Unguja. The opposition party ACT Wazalendo has criticized CCM-Zanzibar’s push to extend President Hussein Mwinyi’s term to seven years, labeling it a sign of panic due to governance failures.
Addressing a rally in Magogoni kwa Mwarabu, party cadre Mansoor Yusuf Himid emphasized that the true test of CCM’s achievements in the past three years should be left to the electorate.
“If you believe you have performed well, why fear elections? The constitution mandates elections every five years. Only at the polls will we provide the verdict on your governance,” Mr. Himid asserted.
He continued, “They should abandon this dream of seven years because it will never come to fruition.”
Supporting these sentiments, the party’s Vice-chairman in Zanzibar, Ismail Jussa Ladhu, criticized CCM’s statements advocating for an extended presidential term, arguing it undermines democratic principles.
The debate was sparked by Dr Mohamed Said Dimwa, Deputy Secretary General of CCM-Zanzibar, who recently announced that the Special Committee of CCM’s National Executive Committee endorsed a proposal to extend President Mwinyi’s tenure to seven years.
Dimwa cited the president’s effective implementation of the CCM Manifesto for 2020-2025, achieving over 100 percent of set targets within three years and a few months of taking office.
Speaking at the same rally, party chairman Othman Masoud Othman expressed concern over the Revolutionary Government’s budget, which heavily relies on foreign loans, amounting to 65 percent.
He recalled the leadership of Zanzibar’s founding father, President Abeid Karume, who built residential homes using solely domestic resources, without borrowing from abroad.
Othman highlighted that out of the total budget of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) amounting to Sh5.182 trillion, Sh3.5 trillion comes from donor funds, while Sh1.5 trillion is generated domestically.
In concluding remarks on the government’s main budget debate on June 20, 2024, the Finance Minister expressed pride in the budget, citing successful implementation of numerous developmental projects.
“Some want us to celebrate this budget and the achievements it reflects, but tell that to those unaware. For those who understand, we have moved away from self-reliance. Why then are we struggling today, resorting to borrowing when we had already overcome such challenges?” Othman queried.
Reflecting on past successes, Othman noted that in 1971, Zanzibar earned Sh16 million from selling 3,200 tons of cloves, which funded the construction of 403 homes in Kilimani. Furthermore, the sale of 61,200 tons of cloves (equivalent to current Sh1.3 trillion) built 1,300 homes.
Othman, who served as Deputy and Attorney General of SMZ for over a decade, highlighted President Karume’s ambition to construct 17,000 homes for Sh400 million.
“This country was once self-sufficient in all aspects and supported Mainland Tanzania. That’s the truth, and we are capable,” he said, giving the example of Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, which is economically more advanced than Zanzibar.
Othman lamented, “It’s disheartening that despite our potential to excel, we are borrowing Sh3.5 trillion, with 35 percent of it being our own funds. How can anyone be content with this? We should strive to surpass others, not lag behind.”
He criticized the current state of affairs in Zanzibar, attributing it to poor leadership.
Othman highlighted that out of the Sh1.5 trillion raised domestically, Sh900 billion is allocated to wages. “No government can function effectively on Sh600 billion, especially when Sh300 billion is already earmarked for loan repayments. Even a municipality would struggle with Sh300 billion.”
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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
