BY ISSA YUSSUF, 3 JANUARY 2013
Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR is having a weeklong head start to its 49th revolution anniversary celebrations beginning with a nation-wide sanitation exercise on Friday.
As part of the celebrations climaxing on Saturday January 12, this year, about 62 development projects have been set for either inauguration or laying of foundation stones.
According to the timetable released by the Second Vice-President's Office, several leaders including President Jakaya Kikwete, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilali, Ambassador Seif Ali, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, retired leaders and ministers will grace the functions on both Unguja and Pemba Islands.
On Saturday, Dr Shein will grace the opening of the Institute of Public Administration building in Tungu, South Unguja, before inaugurating an e-government control centre at Mazini, built with support from China government.
The First Vice-President, Hamad, will be the guest of honour at the opening of a new secondary school building at Wawi, Chakechake and a medical laboratory at the Micheweni cottage hospital, while Ambassador Iddi, Second Vice-President will cut a ribbon to open a hostel for students at the Zanzibar Agricultural Institute.
Next Sunday, Dr Bilal will officiate the opening of the newly built five-star tourist hotel in Nungwi Village, north of Unguja, while on the same day Ambassador Iddi is expected to open another hotel, Manta Reef Resort and water project at Chokocho in Pemba.
Retired presidents Amani Abeid Karume and Ali Hassan Mwinyi have been assigned to open schools and President Kikwete will be in Zanzibar on the eve of Mapinduzi (Revolutionary day) to open a new school named Mlimani. Minister of State (National Events), Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed said that about 600m/- will be spent on the celebrations, as critics including some members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives think the celebrations are unnecessarily costly.
"Revolution is important to Zanzibar, we cannot avoid it. But we should not think the money is spent lavishly, it is spent on development projects," Mohamed said. Meanwhile, Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) has donated several items to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar's main hospital in order to boost its service delivery.
Mr Athumani Juhudi, DTB Zanzibar manager handed over bags containing about 132 clothes put-on in hospital operating theatre, to the secretary of the hospital, Mr Omar Abdallaah. "We will continue supporting our hospitals so that people get services they require," Juhudi said.
The donation worth over 2m/- coincided with the beginning of the 49th anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution. Abdallaah said the essential donation comes at a time when there were complaints about critical shortage of operating theatre dresses, as he thanked the bank.
The hospital secretary said at the brief handing over ceremony that the hospital was still in need of support to provide better services to about 600 patients who are brought at the health centre daily. "I appeal to development partners, banks and members of the business community to continue supporting hospitals so that people get the best services they expect," said Abdallaah.
Source: allAfrica
Source: allAfrica
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