Crackdown ordered on clove smugglers

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar

THE re-emerging illegal export of cloves from Zanzibar to a neighbouring country has shocked the authorities here, prompting President Ali Mohamed Shein to order an immediate crackdown.

“This is a shock; security officers and good citizens must end the illegal trade of cloves,” Dr Shein said in Pemba yesterday after he was informed about last week’s confiscation of bags with cloves, destined to a neighbouring country.

Since the clove revival initiative started five years ago, smuggling of the cash crop out of the islands had almost ended. But there have of late been reports on the continuation of the illegal business.

The government’s cloves revival initiative, which includes motivating farmers by increasing the price from 5,000/- to 14,000/- per kilogramme, free distribution of seedlings, and provision of loans through the Cloves Development Fund (CDF) has led to the increase of production from 2,000 tonnes to more than 4,000 tonnes.

Dr Shein, who is in Pemba to inspect the ongoing clove harvesting activities before the break for the Idd el- Hajj celebrations on Monday, saw the 17 bags of dried cloves weighing 549kg and mixed with four bags of cloves buds flour weighing 200kg, were confiscated by the coasts guards before being smuggled out of the islands.

“Let us join forces against the illegal trade to save our cloves. Spare no efforts in hunting for the suspects and punish them through legal procedures,” Dr Shein said as he thanked the coast guards belonging to the Special Anti Smuggling Unit or Kikosi Maalum cha Kuzuia Magendo (KMKM).

The president expressed his dissatisfaction with the way cases of cloves smuggling were being handled, including efforts to nab suspects, as the Minister for Trade, Industries, and Marketing Ambassador, Ms Amina Salum Ali, promised to find the suspects.

According to the Zanzibar State Trade Corporation (ZSTC) official in Pemba, Mr Abdulla Ussi, clove harvesting in Pemba this season has been going on well, anticipating buying at least 2,650 tonnes in Pemba alone.