Mwinyi instructs ZECO to electrify all farming areas
ZANZIBAR : ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi on Wednesday instructed Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO) to electrify all farming areas in South Unguja Region to support more production of horticulture crops, especially fruits and vegetables.
President Mwinyi challenged farmers to work hard to exploit the huge market for horticulture products, saying Zanzibar has 600 tourist hotels with huge demand from the domestic producers.
“There is no justification for Zanzibar to import fruits and vegetables from outside the islands,” he said, directing the power utility firm to supply all farmers in the region with electricity to enable them fully exploit the available resources in their respective villages.
Dr Mwinyi also offered a three-month grace period for traders and entrepreneurs in the region to operate without paying taxes to the district councils.
The president announced the tax payment holiday after launching the special business and entrepreneurship centre at Kitogani suburb’s Mtule village in the region’s South district during his tour of the region.
President Mwinyi was on his third day tour of the country to inspect, launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects as part of celebration of his three years in the presidency.
He warned the councils against imposing high tariffs on the newly launched centre, proposing reasonable charges to reduce the cost of doing business and facilitate small businesses to grow bigger.
Dr Mwinyi challenged South district council to devise maintenance programme for the infrastructure to ensure they last long and benefit the future generations. He, as well, implored the centre users to maintain tidiness to keep the area clean and inviting for blossoming business.
However, the president challenged the district council to innovate new sources of revenues to boost its collections to further execute more development projects.
Construction of the imposing trade centre has cost 4.16bn/- and it accommodates timber traders, workshops, welders, vehicle garages, shops and other artistic entrepreneurs totaling 300.
Meanwhile, President Mwinyi laid the foundation stone for construction of Jozani-Ukongoroni-Charawe to Bwejuu road at Jozani village, directing the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communication and Transport to immediately compensate wananchi who paved way for the project implementation.
He directed that before the project completion all people who were affected must be paid their rightful compensation.
Permanent Secretary in the Infrastructure Ministry Khadija Khamis Rajab said the 23.3- kilometre road is one of the 42.5-kilometre trunk road project.
Minister of State, President’s Office, Regional Administration, Local Governments and Special Department Masoud Ali Muhammed commended President Mwinyi for his exemplary leadership that focus on solving problems of wananchi in Unguja and Pemba islands.
