The tourism industry is no doubt aware that Zanzibar has not been supplied with mains electricity power since before Christmas. This is due to a fault on the power cable line between the island of Zanzibar and the mainland, which is being rectified, with normal power expected to resume mid February.
In the meantime we would like to assure operators and visitors to Zanzibar that the island is well equipped to deal with this temporary situation as power outages are commonplace and generator backup is provided in all hotels and resorts.
Therefore all services including tourism, communication and transportation continue to function with no significant or noticeable disruption. In addition to this, ZATI would like to assure all visitors heading to Zanzibar for Sauti za Busara Music Festival commencing 11th of February that Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, and Zanzibar Association Tourism Investors, are both giving a clear message that Zanzibar is open for “business as usual”
We are confident that Zanzibar is safe for visitors. The longer the power outage has gone on, the more Zanzibaris have been getting back to “business as usual”. All hotels, restaurants and businesses in Zanzibar Town are open and many streets have lighting. Local people are preferring to go out in the evenings – especially in the area of night food market at Forodhani Gardens. All indications are that our local and perhaps regional audiences shall be greater than ever.
The island of Zanzibar welcomes visitors and continues to be the same peaceful and secure environment that we are proud to be part of. Thank you for continuing to support us. We will issue an update as soon as mains power is back on line.
On behalf of
Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors
Simai M Said
CHAIRMAN
ZATI
who are you kidding here mr simai? i don't remember the last time i had electricty in my house for 24 hours, the longest i had is 5 hours and 15 minutes.
ReplyDeleteMay be the hotels and resorts have got generators, but what about outside the hotels and resorts? after 6:30 it is completely dark every where in zanzibar, so any tourist who wants to come to zanzibar at the moment should know that you can only go out of your hotel or resort from 6:00 in the morning till 6:00 in the afternoon. That is the FACT
(US Blogger)
ReplyDeleteSir, you cannot be serious!!!
Zanzibar govt loses 30 per cent revenue due to power crunch
By Mwinyi Sadallah
The Isles government is now losing huge amounts in income since power problems started last December.
State Minister in the President’s Office (Finance and Economic Affairs) Dr. Mwinyihaji Makame told the House of Representatives yesterday when responding to a question by Chambani legislator Abass Juma Muhunzi.
He said the government has been losing revenue due a drastic fall in value added tax (VAT) collections.
Makame mentioned another sector which has been highly affected as the communication sector due to majority of people failing to use their mobile phones, thereby causing loss to telecommunication companies.
Citing an example, he said Zantel’s monthly income was expected to drop from 6.7bn/- to 3bn/- due to lack of electricity.
The minister said the company was paying VAT worth 465m/-, an amount expected to drop due to a fall in income generated by customers.
Makame noted further that the government was expected to lose huge amounts of VAT through Zanzibar Electric Company (ZECO), which contributes 72m/- to the government.
He told the lawmakers that power problems have affected the industrial sector and thus collection of various taxes.
“Most industries have been closed and some employees lost their jobs due to the power problem,” insisted Makame.
He named the construction sector in the Isles as another area that has been severely hit by power shortage.
He however said it was too early to know the exact amount of loss the power shortage has caused in the Isles until the government makes an assessment.
The minister stated that the government was expected to lose 30 per cent of its income which was supposed to be collected during the power shortage period.
Several sectors have been affected by lack of electricity including tourism and other economic sectors.
Already the government has contracted foreign experts to maintain the burnt electric device at Fumba power station and has said power will be in operation by February 20 this year.
(US Blogger)
Hey!!! you are contradicting yourself my friend, begining you said the electricity will be resumed mid february, and below you said now Zanzibar is full of light people are going out as normal, sasa watu washike lipi
ReplyDeletekuweni wawazi yakhe
Wallah.. Tobaaaaa.Yaani weye mzee na heshima zako una udanganya ulimwengu kuwa "Zanzibar is nornal carrying on with social activies as if nothing has happened"??
ReplyDeleteHakika nchi hii,haina mwenyewe.Yaani watu tumekufa..tumeoza..hatufui nguo,wakati mwingi tunajishauri hata kwenda chooni..! Maana maji ya kutosha kwa ajili ya ku-weka mambo sawa?.
Nafikiri wazanzibar tumerogwa,maana hata shida zote tunazo zipata na ukimya wetu huu ndio uliomfanya huyo muheshimiwa aseme kuwa.."Zanzibar hiko shawri"Watu wanakula na kuvaa."
Hao waheshimiwa hawajui hata kama wananchi wao wanapata shida kiasi gani? mbali na baadhi yetu kupoteza ajira.Kwasababu wao umeme wanao wa Generator,wanapata kila kitu ndo maana hili wanaliona DOGO .
Nawashukuru wazanzibar kwa mioyo yao ya chuma..maana mtu wa kawaida..Pangekuwa hapatoshi hapa..
Mungu ibariki Zanzibar na watu wake..
wa..Billah Twaafiq..!
..Jama naomba mkae kimya kama hamjui wazanzibar jinsi walivyo athrika na ukosefu wa umeme?..Hivi wewe bwna mkubwa uelewi kama watu wanashinda njaa kwasabau ya ukosefu wa umeme?Au ni kwasababu kwako pesa zipo ila namna ya kuzitumia?? Sisi ni "DEI WAKA" tumekuwa tunategemea umeme kwa asilimia mia moja ilituweze kuishi..Unafikiri sisi fundi w"welding" tunaishi Vipi??
ReplyDeletealafu bila aibu unasema Zanzibar pako "Normal"??.
Mimi naomba huko bara watutambue kama tarafa japo ya Bagamoyo ili tupate msaada wa haraka wa umeme..
Haiwezekani nchi inayojitawala,inayopokea kodi za wananchi,ishindwe kurejesha uduma ya umeme zaidi ya miezi miwili??
La kushangaza si kwamba umeme umekosekana..hakuna..! La! Hasha! Umeme upo tele.. Lakini namana ya kuunganisha ili uingie kwenye laini Ya Zanzibar toka hapo FUMBA.. ndio inawashinda..
"Kweli Zanzibar ni Tambarare..! lafu Vioongozi wana rumbana nani aongezewe muda..nani aingie serikali ya mseto..??
Mta watawala watu wepi,ikiwa hamwsaidii ili wasife kwa njaa kwanza kwa kurejesha umeme haraka iwezekanavyo???
Mzee MITHUPU,
ReplyDeleteNina HASIRA!
Comment yangu ya mwanzo siioni hapa....naandika tena ili mradi sitachoka!!!
mie hii announcement kusema kweli sijaimaliza kuisoma kwa UCHUNGU nlokua nawo....huyu Simai ana guts kweli....Hivi anajua ama kufahamu shida za wanainchi????.walokua hawamjui yeye ni mfanyi biashara kila sehemu yuko yeye na ndugu zake!Na makusudi kaweka hii announcement asije akakosa hela za wathungu huko mercury/dharma lounge na zanzibar secrets during this season. THAT’S ALL hamna kingine!
Mimi Nina HASIRA sana na hao viongozi…kwao wao hawana dhiki kila kitu huria kwa pesa za kodi!
Wewe umesikia Mkoa gani (hahaaaa) unakosa umeme kwa muda huo wote???????maji hamna……..kununua kila siku kwa mshahara gani????vitu vimepanda bei, mafuta ndio usiseme…kweli hawa watu kweli wana uchungu???????????
I say naomba UTAFAKARI, HaTa aibu HUNA??U should be ashamed of urself to POSt this announcement…people like u make me SICK!
mguswa!
kaka Michuzi usizibanie Comments zetu ulimwengu hauelewi nini kinaendelea Zanzibar, wanaoishi Zanzibar ndio wanaopatwa na maafa yaliyopo.
ReplyDeleteAin't you ashame to write all these lies mr Simai??!! Zanzibarians are suffering with no water no petrol no medical as the hospitals them selves don't have power? "Hotels have power" etc as u said, what about the streets? People get robbed in stone town, how many hotels which are open? How many have closed? Why lying to the world? Maybe cause u have money and kisima in ur house including generators, a person like u won't know the suffering people go thru? people stay in they're house for three days with no water at all, people have to buy water for 1000 and that person doesn't earn much.
BUSINESS AS USUAL ??? If business as usual why u closed one of your business? Stop lying mr Simai .....
Blackout blackout blackout> Not power only but even media is on blackout as it doesn't not put the truth anywhere about Zanzibar.
Mwanahasira!!!
Hotel which has 100-300 rooms is known as medium sized hotel.
ReplyDeleteHoteis Em Joao Pessoa