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Ramadhan:Isles tourism body orders...
2005-10-08 07:41:09
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT) has ordered the closure of all restaurants during the month of Ramadhan to stop the Muslim faithful from eating in the public.
Over 90 per cent of the Zanzibar population is Muslim.
ZCT marketing director Ali Halil Mirza said:We have asked owners of restaurants to temporarily close them down until after Ramadhan.
We have also issued public conduct guidelines to tour operators to advise their non-Muslim clients about what is expected of them while in Zanzibar, including how they should dress,’Mirza told The Guardian.
Mirza said hotels and restaurants that receive international tourists would remain open to cater for the visitors.
However, the tourists are not allowed to drink, smoke or eat in public.
Almost all restaurants in Stone Town have consequently been closed down.
Addressing Zanzibaris at the beginning of Ramadhan, President Amani Abeid Karume appealed to wananchi to be tolerant during fasting, which has coincided with the general election.
’Despite elections campaign, let us follow the teachings of the Q’uran and remain united,’ Karume said in a televised speech.
’Respect each other and refrain from political violence as Allah would not accept our prayers if we did so during fasting,’ Karume, who is seeking a second term in office, said.
Civic United Front candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad, said at the start of Ramadhan:’Although life is tough under the CCM government, we must remain united during and after Ramadhan and the general election.’
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