Unguja. Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman, has called for a deeper, more principled approach to national peacebuilding—one rooted in genuine faith, justice, and respect for human dignity, rather than political expediency.
Speaking during a meeting with the Zanzibar Religious Leaders’ Committee for Peace and Stability at his Migombani office in Urban West Region, Mr Othman said sustainable peace cannot be achieved without fairness and accountability, especially in the lead-up to national elections.
“You cannot expect peace in a football match if the referee is biased,” he said.
“Similarly, a peaceful election requires fairness and integrity. Peace and justice must go hand in hand,” added Mr Othman.
He urged both state institutions and political actors to uphold democratic values and to ensure inclusive participation in national processes.
Referring to the late Seif Sharif Hamad, a key figure in Zanzibar’s political history and the party’s founding member, Mr Othman noted that the long-standing commitment to peace must not be abandoned, even in challenging circumstances.
He also expressed concern over reports that more than 21,000 eligible Zanzibaris had allegedly been denied Resident Identification Cards, while some individuals without proper eligibility had been issued the documents without scrutiny.
Despite these challenges, Mr Othman commended the committee’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and pledged his support for further collaboration.
In response, Zanzibar’s Chief Mufti Sheikh Saleh Omar Kaabi, who chairs the committee, thanked the Vice President for his continued support and affirmed the committee’s commitment to implementing the recommendations and insights shared during the meeting.
He also offered prayers for Mr Othman as the country approaches the General Election.
The Mufti formally presented the Vice President with a copy of the committee’s latest publication: “Guidelines for Religious Leaders on Elections.”
The guide aims to assist clerics in promoting peace and responsible civic engagement.
Committee members, including Sheikh Thabit Nuuman Jongo and Bishop Kaganda, shared reflections on the impact of past electoral crises in Zanzibar—particularly those in 2001, 2002, and 2004—which they said had left lasting scars on many families, especially women, children, and the elderly.
Sheikh Khalid Ali Mfaume, the executive secretary at the Office of the Chief Mufti, outlined the committee’s broader mission to consult with key institutions across the country.
He noted that the group had already met with the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to distribute their peacebuilding guide and revisit the foundational history of the committee.
The session concluded with a prayer led by Sheikh Abdulla Talib Abdullah, Executive Secretary of the Zanzibar Waqf and Trust Commission, and was attended by representatives from various religious institutions, including Deputy Chief Kadhi Sheikh Othman Choum.
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Britam half-year net profit hits Sh2bn on higher investment income
Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
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
Zanzibar: Containers and dhows carrying alcohol stuck at Malindi Port
ZMMI, Scotch Store and One Stop Company have filed contempt of court case against Nicholas Eshalin, the chief executive officer of the Zanzibar Multipurpose TerminalContinue Reading
