@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.

@ Kapteni Hamza M, Omar (RTD) (Katibu Mtendaji CODECOZ, Zanzibar):

Mimi ni kuchukua fursa hii kuwashukuru kwa mchango wako juu ya aina hii mada ya uingizaji wa bidhaa za elektroniki kutumika / umeme, ambayo hatimaye akageuka na e-waste. Ni kweli kwamba, e-taka ngumu na ya hatari mazingira tatizo kwamba ni hivi karibuni aliibuka katika Zanzibar. Kama unaweza kukumbuka kuwa, Idara ya Mazingira imeweza kufanya utafiti juu ya maarifa, mitazamo na mazoea ya vifaa vya umeme na umeme wa Zanzibar mwaka 2010. malengo ya utafiti yalikuwa kama ifuatavyo:

• kufanya utafiti juu ya masuala ya ubora na mwenendo wa vifaa vya umeme na elektroniki Uused (UEEE) katika Zanzibar.
• kukamata mitizamo maarufu juu ya athari environmetal ya UEEE katika Zanzibar.
• kuchunguza athari majibu ya hatua dhidi ya UEEE mitigations katika Zanzibar
• kuendeleza mapendekezo kwa kuweka mazingira ya mwongozo mpya katika juhudi za kudhibiti na kusimamia uagizaji wa UEEE / WEEE na wote e-taka katika Zanzibar.

Baada ya kusoma hayo, Idara ya Mazingira, tayari sheria kwa serikali ya uingizaji wa vifaa vya umeme na umeme. rasimu ya kanuni alikuwa pamoja katika mikutano ya wadau na warsha iliyofanyika mwezi Juni, 2011, Unguja na Pemba. Serikali, mashirika yasiyo ya mwigizaji na mikataba ya biashara ya jamii fulani na vifaa vya walihudhuria mikutano na warsha. Kwa bahati nzuri, CODECOZ, Unguja na Pemba ni miongoni mwa washiriki wa mikutano. Michango muhimu zilikusanywa kupitia jukwaa kwamba mashauriano na yametumika kuboresha udhibiti. Hivi sasa, kanuni ni juu ya hatua ya mwisho ya taratibu za serikali. Aidha, Idara ya Mazingira ni juu ya mchakato wa kufanya mpango wa ufahamu wa jamii juu ya suala hili na tunaomba wengine kuendelea kufanya hivyo.