Insecurity dominates the paradise island of Zanzibar, threatens tourism

TANZANIA (eTN) – Islamic fundamentalism, hatred, and political terrorism are the looming threat haunting the paradise island of Zanzibar, once the peaceful tourist destination on the Eastern Coast of

TANZANIA (eTN) – Islamic fundamentalism, hatred, and political terrorism are the looming threat haunting the paradise island of Zanzibar, once the peaceful tourist destination on the Eastern Coast of East Africa.

Termed as โ€œThe Spice Island,โ€ Zanzibar remained a leading tourist magnet in the Indian Ocean during the past two decades, attracting big names, including Bill Gates who visited and stayed on the island, enjoying the clear blue waters which make this island an idyllic place for a holiday of a lifetime.

Security on this island remains a topical issue for discussion today, while tourists are taking precautionary measures when landing on the island for holidays.

Despite efforts in promoting its tourism, insecurity remains the biggest concern, once said the Minister for Information, Tourism, Culture and Sports, Mr. Said Mbarouk.

โ€œWe need to maintain peace and stability to promote tourism. It is very unfortunate that Zanzibar recorded fewer tourists the year 2012 compared to previous year,โ€ he said.

He attributed the low number of tourists to violence that gripped Zanzibar last year.

The number of tourists who entered Zanzibar from January to November 2011 were 153,747, but the figure dropped to 150,026 between January and November 2012 after the religious unrests which scared tourists away.

The Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors worries that crimes and terror-related incidents will bring about a negative impact on tourism, and wants authorities to intensify security there.

โ€œInvestors, their property, and tourists need security. Operating in a safe and well-maintained security environment will speed up the growth of tourism and related sectors,โ€ a hotel investor said.

Tourist investment in Zanzibar touches US$500 million.

Investors are worried over security of their investments in case terror and religious-related chaos continues to bite the island.

Members of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors would like to see the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar take stringent measures and ensure that crime perpetrators find no room on the island.

Failure to ensure long-term tourist safety and security may leave Zanzibar at risk of damaging its economy. For over a decade, tourism investors have been a voice of tourism in the private sector in Zanzibar.

The investors, through their association, have been united into offering high-quality tourism products. The association has told them to uphold high standards of business ethic; respect the Zanzibar culture; and follow all labor, financial, and environment laws and regulations.

Zanzibar President, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, said the tourism sector has grown substantially, and it has reached a good stage, despite the challenges which the government and other stakeholders are working in collaboration to solve.

The Zanzibar President told the outgoing Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr. Pierluigi Velardi, that Zanzibar had observed a massive tourism investment carried out on the Island by Italian firms.

โ€œYour contribution in the economic growth of Zanzibar, particularly in the tourism sector is tremendous since it has made the peoples of the two countries to be closer,โ€ Dr. Shein told the outgoing Italian envoy.

Ambassador Velardi, who ends his duty of tour to Tanzania, told the Zanzibar President that he will attract more Italian firms to invest in Zanzibarโ€™s tourism industry.

โ€œItalians love this beautiful island. Despite the world economic downturn facing countries, there are many Italian visitors to Zanzibar who come here for tourism purposes,โ€ Ambassador Velardi said.

But, Islamic fundamentalism and political terrorism are looming to sink the island into chaos, while scaring away tourists from visiting the island.

Islamist powers under the cover of the Islamist Party, an awakening group of Muslims looking for political autonomy of the island, had in recent years motivated people in Zanzibar to adhere to conservative Islam laws and values.

Islamists want to see the island be independent from the union government which is currently under the command of the President of Tanzania. With a population of nearly a million people, Zanzibar wants to separate from the mainland Tanzania, with a population of about 45 million, to form its own republic.

Deviating from the political agenda, a group of Muslim hardliners have targeted terrorism and terror-related crimes to air their political demands. Two Catholic priests were attacked and shot by unknown assailants between December last year and February this year. A Muslim cleric was subjected to an acid attack in November last year.

Two British girls were assaulted on the Island last Wednesday evening as they walked through the famous Stone Town site on their way to a restaurant. The assault is a series of recent attacks.

Politics remains a dominating agenda connected to terror-related crimes and the current situation in Zanzibar.

Dr. Mike Jennings, a lecturer at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, said Islamism and the state of affairs on security on the Island are political rather than terrorism.

โ€œThey are a separatist movement and want Zanzibar to be an independent nation separated from mainland Tanzania. It is political with a religious tone,โ€ said Dr. Jennings, adding, โ€œThey want an Islamic interpretation of law on the island.โ€

Tanzania is currently debating a new constitution aimed to review the structure of the Union government made up of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

For most people in the mainland, Zanzibar remains a problem; they want this island to separate from the rest of Tanzania to form its own government.

Several views from the mainlanders expressed the need to leave Zanzibar with its own mandate since this island has no economic value to the rest of Tanzania, while people in the island are blamed to breed racism and hatred to those migrating there from both the mainland and Kenya.

Zanzibar is an archipelago of islands in the Indian Ocean about 22 miles (35 km) off the mainland. This semi-autonomous part of Tanzania is predominantly Muslim with conservative Islam cultures.

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Linda Hohnholz

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