The plan comes almost eight months after official opening of third terminal which has with the capacity of handling about 1.6 million travellers annually.
Official sources says Terminal 3 building was constructed at a cost of $120 million.
Zanzibar Minister for Infrastructure, Communication, and Transport Dr Khalid Mohamed Salum, said recently the feasibility study is underway and is expected to take three months.
“We have already started the feasibility study, by January we may have finished.
“Terminal 3 at the airport has started to be overcrowded and that is why we have started the process,” he said.
Terminal 3 is used for international flights and was estimated to serve 1.6 million people annually, but now it has reached 1.4 million people annually, with hope that it may surpass the target.
“Due to increasing in the number of tourists, holidaymakers, and other visitors, we are almost beating the 1.6 million travellers’ target. We have quickly noticed that we need another larger space to handle more planes and travellers,” said Mr Salum.
However, speaking last week at the official opening of customer care services training for all staff operating at the AAKIA, he said the move is geared to meet the demand of growing number of visitors.
He said that the ongoing reforms at the international airport, spiced by the top leaders; President Samia Suluhu Hassan through the ‘Royal Tour Documentary’ has enabled the airport to have an increase of visitors using it and has resulted in a significant increase in revenue from Sh2 billion to Sh6.7 billion in the first quarter of this fiscal year.
There still remains huge controversy around the handling of the tender to handle ground services at the airport.
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. This is set to come into effect on 1st December 2022.
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
