Residents of Mwera Kozi in Central District, Unguja, have called on the Zanzibar Government to take urgent action against livestock and crop theft, saying rising insecurity is threatening their livelihoods and freedom of movement.
The residents raised the concerns on September 21, 2026, during a public meeting with Prof Omar Fakih Hamad, the ACT-Wazalendo Leader in the Zanzibar House of Representatives, who was accompanied by other representatives during a tour aimed at listening to challenges facing communities across Zanzibar.
Residents said livestock theft had become a serious economic burden, with some farmers losing entire herds despite reporting cases to police.
Ali Sheha Salum, a resident of Kidimni, said he had lost all his livestock and had reported the thefts to police, but no effective action had been taken.
He said in one incident, he woke up to find 12 of his goats had been slaughtered, with only their heads left behind.
“We are asking the Government to take decisive action against livestock thieves. If this continues, people will eventually abandon livestock keeping because we raise animals only for thieves to steal them,” Salum said.
Another resident, Vuai Abdulkadir Makame, linked the rise in crime partly to unemployment among young people.
He said many local youths were without jobs and called for greater efforts to create employment opportunities as part of measures to address crime.
“In my view, livestock theft can be stopped if the Government is serious, including by ensuring the police do their work and creating jobs for young people,” Makame said.
Residents also raised concerns over land ownership, with Thani Mussa of Dunga Kiembeni alleging that some people were losing access to land after the areas were declared Government property.
He said some investors offered residents compensation that they considered inadequate and that, when they rejected the offers, authorities sometimes intervened by declaring the land Government-owned.
“We are asking our representatives to question the Government and tell us clearly which land belongs to the Government,” Thani said.
The residents urged authorities to ensure greater transparency in land matters and protect the interests of communities when land is allocated for investment.
Khamis Mbarouk Daud said rising crime had affected residents' ability to move freely, particularly at night.
He cited reports of people being attacked with machetes and said the situation had created fear among residents.
“Today, you cannot leave work at night and return home without fear because crime has increased. You feel like a stranger even though this is your own country,” Daud said.
Residents said strengthening community policing and improving the response to reported crimes would help restore public confidence and security.
Mzee Harub Khamis, a resident of Mwera Kozi, said poverty remained another major concern, with some households struggling to afford basic food.
He warned that worsening economic conditions could contribute to crime as people sought ways to meet their basic needs.
He also said many residents who sought loans were unable to access financing because they lacked the requirements or collateral needed by lenders.
For those who secured loans, he said, high interest rates could make repayment difficult and undermine their efforts to improve their livelihoods.
Mzee Harub commended the representatives for visiting communities and listening directly to residents.
“When representatives come to see us, we feel that perhaps we did not make a mistake by electing them,” he said.
Prof Omar said economic vulnerability could also be addressed through a more effective system for collecting and distributing Zakat and charitable contributions.
He argued that a well-organised Zakat system could help vulnerable households build sustainable livelihoods and reduce their dependence on costly loans.
“Many people are vulnerable because there is no strong system for collecting and distributing Zakat and Sadaka,” Prof Omar said.
He said Zanzibar had significant potential to mobilise Zakat and charitable contributions because of its large Muslim population.
Prof Omar said such resources could be channelled towards supporting vulnerable households, enabling them to engage in productive economic activities and improve their incomes.
Meanwhile, Mtambwe Representative for Wete District, Dr Muhammed Ali Suleima, said visiting communities and listening to their concerns was part of the responsibility of elected representatives.
He said the visits provided an opportunity for representatives to understand challenges on the ground and communicate citizens' concerns to relevant authorities.
Residents said they expected the Government and their elected representatives to follow up on the issues raised, particularly livestock theft, public security, unemployment, land ownership, poverty and access to affordable finance.
