Tibaijuka: Rep is Mistaken

Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Anna Tibaijuka explains to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday Tanzania’s move to seek extension of Exclusive Economic Zone. Right is the director of survey and mapping, Dr Selasie Mayunga. PHOTO | FIDELIS FELIX

By Bernard Lugongo
The Citizen Reporter

Dar es Salaam. The minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Prof Anna Tibaijuka, has hit back at the private motion by Mji Mkongwe Representative Ismail Jussa, opposing the Union Government move on extension of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Tabling his motion on certificate of emergency, Mr Jussa told the House of Representatives that Zanzibaris were unhappy with the way the Union Government had handled the issues that needed a consensus between both Zanzibar and Union governments. He asked Island authorities to be bold in defending what they consider to be Zanzibar’s interest.

Upon her return from the United States where she presented application to the United Nations, seeking extension of the Extended Continental Shelf (ECS), which lies 150 miles beyond the current 200 miles of EEZ, Prof Tibaijuka yesterday said Mr Jussa’s claims were “inappropriate”.

She said it was not correct that Zanzibar Government of National Unity did not participate in the exercise, but the fact was that leaders from the Isles took part and did effective job in a whole process. Also the UN Law on Marine Contract Acts, which was ratified in 1985, recognises the Union Government, which the Zanzibar Government is part of it.

She said the Law was about UN member countries, and the Tanzania Mainland and Isles is one country.

Under this context, implementation of the UN Law on Marine Contract Act was done on behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zanzibar being part of it.

Exclusive Economic Zone was sketched out in 1982 and forwarded to the UN as part of United Republic of Tanzania. She argued that the identified marine zones should not be associated with issues of division of resources available within the area.

“The issue of resources remains to be internal matter and not recognised by the UN,” she said.

She was responding to remarks by Mr Jussa, who argued in his motion that the Zanzibar House of Representatives had decided that marine and oil issues should be the preserve of Zanzibar and the Union government had no business making the application.

Prof Tibaijuka added that her ministry was not responsible to division of resources within the country; therefore it was right to associate the issue of division of resources available in the ocean to the request for EEZ.

Source: http://thecitizen.co.tz