Unguja. The Zanzibar Housing Corporation’s (ZHC) directive for residents of the Development Houses in Kikwajuni to vacate their homes within 90 days has ignited outrage among affected citizens and advocacy groups.
A letter from the Zanzibar Housing Corporation (ZHC), dated October 21 and obtained by The Citizen, informed tenants they have three months to prepare for relocation.
“The Corporation would like to inform you that you are being given a period of three (3) months from the date of this letter to prepare for relocation in order to facilitate construction of houses and to support the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar’s initiative to provide its citizens with quality and safe housing that meets modern standards,” reads the letter.
Opposition party ACT-Wazalendo is among the groups that has challenged ZHC’s justification for the abrupt relocation, which ZHC says is based on a housing inspection conducted in 2018.
The party’s shadow minister, Rashid Ali Abdallah, criticized the government for taking six years to act on the inspection’s findings while imposing a dangerously short notice period on residents.
“These Development Houses are not just structures; they represent a significant part of our history, as the first project aimed at providing quality housing for the people of Zanzibar,” Abdallah stated.
He referenced the vision of the late President Mzee Abeid Amani Karume, who established these homes to support low-income families.
ACT Wazalendo argues that the government’s actions seem to favor private investors over the vulnerable populations currently residing in these houses.
They are concerned that this relocation could serve as a pretext for urban development projects that do not benefit the original residents.
The spokesperson noted a similar failed initiative in the Kilimani Development Houses area, suggesting a pattern of displacing low-income families for investment interests.
The directive has also attracted the attention of several prominent figures, including Ambassador Ali Abeid Karume and former Kikwajuni MP Parmukh Hogan Sigh. Ambassador Karume warned that any decision to demolish these buildings and forcibly relocate residents could create discord between the Zanzibar government and its citizens.
He expressed concern that someone with ill intentions might disrupt the government’s goodwill, inciting division and unrest.
“The German buildings are not the property of the Zanzibar Housing Corporation; they are under the jurisdiction of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government. These structures were built by East Germany to assist impoverished citizens. The decision to evict residents could provoke significant turmoil,” Karume said. He emphasized the need to understand the reasons behind the construction of these houses and the terms under which they were left, rather than acting arbitrarily.
Former Kikwajuni MP Parmukh Singh Hogan remarked that demolishing these houses would erase an important chapter in the history between Germany and Zanzibar. East Germany was the first nation to recognize the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, followed by China and Cuba, among others.
“It is not right to demolish these buildings without consultation. This involves politics, history, and tourism. Changing their use disrupts relationships. It would be better to involve Germany than to erase a historical landmark,” Hogan stated.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the committee monitoring the dispute, Jaha Ame Rajab, reported that residents have begun meetings with government leaders to discuss the issue. He noted that the district commissioner, Rashid Masaraka, has already met with his committee, indicating ongoing discussions, though the outcome remains uncertain.
“There are many families living in the German buildings. Asking them to leave for investment purposes is not a simple matter. If handled poorly, this could lead to significant political and historical repercussions,” Jaha warned.
He pointed out that many residents have lived in these buildings since the first administration of the Zanzibar Government, so any decision to evict them could stir resentment and lead to a major, unresolved conflict.
The Kikwajuni high-rise buildings were constructed after the revolution as part of an initiative to provide quality housing for citizens, with support from the East German government.
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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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