Zanzibar faces shipping bottleneck as cargo passes through Mombasa, Dar

Zanzibar faces shipping bottleneck as cargo passes through Mombasa, Dar

Unguja. Zanzibar faces significant challenges in sea transport, with a lack of direct shipping routes contributing to delayed cargo arrivals and escalating product costs.

Due to the type and size of cargo handled at Malindi port, many large vessels arriving from overseas first dock at Dar es Salaam and Mombasa in Kenya, forcing other ships to follow suit.

As a result, Zanzibar’s port experiences delays in unloading, further driving up costs for local businesses.

At the 16th Annual General Meeting of the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) on March 18, 2025, local entrepreneurs discussed how this issue is affecting the cost of doing business on the island.

Karama Karama, a representative of the business community, highlighted the problems caused by the lack of direct sea transport for goods arriving from overseas.

“Many ships pass through Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, which leads to extended delivery times before the cargo reaches Zanzibar,” Karama said.

One of the primary reasons for the absence of direct shipping routes is the small volume of cargo unloaded on the island. Shipowners, therefore, perceive operations in Zanzibar as less profitable.

The minister for Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, acknowledged the issue during a report on the upcoming meeting of the Federation of Customs and Freight Forwarding Agents in Africa and the Middle East (Fiata-RAME 2025), which will be held on the island from April 30 to May 1.

He suggested that the current challenges could present investment opportunities in the sector.

“Ships coming from China to Dar es Salaam carry more than 10,000 containers, while those coming to Zanzibar carry only 100 containers,” Mbarawa said.

“The disparity in cargo volumes means higher costs for transportation. If we can increase the volume of cargo shipped directly to Zanzibar, these costs would decrease.”

Mbarawa said that the government’s role is to create an environment conducive to investment in direct shipping routes, enabling vessels to travel from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar and thus reduce costs.

The minister of Works, Communications and Transport in Zanzibar, Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed, reported improvements at Zanzibar’s port over the past year. Previously, ships had to anchor for up to 40 days, but now, the average stay is reduced to just eight days.

However, the demand for goods in preparation for Ramadan has caused the time ships spend at anchor to rise, with ships now staying for an average of 18 days from January to March 2025.

Omar Said Shaaban, Zanzibar’s Minister of Trade and Industry Development, stressed that the country’s industrial growth would stall unless the transport challenges are addressed, particularly with regard to sea transport, which is vital for the import and export of goods.

“There is an urgent need for a genuine solution to these transport challenges, for the sake of both the business community and the nation as a whole,” Shaaban said.

Opening the meeting, Zanzibar’s Second Vice President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, acknowledged the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce’s critical role in advocating for improved business conditions. He emphasised the government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector to create a more conducive environment for trade and investment.

“The private sector is a key driver of economic growth and job creation. The government will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure Zanzibar becomes a hub for trade and investment in East Africa and beyond,” Abdulla said.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts by the government to strengthen laws governing the private sector, ensuring that they align with international standards.

Abdulla called on ZNCC leaders to promote integrity and ethical business practices to foster trust and accelerate investment in Zanzibar. He encouraged businesses to pay taxes voluntarily and on time, as this would help generate revenue for infrastructure development and social services.

Meanwhile, ZNCC Executive Director Hamad Hamad revealed that the chamber is working on a system to expedite the process of obtaining export certificates, which currently involves lengthy procedures.

Lilian Masalu, a representative of TradeMark Africa, spoke about the institution’s ongoing collaboration with the government and private sector to improve business infrastructure, remove barriers to trade, and strengthen policy frameworks.

Masalu noted that TradeMark Africa is dedicated to helping the private sector overcome operational challenges and enhance its performance.

Original Media Source

Share this news

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

This Year's Most Read News Stories

Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
Chief Editor

Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response

Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response

Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.

In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.

The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.

“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.

Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.

Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.

Source: allafrica.com

Continue Reading