BBC TANZANIA News: In Summary
• The process of awarding the tender to DNATA was not “transparent, and due process was not followed and it was conducted against the law”, the statement said.
• The new operator officially starts operations at the terminal from 1 December, which was built at a cost of $120m (£101m).
- The stand-off is expected to dominate politics in the island of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar airport operators furious over job losses in Dubai deal
Tanzania air operators say over 600 workers are set to lose their jobs after the semi-autonomous government of Zanzibar awarded a Dubai-based company exclusive rights to handle ground services at a refurbished airport.
The Tanzania Air Operators Association (Taoa) said in a statement that the contract awarded to DNATA, which is registered at the London Stock Exchange, was in breach of the law banning any company from having exclusive rights to ground-handling services at major airports.
The process of awarding the tender to Dnata was not “transparent, and due process was not followed and it was conducted against the law”, the statement said.
Zanzibar’s President Hussein Mwinyi defended the government’s decision, saying the aim was “to provide world-class standards” at the new terminal at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.
The new operator officially starts operations at the terminal from 1 December, which was built at a cost of $120m (£101m).
The expansion aims at increasing the number of passengers at the airport can handle from just under a million per year to 1.5 million, according to earlier reports by the government.
Tourism is the main source of income for Zanzibar and airline industry is a major stakeholder.
The stand-off is expected to dominate politics in the island.
See also:
- Muslims in Pemba conduct special prayer against ZAA decision
- Zanzibar Airport Authority to audit ground handlers
- Zanzibar airport monopoly puts 600 jobs at risk
- Ground handlers at Zanzibar airport given two months to vacate terminal 3
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Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy
Unguja. Opposition party ACT Wazalendo today officially bids farewell to its former Chairman, Juma Duni Haji, also known as Babu Duni, as part of a new policy designed to honor retired senior leaders at a ceremony held at Kiembesamaki, Zanzibar.
The initiative highlights the party’s commitment to recognizing and supporting individuals who have served with dedication and integrity.
Babu Duni, who stepped down earlier this year, was succeeded by Othman Masoud, now the First Vice President of Zanzibar.
The policy aims to provide ongoing respect and support to retired leaders, ensuring their continued recognition and contribution to the party’s development.
“Recognizing their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the party, this policy ensures that retired leaders continue to be acknowledged and respected by both the party and the community,” the policy states.
To benefit from this policy, leaders must not have left or been expelled from the party. They must have served the party with honor and dedication. The national leadership committee will determine whether a leader has fulfilled these criteria.
The policy seeks to honor retired leaders, protect their dignity, acknowledge their contributions, leverage their ideas for the party’s growth, and support them to the best of the party’s ability.
In honoring these leaders, the party will provide a vehicle, the type of which will be determined by the national leadership committee. Additionally, they will receive a monthly allowance, with the amount also set by this committee.
Other benefits include health insurance. If a leader does not own a home, the party will cover their rent at a rate decided by the committee.
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Depending on the party’s resources at the time, the policy may also apply to retired deputy chairpersons for both the mainland and Zanzibar, the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General for both mainland and Zanzibar, and the party’s Attorney General.
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