Unguja. Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has urged regional and district leaders to leverage the Kizimkazi Festival to identify and promote investment opportunities on the island and to boost tourism attractions.
Speaking at the opening of the 2024 festival on August 18, in Kizimkazi Dimbani, South Unguja Region, Dr Mwinyi emphasised the importance of using the festival as a platform to highlight investment prospects, particularly in the tourism sector.
“The Regional and District Commissioners should utilise this festival to identify and promote various investment opportunities available on the island, especially within the tourism sector, which will help increase tourist arrivals,” Dr Mwinyi stated.
The President underscored that such festivals are crucial not only for the region but for Zanzibar as a whole.
He also assured that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar would continue to work with various stakeholders, especially the private sector, to open up new investment opportunities, recognizing the vital role of the private sector in the national economy.
Dr. Mwinyi commended the banking sector for its support in sponsoring the festival and for its continued contribution to Zanzibar’s economic growth through such events.
In response to challenges highlighted by the Festival Secretary, Hindi Juma Ramadhan, Dr Mwinyi addressed several issues.
He assured that efforts are underway to resolve the electricity shortage affecting the region, with the construction of a major power substation set to alleviate the problem soon.
Regarding water scarcity, Dr Mwinyi mentioned that significant projects are in progress, and once the power station is completed, water supply is expected to improve.
He also noted that land disputes are being addressed.
“We recognise the shortage of health professionals and are actively working on it.
Rest assured, all the mentioned challenges are being thoroughly addressed,” Dr Mwinyi assured.
Arafat Haji, CEO of the People’s Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ), the festival’s main sponsor, highlighted that the bank’s assets have reached TSh 2.2 trillion and continue to grow, contributing significantly to social services.
Festival Chairman Mahfoudh Said Omar reported that the festival has seen considerable success, featuring various cultural activities and development projects.
Additionally, over 500 youths will receive training in agriculture, livestock, tourism, and vocational skills.
The Kizimkazi Festival, which began in 2015 as a farewell event for President Samia Suluhu Hassan following her appointment as running mate to President John Magufuli, has evolved into a celebration known as Kizimkazi Day in 2017.
It was officially established as a festival in 2020.
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Tanzania Declares End of Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.
In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.
Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures. Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication. The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.
“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. “While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”
Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks. WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Source: allafrica.com
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
