From DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar, 27th January 2011 @ 11:30, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 3401
ZANZIBAR government is planning to establish Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA), aiming at improving services at airports, the Minister for Communication and Infrastructure Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad informed the House on Thursday.
''We are heading for major changes at our airports. The formation of authority will improve services, such as brigades,'' Mr Hamad said when responding to questions from legislators.
Lawmakers Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman (CUF- Ziwani), Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUF- Kiwani), and Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF- Mjimkongwe) raised various concerns over government's efforts in improving the airports.
Hamad said hopefully, in April this year, an expert from abroad would come to Zanzibar to fix a modern public address system for announcements and flight display boards at the Zanzibar airport (now Abeid Amani Karume International Airport).
He said a company from China was performing well in the construction of a third passenger terminal, and work is done with a loan from China Exim Bank. Construction is expected to last for 18 months.
The Deputy Minister for Communication and Infrastructure Mr Issa Haji Ussi promised that the current inconveniences caused by stray animals including dogs, at the airport would end soon after fencing the entire area.
Mr Issa also said that the government decided to change the name of Zanzibar airport to Abeid Amani Karume airport, in recognition and respect of the first president of Zanzibar.
''We are also looking into the possibility or renaming Pemba airport as Thabit Kombo Jecha (former assistant to Abeid Karume), in recognition of his role in the Revolution,'' he said.
Meanwhile people who have lost the 'Very Important People (VIP)' status are not allowed to use the VIP lounge at the airport, the Minister for Communication and Infrastructure Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad has warned.
''There are some big businessmen, retired executives, and friends of leaders in the government who had been using VIP against procedures. People entitled to use VIP have been identified by the Department of Foreign Affairs. We must respect and observe the law,'' Hamad said.
He also emphasized that leaders people entitled to use VIP should be inspected except president, vice presidents, the Speaker, and Chief Justice. He said, it was against the law for some leaders to refuse being inspected by the security officer. ''If you are clean why reject inspection!'' he added.
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