A POLICE sniffer dog, which was being used to detect illicit drugs in luggage at the Zanzibar international Airport has died, the Minister of the State Ms Fatma Abdulhabib Fereji confirmed to the House on Tuesday.

"It's sad that currently the Zanzibar airport has no sniffer dog which was helpful in discovering drugs. The police has been working hard to find another dog, but it is expensive to buy one from South Africa," Fereji said in response to a question from Nassor Ali Salum (CCM-Rahaleo) who asked why there was no sniffer dog at the airport.

Mr Rufai Said Rufai (CUF-Tumbe) complained about ongoing drug abuse among the youth as he asked the government to arrest traffickers, while Rashid Seif Suleiman (CUF- Ziwani) advised the government to meet suspected importers of drugs and ask them to stop. However, the minister said that fight against drugs requires joint efforts involving local people, and that currently it was difficult to identify importers of drugs to woo them into stopping the illegal trade.

Malaria at crisis point in Zanzibar

ZANZIBAR Malaria Control Programme (ZMCP) on Tuesday reported a shocking increase of malaria cases in several parts of Zanzibar in the past one-week. "We have been amazed with the new malaria cases. We have confirmed between 6 and 26 malaria cases in about 20 areas of Zanzibar," Mr Mwinyi Issa Msellem, Acting Programme Manager said at a press conference.

He said that according to a survey made early last year malaria prevalence in Zanzibar had fallen to 0.06 per cent by July last year from 40 per cent five years ago. "But these new cases is worrying, and we should all join hands to control the spread," he said. Msellem informed journalists at ZMCP building, Mwanakwerekwe area that his department would carry out a nationwide Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) targeting mainly hot spot areas.

"We are also planning to distribute Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs) to all more than 300,000 households on Unguja and Pemba islands in March this year," he said. Thanks to UK's DFID, USAID, Global Fund, and UNICEF for the ongoing support. In efforts to combat the recent outbreak, the health official appealed to people in Zanzibar to keep their surroundings clean, rush for proper diagnosis, use preferred combination anti-malaria therapy and use treated nets.

Zanzibar authorities including president Ali Mohamed Shein had last year announced that the islands were moving towards eradication of malaria after several successful interventions.

More teachers to be employed

THE Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Tuesday announced that it was going to recruit 1000 out of 4,305 jobless teachers. The Deputy Minister, Ms Zahra Ali Hamad, said that teachers with diploma in science subjects, and degree holders in both science and arts would be given first priority.

"Those with certificates will not be employed in primary and secondary schools. Teachers with certificates can be employed in nursery schools," Zahra said. She was responding to questions from legislator Mwanaidi Kassim Mussa (women), who had wanted to know the number of graduate teachers employed by the ministry.

She said insufficient budget hampers the employment of more teachers, as she dismissed as not true claims that there have been discrimination in employing teachers. Legislators Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF-Wawi) complained that employment by ministry of education was unfair, while Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUF- Kiwani), and Mr Salim Abdallah Hamad (CUF- Mtambwe) raised concerns over few employment opportunities in schools. But the minister for Public Service and Good Governance Mr Haji Omar Kheri emphasized on employment without discrimination

Half of Zanzibar drivers are untrained

ZANZIBAR has 22,674 car drivers without driving certificates; Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Communication, Mr Issa Haji Ussi- informed the House. He said that drivers who did not go to school for training got their licences before the law demanding drivers to undergo proper training was operational.

He was responding to concerns from legislators Ismail Jussa Ladhu (CUF- Mjimkongwe), and Mr Hija Hassan Hija (CUF- Kiwani) who attributed increasing road accidents to reckless driving. The deputy minister promised to scrutinize more than 45,000 drivers including those without certificates in making sure that they all get basic driving education as per road traffic regulation no 7/2007 to avoid accidents.

Meanwhile the minister of Public Service and Good Governance Mr Haji Omar Kheri also informed the House that his ministry was working with the National Institute of Transport (NIT) in Dar es Salaam to organize a short training course for all VIP drivers in Zanzibar.

Soaring prices

TRADE liberalization and unstable local currency are to blame for the current soaring prices, Ms Thuwaib Kissasi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry, and Marketing said. However she said, - the government was working hard to control price increase through discussions with businessmen.

"Normally we meet with importers and big business people to ask them to reduce prices," the deputy minister said. Ms Shady Mohamed Suleiman (Women), Ismail Jussa Ladhu (CUF- Mjimkongwe), and Ms Mwanaidi Kassim Mussa (Women) asked the government to spare no effort in making sure that unnecessary increase of prices is controlled. Many people have been complaining about rising costs of living mainly due to skyrocketing of prices of goods and services.