THE two-week Zanzibar House of Representatives session has ended here with the government promising to be careful in issuing international tenders for oil companies to explore for oil and gas.
Moving a motion to adjourn the session
to November 23, this year, the Second Vice- President, Ambassador Seif
Ali Iddi, said: “We will be careful in entering contracts with companies
interested in exploring for oil and gas. Our natural resources must
benefit us.”
He informed the House that the
government has been making progress in the ‘oil and gas’ project and
that the progress includes having a policy in place and training people
who will work in the ‘new industry.’
Ambassador Iddi asked the legislators
and people in the Islands not to be in the rush and overwhelmed because
it is still a long way to go in the process beginning with preparations.
There will be research before drilling starts if oil deposits are
discovered.
Before the second vicepresident’s
speech, Members of the House discussed and approved the Bill for ‘an Act
to establish Zanzibar Petroleum (upstream) Regulatory Authority...’,
and ‘Zanzibar Petroleum Development Company (ZPDC),’ to oversee the
project.
During the discussion, backbenchers
asked the government to be careful in tendering to avoid bogus companies
and dishonest staff to work in the sector and also ensure there is
proper collection of revenue, security and environment protection.
Mr Iddi said the government is committed
to see to it that peace and stability prevails sustainably to provide a
friendly atmosphere for investments and smooth implementation of
development projects.
The second vice- president reiterated
his appeal to the members of the public including political leaders to
avoid instigating violence and hatred in the country as its consequences
are always regrettable.
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