Mwinyi addresses compensation failures
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Hussein Mwinyi has announced the formation of a special committee to oversee the implementation of recommendations made by a commission that reviewed compensation for citizens affected by development projects.
Dr Mwinyi made the announcement on Tuesday at the State House in Zanzibar after receiving the report of the Compensation Review Commission during a meeting with chief executives of public institutions.
He said the committee will operate for three months to address gaps and challenges identified in the report, including irregular payments, loss of public funds, missing compensation records, overpayments, delays in disbursement and cases in which beneficiaries failed to vacate project areas despite receiving compensation.
The president also cited incidents in which some individuals resumed construction activities after being compensated, raising concerns over weak enforcement and oversight mechanisms.
“All officials and individuals mentioned in the report who are proven to have engaged in fraud and caused financial loss to the government must be held accountable before legal action is taken,” he said.
Dr Mwinyi directed the Zanzibar Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Authority (ZAECA) to investigate allegations of fraud and misuse of public funds linked to compensation payments.
He also ordered a thorough review of missing records to identify those responsible and trace unaccounted-for funds. In a move aimed at improving transparency, President Mwinyi said the government had accepted a key recommendation from the commission to establish a special compensation fund.
The fund is expected to ensure prompt payments to eligible citizens relocating to pave the way for development projects while helping to curb financial leakages.
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He further instructed the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to develop a clear planning framework for buildings constructed along road reserves to control unplanned development and prevent misuse of pedestrian pathways.
Dr Mwinyi also tasked the Zanzibar Planning Commission with reviewing compensation records to verify their legitimacy and identify rightful beneficiaries.
At the same time, he directed the President’s Office, Regional Administration, Local Government and Special Departments, to strengthen systems for safeguarding infrastructure projects through coordinated security measures aimed at preventing deliberate acts of vandalism.
The president commended the Compensation Review Commission for what he described as a thorough and high-quality report, saying it was among the best ever presented to the government.
He expressed optimism that the committee’s work would restore accountability and fairness in compensation processes, ensuring that development projects move forward without leaving affected citizens behind.
