Public transport operators in Zanzibar have urged the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to establish affordable financing schemes to help daladala owners acquire electric buses if their existing vehicles are phased out under new transport regulations.
The appeal was made on August 20, 2026, during a public consultation meeting between residents and Prof Omar Fakih Hamad, an ACT Wazalendo member of the House of Representatives, in Magomeni, Zanzibar.
The meeting formed part of Prof Hamad’s tour to gather public views and assess challenges facing residents across Zanzibar’s 11 districts.
Residents said changes in the public transport system could have significant economic consequences for thousands of families whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on daladala operations.
Haji Mussa Pandu said owners whose vehicles had been stopped from operating were uncertain about their future and called for a government-backed loan programme to enable them to purchase buses that comply with the new requirements.
“We want to know what plans the Government has for owners of vehicles that will lose their routes. One bus supports more than seven families. Where will these families get food?” Mr Pandu asked.
He said the government should, alternatively, allow existing buses to continue operating if it could not provide financing for operators to transition to electric vehicles.
Mr Pandu also questioned the criteria being used to allocate bus stops, claiming that some vehicles were allowed to stop at certain locations while others were excluded.
He cited Michezani, where he said electric buses were being allowed to stop while conventional daladala were not.
“Today we have seen only electric vehicles being allowed to stop at Michezani. Our buses, owned by ordinary people, are not allowed. Has our Government become one of classes?” he asked.
He urged Prof Hamad and other lawmakers to raise the concerns in the House of Representatives and push for a solution that takes into account the livelihoods of transport operators.
Khamis Mcha Haji said public transport was an essential service for Zanzibar residents and that commuters and operators should be given an opportunity to contribute to decisions affecting the sector.
He warned that restrictions affecting daladala operators could worsen unemployment and create wider social problems, particularly for households that rely on transport-related income.
Residents also sought clarification over the ownership of the electric buses being prioritised, asking whether they were government-owned or operated by private companies.
They further demanded clarity on the legal framework underpinning the new public transport arrangements.
Mr Haji said public transport should remain open to fair competition and that regulations should not unnecessarily prevent other operators from participating in the market.
“Public transport should not be subjected to restrictions. This is a free market; whoever wants to enter should be allowed to compete,” he said.
The meeting also brought to the fore concerns over Zanzibar’s maritime boundaries and fishing regulations.
Residents urged members of the House of Representatives to address the question of maritime boundaries before passing legislation governing fishing activities.
Bakari Juma Muhammed said there was a need for clarity over the maritime areas associated with Zanzibar, arguing that the issue was important given the constitutional arrangements governing the United Republic of Tanzania.
Residents also called for stronger oversight of tour guides, with some alleging that foreign guides did not always have adequate knowledge of Zanzibar’s history and culture.
Kassim Ibrahim Pandu said the islands’ historical heritage was one of the key attractions for visitors and called for guides to have accurate knowledge of Zanzibar’s history.
“Our country has a fascinating history. If foreigners are left to guide tourists, they may distort what visitors learn. We have seen some tour guides telling tourists things that are not true,” he said.
Residents further called for employment opportunities to give priority to Zanzibaris, particularly in sectors where they said local skills were available.
Nasra Nassor Omar, an ACT Wazalendo Special Seats Representative for Urban Unguja, urged residents to follow proceedings of the House of Representatives to better understand debates and decisions on issues affecting their communities.
She said informed citizens would be better placed to assess how their concerns were being presented and debated, while greater public engagement would encourage representatives to return to their constituencies to listen to residents.
Closing the meeting, Prof Hamad said he was encouraged by the issues raised by residents and acknowledged the importance of addressing challenges affecting livelihoods and public services.
He said he would take up the concerns raised and pursue them through the appropriate channels within his mandate.
