Zanzibar revokes investment contracts

Written by DAILY NEWS Reporter in Zanzibar

ZANZIBAR government has nullified 60 land lease agreement for breach of contract, minister responsible for land Mr Ramadhani Abdallah Shaabani informed the House on Friday.

He was responding to questions from Mr Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF-Wawi) and Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUF Kiwani) who raised concern over increasing breach of contracts by locals and foreign investors in Zanzibar.

“Some investors implement projects different from what is in their land lease contracts. Some have applied for the building and running of dispensaries, but after a short while they change to other businesses like operating bars,” the legislators said.

Minister Shaaban said that his ministry was aware of these dishonest investors and it is taking disciplinary measures including cancelling of contracts. “We need to work together to identify dishonest investors,” he said.

Meanwhile Shaaban has dismissed as baseless claims that Zanzibar government has grabbed land to give to its Volunteers unit- Kikosi cha Volantia Zanzibar (KVZ) to construct a camp in Wawi, Pemba.

“Land is government property, and the few occupants at the time of allocation were compensated to pave way for the KVZ. This was not violation of human rights,” he said adding that government will compensate those who can prove that they have not been compensated.

He said that the government has no intention of denying citizens their rights and that many people have illegally occupy land close to the military camps, “let us educate our people to avoid land invasion.”

Source: Daily News (20/10/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/10694-zanzibar-revokes-investment-contracts