Zanzibar govt toughens stance on sand digging

By Charles Mwankenja 

Trucks engaging in hauling sand dug from restricted areas in Zanzibar, will be impounded and nationalised, the government has said.

Zanzibar Second Vice-President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, said apart from nationalising the trucks, heavy fines will be slapped on people digging sand in those areas.

Ambassador Iddi unveiled the drive when winding up the 8th session of the Zanzibar House of Representatives at Mbweni, on the outskirts of Zanzibar town on Friday, saying it will work to control environmental degradation.

He said the government has given mandate to authorities responsible for environment activities to impose heavy fines on all people who contravene the laws of the land by digging sand in unauthorised sites.

However, the drive likely to bring about success in the government’s recently introduced crusade against environmental degradation now on an alarming stage in Zanzibar, falls short of an elaborate process for implementation.

In his speech detailing facts on the implementation of the move, Ambassador Seif fell short of mentioning the amount of the fines for violators.

When contacted, Mohammed Aboud Mohammed, the Minister of State in the office of the Second Vice President, could not immediately give further elaborations, saying he was busy attending a meeting.

Minister Aboud only said: “I can’t help, I am already in a meeting room.

During his address to members of the House of Representatives, Ambassador Seif said illegal digging of sand posed a great threat to environment conservation efforts. He said the law in force must be used effectively to overcome the problem.

While on a tour of institutions under his office mid this month (January 2011), Zanzibar First Vice President, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad was told about difficulties the directorate of environment is facing in fighting illegal sand dealers because some of them use public trucks.

“Our efforts to control environment degradation sometimes is being frustrated by people who use trucks which belong to the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government (SMZ),” Director of Environment, Ali Juma Hamad said when briefing Maalim Seif on the extent of damage caused by sand digging and haulage at Donge, Chechele, in North Unguja Region.

Maalim Seif asked Juma if he could identify the public trucks and when he replied in the affirmative, the First Vice President said: “Bring the list of the trucks to me.”

Expressing concern over the damage, Maalim Seif said although sand is needed for construction work, environmental degradation caused by sand digging activities is dangerous to human life.

A sand dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he believes the move to impound and nationalise trucks engaging in sand haulage activities will only affect private trucks.

“If the government has decided to be serious on this issue, trucks to be first impounded are those of the government,” he said, adding that he owns a truck which has enabled him to earn a living through selling sand to various constructors for many years in Zanzibar town.