Sunday, October 2, 2016

Poverty still big worry for Zanzibar people

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar
ALTHOUGH Zanzibar has recorded considerable success in ensuring basic needs to its people, poverty remains a big challenge in the islands, the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed, said here yesterday.

“Accessibility of basic needs have improved from 34 per cent in 2009/2010 to 34.6 per cent last year while poverty level has increased to 40.2 per cent from 17.6 per cent,” Dr Mohamed said.
He said here during the launch of the ‘2014/2015 Zanzibar House Hold Budget Survey (HBS) results that Zanzibaris need to support government’s development programmes and work harder with commitment and determination to improve their lives.
The minister told the gathering which included development partners at the ceremony that the literacy level had increased from 82.3 per cent in 2009/2010 to 83.7 per cent in 2014/2015 while enrolment of children in schools for the first time had improved from 81 per cent to 83 per cent the same period.
He said Zanzibar has also recorded increased access to safe water from 86.5 per cent to 90.5 per cent, use of toilets from 76.7 per cent to 83.7 per cent while use of ‘modern toilets’ also rose from 25.7 per cent to 43 per cent.
The pace of better housing in the islands has been increasing, the minister said as he reminded people in Zanzibar about commitment to improve life fast.

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