JK small traders loans extended to Zanzibar

from IPP Media

By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar

The Union government will extend millions of shillings in loans to small traders in the Isles as part of its implementation of the national poverty reduction strategy, Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume announced here yesterday.

Addressing a rally at Amani Stadium at the climax of the 43rd anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution, he said plans for all the Isles� five regions to benefit have the full blessings of President Jakaya Kikwete.

He said four of the regions would receive 100m/- each, while the more populous Mjini Magharibi would be given 200m/-, adding: �President Kikwete has informed me that Zanzibar will benefit from a loan to be advanced to small scale traders and the first phase will see each region receive 100m/- except Mjini Magharibi which will get twice the amount.�

President Kikwete has already directed one billion shillings to each region in Tanzania mainland for use as loans to small businesses as a poverty alleviation measure.

The Isles� leader also scoffed at opposition leaders in Zanzibar that he said have been fond of undermining nation-building efforts by instigating people to sabotage or refuse to take part in development initiatives.

�We have been making steady headway in efforts to build our country but some opposition leaders have been inciting people to refuse to support development projects such as in the anti-malaria campaign.

Some people will not even let their houses be sprayed to control the breeding of mosquitoes,� he pointed out.

President Karume went on to point an accusing finger at opposition leaders, he would not name, for what he called unnecessarily complaining about the recruitment and deployment of security units in Zanzibar.

�Our security forces have been doing a good job, including maintaining peace and order while the rest of us enjoy our sleep at night. They have been taking part in development projects as well,� he noted.

He outlined a line-up of positive developments recorded in the past four decades, particularly since he assumed the Isles� top leadership in 2000 and his re-election in late 2005, noting that rises in revenue collection had prompted his government to consider raising salaries for civil servants.

�I would like to assure all government employees that your government will prepare another programme under which their salaries will be adjusted upwards come the next financial year,� he said.

He said the government collected 43.3bn/- in internal revenue in the second half of last year compared to 67.2bn/- in the whole fiscal year of 2005/06, mainly from the business sector and services like tourism.

The most notable achievements he saw were in good governance, the development of housing, agriculture and the infrastructure, as well as the provision of social services such as education, health and water.

Also noteworthy were achievements in the energy housing, agriculture and infrastructure sector, the Zanzibar President explained, adding that his government had completed the fourth phase of the Isles� rural electrification where up to 65 villages in Unguja and Pemba would be supplied with reliable power.

However, he said poverty was still a serious problem because some families in Zanzibar still cannot afford three square meals a day.

But he cited one survey that shows that the number of Zanzibaris living below poverty line had fallen from 61 per cent in 1991/92 to 49 per cent in 2004/05, the vast majority of those affected are living in the rural areas.

In his remarks, President Karume also appealed to Zanzibaris to join forces in controlling the spread of HIV/Aids.

Dignitaries at the stadium for the celebrations included President Kikwete, Vice President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, the Tanzanian and Zanzibar First Ladies, the Speakers of the Union Parliament and the Isles� House of Representatives, cabinet ministers, and members of the diplomatic corps.