ZANZIBAR President Ali Mohamed Shein yesterday signed into law , the Oil
and Gas Development/Management Bill, an important step that w ill empow
er the semi-autonomous part of the United Repub lic of Tanzania to
manage its ow n natural resources.
The signing of the bill into law brings
to an end weeks of anxiety, with the people, legislators and lawyers
embroiled in heated argument on the legal powers Dr Shein had to sign
the new law. Members of the House enacted
“An Act to provide for regulation of
(upstream) oil and gas activities, establishment of the Zanzibar
Petroleum (upstream) regulatory authority, establishment of the Zanzibar
Petroleum development corporation…”
The Acting Minister for Energy, Ms
Maudline Castico, said many Zanzibaris were eager to see the president
assent the bill into law to speed up oil and gas exploration as many
also hope that they will get out of poverty after the drilling starts
. Exactly at 10.23 am local time, Dr
Shein placed his pen on paper and signed followed by cheers from the
audience/witnesses, including Second Vice-President, Ambassador Seif Ali
Iddi, Union Minister for Energy, Professor Sospeter Muhongo and
Attorney General, Mr George Masaju.
Also in attendance were Zanzibar
Attorney General, Mr Said Hassan Said, ministers and journalists who
heard Dr Shein say that he has not broken any law or constitution by
signing the documents.
“We were advised well by our legal
advisors and the both the attorney general before writing the law and
here today I sign it in the open. Some people are just looking for fame
by issuing misleading statements,” Dr Shein said, adding that people
will have to wait before they benefit because it takes more than five
years to develop it.
At least two lawyers in Zanzibar, Mr
Omar Said Shaaban and the former Attorney General, Mr Othman Masoud
Othman, challenged President Shein to avoid signing the bill into law,
arguing that it was against union constitution.
In a jovial mood, Dr Shein thanked
Retired Union President, Mr Jakaya Kikwete and the current Union
President, Dr John Magufuli, for backing Zanzibar’s legal process in
developing the natural resources.
He said despite the fact that one of the
sections in the 1977 Union Constitution recognises Oil and gas
development as union matter, other laws in the same constitution paved
way for the new law and that Zanzibar has no conflict with the union
even in political boundaries.
‘We have been moving on well and now we
have the law in place. Investors are invited to start exploration,” said
Dr Shein who also informed the audience that Latham Island, known
locally as ‘Fungu Mbaraka’, lies within Zanzibar territory and there
have been no disputes over it.
He said RAK Gas from the Middle East and
SHELL companies have already shown the interest to develop Oil and gas
in Zanzibar, but more investors were welcome to take part in the
emerging oil industry.
Prof Muhongo said after the signing
ceremony that Zanzibar was on track in its process of developing the oil
and gas resources. “But Tanzanians should understand that oil and
natural gas do not recognise political boundaries,” he added.
‘’For example, there is no way Tanzania
can dodge talking with its neighbours like Mozambique, DRC and probably
Kenya, because the natural resources do not respect political
boundaries.
We cannot enter into conflict because of the wealth,” the energy minister observed.
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