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Z’bar seeks autonomous civil aviation authority
2006-09-26 08:49:48
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Despite annual income of about 750m/-, Zanzibar Airport direct dependency on treasury for all its expenditures has been a setback in the development of aviation industry in the isles.
Director of Zanzibar Civil Aviation (ZCA) Malik Mohamed said lack of enough funds allocated for running the airport from the treasury was upsetting its development.
He made the comments after Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha made a surprise visit at the airport on Sunday, where he challenged the airport management to improve the airport.
Mohamed told the Chief Minister the airport does not have cooling facilities at the departure lounge.
It also does not have shelter to protect travellers from sun or rain.
Mohamed was firm to the minister saying the airport was making enough money but all of it went to the treasury.
’’This has been a major drawback for the airport’s short and long term development plans,’’ he said.
He said according to the current regulations, all the income from the airport is deposited with the treasury.
’’To use the same, we are supposed to request the treasury to give us the money!’’ Mohamed said.
He called on the government to consider an autonomous body to ran the facility.
’’We have forwarded our proposal to higher authorities for consideration. We believe that if the government approves our request for autonomy we shall improve the services at the airport,’’ Mohamed said.
He called on setting up of Zanzibar Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA).
In the 2005/2006 budget, about 680m/- was allocated for the airport development, but unfortunately only 25 per cent of the budget was released by the treasury, he lamented.
’’My office has many responsibilities, but no authority to use the cash. However, we are moving on and the Chief Minister has promised that he would work on the money flow issue,’’ he said.
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