrations are held at the Amaan Stadium in the isles.
Speaking to editors and journalists from various media yesterday at State House in Zanzibar, in an event that was aired live, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar, said that the funds will be redirected to improve the teaching and learning environment in schools thereby raising the quality of education in Zanzibar.
“We usually have a parade at the Amaan Stadium. However, this won’t be the case this year for two main reasons.
“First, we have decided that to hold a bigger celebration to commemorate the revolution’s 60th anniversary,” he said.
He noted that the 60th anniversary celebration will be bigger. It will feature more things than usual. Therefore the government will have to regroup and restrategise for the bigger event.
“This year, we are opening many schools and have therefore decided to send the funds that were planned for the peak of the Revolution this year into the education sector so that our schools have enough equipment. That is the second reason,” he noted.
Speaking on the amount that had been set aside for the celebration, he said, “Initially the budget was Sh700 million. But we thought it was excessive so we tried to reduce it. We were able to get it down to Sh450 million. This is the amount we will redirect to the education sector,” explained President Mwinyi.
As in mainland Tanzania, the education sector in the isles of Zanzibar has suffering from a shortage of important equipment such as books, desks, laboratories and dormitories. These are things that President Mwinyi has said the Sh450 million will go towards and it is the hope of the government that the sector will make tremendous progress in the implementation of its projects.
Regarding the prices of products continuing to rise despite the tax reductions, President Mwinyi noted that there were reasons beyond the control of his government that kept the prices of these products from going down.
“As for our internal reasons, the prices of products have gone up because there has been drought in the mainland where these products come from and prices have gone up there too. However, we are looking at expanding the scope of our ports to be able to unload cargo in the shortest possible time,” he said.
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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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