Unguja, Zanzibar:
The Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (Zipa) has said it will revoke land leases from investors who fail to develop them within the required period.
The authority issued the statement on Monday January 2 in South Unguja Region during the inauguration of TOA a five-star hotel.
Zipa’s executive director Mr Shariff Ali Shariff said the undeveloped land will be taken and issued to investors who are able to implement tangible investments on it.
“We are against investors who take land and leave it idle for years, we are going to give this land to capable investors,” he said.
Mr Shariff used the Israeli investors who built the TOA hotel as an example of an investment that had matured within a short period.
He said the investor started the construction in August 2021 with $3.5 million capital and to date they had already utilised $2.7 million equivalent to 77 percent of the projected investment.
“These are the type of investors we want,” he said.
He has said that in improving the investment environment, they are preparing a new investment policy that will be in line with the modern environment and strengthen investment areas integrating digital usage.
Gracing the event, former President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein said Zanzibar’s hospitality sector has grown significantly since the revolution from having two hotels to over 600 currently.
“Zanzibar has a history of being generous and loving, so it is good that we continue with keeping the peace and promoting our own without accepting to be disturbed by people who have bad intentions for our country,” said Dr Shein
On his part, the TOA hotel manager Mr Ally Muhungoo said, the hotel which has 86 rooms has created 85 employment opportunities, with 70 of the employees being Zanzibaris whereas five are foreigners.
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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
