Zanzibar lawmakers: Tourism sector dominated by foreigners

Zanzibar — Some members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives are alleging that the tourism sector is dominated by non-Zanzibaris contrary to the isles ambition of establishing the industry three decades ago.

“We have evidence that more than one-thousand “foreigners” including Kenyans have dominated jobs in most tourist hotels. Some are staying illegally and holding Tanzanian passports,” Mr Makame Mshimba Mbarouk (CCM- Kitope) alleged.

Debating the report from the House committee responsible for “livestock, Tourism, economic empowerment and Information,” Mbarouk accused the government and the immigration for not taking “any action despite receiving reliable information about foreigners working in Zanzibar illegally.”

The legislator also alleged that there has been serious violation of employment laws in the tourism sector, including lack of contracts and uncalled-for expelling of work, giving an example of Blue Bay, Karafuu, and Serena Hotels. Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF-Mjimkongwe) said that unemployment problem in Zanzibar can be solved by implementing job restriction rules, “mainly making sure all jobs in the tourist hotels are for Zanzibaris, unless the position cannot be filled by a Zanzibari.”

He also blamed some ministers for abusing their position by accepting bribes from some investors to violate the existing laws. Jussa also expressed his disappointment with some leaders including minister who use the Bwawani Hotel (state owned) without paying bills. Other legislators such as Ms Ashura Sharif Ali (Special seats), and Mr Suleiman Hemed Khamis (CUF- Konde) decried moral decay from mainly youths copying western lifestyles of living.

Meanwhile, Jussa also asked media owners and the government to improve the welfare of journalists who have been working hard in “unfriendly environment without proper working tools, no transport, and poor payment.”