Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR is in the process of issuing compulsory identity cards to foreigners living in the islands, minister of state (president's office) Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini has said.

Moving a motion for the president's office 50.6bn/= budget proposal for 2012/2013 in the Zanzibar House of Representatives, the minister said a draft on amending the 2005 Zanzibar Identification (ZanID) Act has already been approved by the Revolutionary Council (Cabinet).

"We have the bill for amendment ready, and soon it will be presented in the House for deliberation. All foreigners, living legally in Zanzibar including those with resident permit will be supposed to have the 'special ZanID' document," Mwinyihaji said.

He did not mention how many foreigners living in Zanzibar would be targeted in the new identification programme.The minister said last year (2011/2012) about 20,971 Zanzibaris including 10,393 civil servants who met the requirements were issued with ZanID, "this year 2012/2013 we target to issue 10,500 ZanID to Zanzibaris."

Mwadini said the ZanID office has been performing its work well and for this fiscal year (2012/2013), the House should approve the proposed more than 1.5bn/- for its activities.

Meanwhile the Minister informed legislators that there was a small increase of prisoners and remanded prisoners in Zanzibar

reformatory centres (Prisons) last year."Last year the reformatory centres had 479 prisoners including 17 females. It was an increase of 17 inmates. The number of remandees was 2,620 including 110 women, fortunately none has been detained on political charges," Mwadini said.

The minister said that the government was committed in improving the reformatory centres including the construction of a new prison at Hanyegwa-Mchana on Unguja Islands. "The programme also include improving life in the cells," he said.