Zanzibar poultry import ban remains in place

Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, the island’s Chief Minister said, “The ban will remain in force indefinitely.”

Poultry farmers, businessmen and residents have been urging the government to allow them to at least import poultry produce from the Tanzanian mainland, which, together with Unguja and Pemba, the islands that form Zanzibar, make up the United Republic of Tanzania.

“We are aware of the difficulties the people have been facing,” Nahodha said. He added that the government would help poultry farmers on the islands to increase production instead. “The government can help purchase incubators and other equipment to increase production of chicks and eggs,” he said. Zanzibar imposed the ban in a bid to protect the public from the deadly avian flu. Since 2005, there has been a huge demand for poultry products on the island, especially from the tourism industry.

Khatib Suleiman, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Environment, said his ministry had intensified the war against possible outbreaks of bird flu on the two islands. He said the ministry would continue to inform poultry farmers, business people, community leaders, students and security personnel on bird-flu preparedness in 2007.

He urged the public to be patient and accept the government’s plans to protect them from bird flu.

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