News From Parliament

From the Zanzibar House of Representatives

THE Minister of State for Environment and Anti-drugs, Ms Fatma Abduhabib Fereji

Zanzibaris keen on autonomy
AS the Union Constitution Review Commission continues to collect views nation-wide, members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives have asked Zanzibaris to come together to ensure effective realization of Zanzibar rights in the Union.

Debating the 2012/2013 budget for the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, the legislators said the emerging division among Zanzibaris threatens the quest for more autonomy in the Union.

The lawmakers argued that the government has the overall responsibility of uniting and educating the people in the Islands to give views that would lead to Zanzibar's freedom in foreign relations, economic decision making and natural resources (oil and gas).
 
Legislators such as Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF-Mjimkongwe), Ms Asha Bakari Makame (CCM-Women), Mr Mansour Yussuf Himid (CCM-Kiembesamaki) and Mr Makame Mshimba Mbarouk expressed disappointment over divisions among Zanzibaris in the past two weeks of collecting the views for the Union constitution.
 
Others were Mr Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF - Wawi), Mr Omar Ali Shehe (CUF - Chakechake), Mr Hamza Hassan Juma (CCM - Kwamtipura) and Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUF - Kiwani), who also blamed the Zanzibar government and authorities in the Ministry of Legal Affairs for not helping people understand key issues in the ongoing Union constitution effort.
 
"The more we unite and have one common stand in the Union the more we realize Zanzibar's rights. We require collective efforts for the interest of Zanzibar," Jussa said.

Mr Salmin Awadhi Salmin (CCM-Magomeni) blamed the authorities for not preparing people well to give constructive views in the Union. "Our people are wasting time by discussing only one issue of whether Zanzibar should remain or not in the Union. This is wrong," he said.

Drug rehab centre on horizon
THE Minister of State for Environment and Anti-drugs, Ms Fatma Abduhabib Fereji informed the House of Representatives yesterday that the government has started to construct a rehabilitation centre for drug addicted youths in the Islands.
 
"We have started the process to have a rehab centre at Tunguu, south of Unguja. The government has allocated 100m/- for  the project," said Fereji when answering questions from legislators.
 
Mr Jaku Hashim Ayoub (CCM-Muyuni), Mr Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF-Wawi) and Ms Mwanajuma Faki Mdachi (Women) raised concerns over delays to have the rehab centre in Zanzibar.
 
The minister also said that her ministry was also supporting the improvement of sober houses, but decried critical shortage of psychiatrists to help youths recovering from drugs abuse.
 
Meanwhile, Fatma said that her ministry would collaborate with Zanzibar Municipal Council (ZMC) to control scrap metal business in  effort to minimize theft of metals and covers of ground drainage chambers in the Stone Town.

'Isles has only two radiologists'
ZANZIBAR has only one local radiologist, the deputy minister for Health Dr Sira Ubwa Mambya said yesterday in the House of Representatives. He added that two radiologists from China are in the country to help minimize the impact of the shortage.

"It is unfortunate that we have only a few skilled staff in x-ray. But we have radiologists from China. One is stationed at Mkoani in Pemba and the other at Mnazi-Mmoja main hospital," Sira said when responding to concerns raised by Ms Bikame Yussuf Hamad (women) and Mr Subeit Khamis Faki (CUF-Micheweni).

Meanwhile, the deputy minister also said that Zanzibar has no local female gynaecologist. She appealed to parents and teachers to encourage female students taking science in medical schools to specialize in gynaecology.

"Unfortunately, we lack female gynaecologists because many female students in medical schools have no interest in specializing on women's health. Let us encourage them," she said. Many women in Zanzibar feel uncomfortable when being treated by male doctors.