Zanzibar House Reps have raised concern over the status of an aviation company, Tropical, saying it was not clear whether the firm was paying for the airspace it has been using for the past 20 years.
Zanzibar House of Representatives
Mr Hamza Hassan Juma (CCM-Kwamtipura) said in the House that Tropical had been using the Isles’ airspace for training for 20 years, but its payment schedule was unclear.
He blamed the Zanzibar International Airport management for failing to observe transparency before alleging that one of the managers had allocated himself airspace at a cost of 2,400 US dollars annually, for three years.
“The government can make up to 20,000 US dollars per year, but the manager decided to ‘rent out’ to his own business at only 2,400 per year. This is unacceptable, the Minister must stop this,” Hamza said.
Hamza was joined by Mr Ismail Jussa Ladu (CUF-Mjimkongwe) who said that most activities at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) were unclear, including collection of payments for different services.
Meanwhile, the minister responsible for infrastructure and communication, Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman, promised to work on the problems raised by legislators including improving security by purchasing scanner machines for screening passengers and luggage at the airports.
Mr Hussein Ibrahim Makungu (CCM-Bububu) and Ms Asha Bakar Makame (CCM- Women) complained about lack of lights and fencing at Pemba Airport, posing risks to passengers and aircrafts.
By ISSA YUSSUF, Tanzania Daily News
