Zanzibar woos EAC development attention

Tanzania's Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha on Saturday expressed the isles' expectation for the East African Community (EAC) to attach Zanzibar full attention in its development progress.

While opening the fourth EAC permanent secretaries retreat session in Zanzibar, Nahodha said the Indian Ocean archipelago cherishes a great expectation that the EAC would accord the isles full attention in every detail of the EAC development program, from decision making to the implementation of the EAC joint projects in infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and education.

He said that the community is obliged to make deliberate efforts to bring about regional integration by making sure of the availability of distribution of wealth among members.

"The EAC 2006-2010 Development Strategy stresses on EAC development programs on modern structure, food security, better health and education services for all the peoples of the community, " said the chief minister.

The chief minister also urged participants of the retreat session to join hands in meeting the challenge of solving problems facing the EAC Customs Union and the materialization of the EAC single currency and common market.

Zanzibar is a part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Nahodha has agreed with the union's Prime Minister Edward Lowassa that the united republic is the sole representative in the now five-member community that also includes Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Source: Xinhua