Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture and Tourism Mansoor Yussuf Himid said yesterday that the two-government arrangement in the Union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika “is outdated.”
He told the House of Representatives here that an ideal arrangement was that of three governments – the union, Zanzibar and Tanganyika government.
Himid cautioned against using forums for discussing the union to threaten people, especially Zanzibaris, airing their views freely on the best form of the Union between the two countries.
He said it was surprising to see some leaders in the National Assembly repeatedly maintained that oil resource didn’t belong to Zanzibar on grounds that the deposits were located in the ocean border between Tanga and Zanzibar.
“I don’t want to disclose their names…they are trying to threaten the people,” he said.
He elaborated that the three government arrangement was the best approach for the two countries, which formed the United Republic of Tanzania way back in 1964, “to free Zanzibaris from uncalled for threats.”
“We are supposed to educate Zanzibaris on how to discuss about the Union,” said Mansoor, who is also member of the powerful ruling CCM national executive committee.
Mansoor added that Zanzibaris should not fear stating openly that they need a system that would free them from ongoing debates.
He said the decision by the House to demand removal of oil and natural gas from the list of union matters few years ago was still valid and should be accepted.
“Honourable Speaker, I won’t accept the issue of natural gas and oil remaining on the list of union matters,” stressed Mansoor
Zanzibar Minister for Lands, Housing, Water and Energy Juma Shamuhuna encouraged the people in the Isles to push ahead with one voice the decision to strike off the list of union matters both oil and gas.
Members of the House of Representatives have called for the establishment of a new agency independent of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to deal with petroleum affairs in Zanzibar.
They made the call when debating budget estimates of the Zanzibar Ministry of Lands, Housing, Water and Energy on Monday.
Kwamtipura representative Hamza Khamis Juma advised the Isles government to bring to the House a bill for the establishment of what he termed as a Zanzibar Petroleum Development Corporation to end TPDC's influence on gas and oil affairs in the Isles.
“I shall block the budget estimates if the minister will fail to state when the bill for establishing our own petroleum development corporation will be brought for discussion and endorsement,” he warned.
He said in 2009 the government submitted in the House a proposal to remove oil and natural gas from the list of union matters, which he said it was endorsed unanimously by the representatives.
“It is high time our religious leaders gathered at Maisara grounds to pray to the Almighty God so that the issue of oil and natural gas is removed from the list of union matters,” stressed Juma.
Chaani representative Ussi Jecha Simai said that the people of Zanzibar wanted to see by action, not empty pledges, oil and natural gas being explored and drilled in the Isles.
“We are tired…we want to see a new law for establishing an agency for overseeing natural gas and oil exploration and drilling is enacted,” Simai said.
Mbarouk Haji Mussa ( Mkwajuni) also said he would block the budget estimates if the minister failed to give a convincing update of the process to omit natural gas and oil from the list of union matters.
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