Unguja. In February 2022, Polish national Wojteck Zabinski shocked the hospitality industry by announcing the closure of his Pilipili hotel chain in Zanzibar.
Many were baffled by the news, as the chain was frequently fully booked and popular with visitors.
An investigation by The Citizen uncovered that the closure left behind hundreds of millions in unpaid salaries to over 726 employees, as well as outstanding taxes and debts to numerous suppliers.
The worst hit was perhaps the Zanzibar government whom sources claim Zabisnki owed over $500,000 in unpaid taxes.
The Zanzibar Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Authority (Zaeca) intervened and arrested Zabinski, now referred to as the “King of Zanzibar.”
According to a Zaeca source, “Zaeca seized almost all of his assets. To our surprise, a hotel chain that hosted hundreds of visitors weekly had almost no money in its bank accounts.”
Faced with high stakes and limited options, Zaeca had three choices: let Zabinski leave Zanzibar to face fraud charges in Poland, detain him and charge him with economic crimes, or allow him to continue operations while addressing his debts.
The source added that neither of the first two options seemed viable. “If we detained him and initiated legal proceedings, the workers and suppliers would remain unpaid,” they explained.
Consequently, Zaeca, in collaboration with Zabinski, began raising funds through the sale of his properties to pay off the millions owed to workers.
Payments were made in installments, with the third instalment provided on November 19, 2022. Most workers received only their basic salaries, and many are still awaiting full compensation.
Many hotels, previously owned by Zabinski, have been reclaimed by their original owners.
A video on Zaeca’s YouTube channel shows workers receiving their payments under the supervision of an official Nasser A Hajji, who called on hotel owners to respect workers’ rights.
The 22 managers and their assistants from Kenya, Uganda, and Mainland Tanzania, who had left their jobs for the Pilipili venture, were particularly most affected.
Many had signed lucrative contracts but ended up unpaid, with some still waiting for their compensation.
Suppliers are also still waiting for payment, with recent disbursements made to those owed between Sh1-8 million.
“From the proceeds of his three operational hotels, Zabinski makes weekly deposits in South Unguja, where the case was filed,” the source noted.
Despite the ongoing financial issues, visitors continue to flock to Zanzibar, including many from Poland who were promised a paradise that never materialised.
Recently, Zabinski attempted to buy a hotel in Paje, which is now under surveillance.
While Zabinski remains at liberty to roam the streets of Stone Town and resides in Mbweni, Unguja, he could still face criminal charges in Zanzibar, including tax evasion and money laundering.
“His case has yet to reach the Director of Public Prosecutions, but he remains under constant surveillance,” the source added.
The King of Zanzibar Documentary
The documentary series ‘The King of Zanzibar’ delves into how Wojciech Zabinski, known as “Wojtek in Zanzibar” on social media, launched the Pili Pili hotel network during the pandemic, only to defraud over 250 people of millions.
The three-part series reveals the plight of those who fell victim to his schemes, including tourists, employees, and investors who were scammed out of 7 million Polish zloty.
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).
“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.
Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
‘No Marburg Confirmed In Tanzania’, But Mpox Remains ‘Public Health Emergency’
Monrovia — The Director General of the African Centers for Disease Control, Jean Kaseya, has said the center stands ready to support Tanzania and other countries in the region where suspected cases of the infectious Marburg Virus Disease have been identified. The World Health Organization earlier this week issued an alert warning of a possible outbreak in the country, although the Tanzanian Health Ministry has said tests conducted on available samples did not show the existence of Marburg in the East African nation.
“As of the 15 of January 2025, laboratory results from all suspected individuals were negative for Marburg Virus,” Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement. This would have marked the country’s second experience with the highly infectious disease that recently killed over a dozen people in neighboring Rwanda. Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in 2023 in the Kegara region, said to have been the epicenter of the new suspected cases.
At the Africa CDC online briefing on Thursday, Kaseya also said another infectious disease, Mpox, “remains a public health concern”. He said that while in December 2024, the disease had afflicted 20 countries, a new country – Sierra Leone – has been added to the number after recent outbreak there. Sierra Leonean health authorities said on January 10 that two cases of Mpox had been confirmed in the country and dozens of contacts are being traced.
With thousands of confirmed cases of Mpox across Africa and more than 1000 people having died of the disease – mainly in Central Africa – Kaseya emphasized the need to increase testing, a theme he’s heralded before. The Africa CDC boss said over the next few months the continental health watchdog will deploy additional epidemiologists and community health workers to areas considered hot spots of infectious diseases in the region.
Source: allafrica.com
Zanzibar Airport Authority to audit ground handlers
Unguja. The Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) is set to conduct an audit on ground handling companies that currently operate at the Abeid Amani Karume Airport with effect from Monday. The week-long audit is set to include Transworld, ZAT and the newcomer Dnata Zanzibar who were licensed in June plus exclusive rights to manage Terminal 3 building by ZAA.Continue Reading
