Zanzibar has witnessed tremendous increase in the importation of used electronic/electrical goods. They include refrigerators, freezers, televisions and computers to name a few. Almost more than half of these goods can not be used so they go direct to the jungles and bushes in the west district of Unguja. These items contain very toxic elements (materials) which are quite dangerous to our environment. These are dangerous to both animal and plants. For example the cathode rays tube found in the televisions contain big amount of mercury, Materials such as lead, arsenic cadmium and other hazardous element to the environment are also found in these used items.

It is high time now that the authority concerned come out and take drastic measure to revert the trend. We don not mean that the importation should be banned right out, but there is a need to regulate the importation otherwise the islands are being turned into a damp for toxic material from developing countries. Act now by airing your views so that this can be controlled.

@Capt Hamza M, Omar (Rtd) (Executive secretary CODECOZ, Zanzibar): 

I am taking this opportunity to thank you for your kind contribution on this topic of importation of used electronic/electrical goods, which ultimately turned to e-waste. It is true that, the e-waste is a complex and dangerous environmental problem that is recently emerged in Zanzibar. As you may recall that, the Department of Environment managed to conduct a study on knowledge, attitudes and practices on used electrical and electronics equipment in Zanzibar in 2010. The objectives of the study were as follows:

• to carry out a qualitative study on the issues and trends of the Uused Electric and Electronic Equipment (UEEE) in Zanzibar.       
• to capture popular perceptions on environmetal effects of the UEEE in Zanzibar.
• to investigate the response effect of mitigations measures against UEEE in Zanzibar
• to develop recommendations towards setting of new environmental guidelines in efforts to control and regulate the import of UEEE/WEEE and all e-waste in Zanzibar.            

 Following that study, the Department of Environment, prepared the regulation to government the importation of the electronic and electric equipment. The draft of the regulation was shared in a stakeholders meetings and workshops that took place in June, 2011, Unguja and Pemba. Government, non actor’s organizations and business community particular deals with the equipment attended the meetings and workshops. Fortunately, CODECOZ, Unguja and Pemba was among the participants of the meetings. Useful contributions were collected through that consultative forum and were used to improve the regulation. Currently, the regulation is on the final stage of the government procedures. Furthermore, the Department of Environment is on the process of conducting community awareness program on this issue and we request the other to continue to do so.

Thank you very much for your quick response to the topic which have been very informative. We should all strive to make sure that once the regulation are approved no stone should be left to obstruct its implementation. I agree with you on the need awareness raising and that is not the work  of the DoE alone. Together we can conserve and protect our environment.

Kwa kweli tatizo hili ni sugu hapa Zanzibar.Hivyo basi moja kati ya njia za kulidhibiti ni kwa OFISI YA MAKAMO WA KWANZA WA RAIS ambayo inahusika na mazingira kushirikiana na WIZARA YA BIASHARA kupandisha ushuru maradufu wa bidhaa chakavu za electronic kama vile ambavyo nchi nyengine zinafanya ili kujikinga zisigeuzwe majaa na kuepukana na madhara.

TUSIPOCHUKUA HATUA LEO TUTAJUTA MAISHA.

Napenda nikupongeze sana da Dhulfat kwa maoni  yako.Nami naungana nawewe kushadidia kwamba hili ni janga hasa na serikali ina wajibu wa kuchukua hatua haraka, mfano mdogo tatizo la mifuko ya plastik.Hii inaonesha jinsi gani SERIKALI inaweza kupiga marufuku nakufanikisha kiasi kikubwa.Na hili pia linahitaji mkakati wa hali ya juu tena wa haraka. Pia napenda kuipongeza JUMUIYA YA MAENDELEO YA JAMII NA UHIFADHI WA MAZINGIRA kwa kuibua mada hii.

TAFAKARI CHUKUA HATUA.

Napenda kuwapongezeni Maendeleo ya Jamii na Uhifadhi wa Mazingira kwa kuliangalia suala hili kwa kina zaidi na kuweza kufahamu kuwa lina madhara juu ya jamii yetu na Nchi yetu kwani Nchi zilizoendelea zimeshaona kuwa Zanzibar ndio Jaa lao la kutupia vitu vyao kwa hiyo tunaombna kwanza ndugu zetu wafanya Biashara wakubali hilo kwanza, Pia Serikali inaweza kudhibiti hilo kwa kupitia Ofisi ya Makamo wa Kwanza, pamoja na Wizara ya Biashara ili kuzibiti uingizaji wa bidhaa chakavu Nchini mwetu. Pia ningependelea kushirikishwa wanaazaki wanaojishughulisha na Mazingira ili kushirikiana na Serikali kwa jambo hilo kwani tunaweza kuondosha haraka iwezekanvyo kama kweli tunaipenda Nchi na Wananchi wetu. Ukizingatia kwa kina zaidi wengi wetu unaovamia bidhaa chakavu basi utakuta majumbani mwetu kumejaaa mende wadogo x2 nao huzidisha uchafu majumbani hata majaani kumejaaa mafriji mabovu, na mativii kwani ukitizama haileti hali nzuri ya Nchi yetu. kwani wizara ya Mazingira iliwezaje kuzuia mifuko ya Plastik na isiweze kuweka mkakati kwa bidhaa hizi chakavu. NILAZIMA OFISI YA MAKAMO WA KWANZA ITAFAKARI KWA KINA ZAIDI NA IFANYE HARAKA KUCHUKA HATUA ZAIDI. SISI TWAWEZA KWA KUSHIRIKIANA NA OFISI YA MAKAMO WA KWANZA NA WIZARA YAKE YA MAZINGIRA KWA JAMBO HILI.

Kiukweli hali ya WEEE zanzibar inatisha kiasi ambacho hata mimi nimeamua nifanye desartetion yangu juu ya mambo hayo na ninaimani kitu nitakachokiona tofauti na mlichokiona nyinyi wakuu nitakifikisha kwawananchi ili waelewe ni kwakiasi gani tunahatarisha maisha ya kizazi kijacho kwakutawanya hazardous metal from those imported used stuff, thanks to all waliopost hii wamenifanya nione picha na nimejua nianzie wapi juu ya study yangu.