Don’t overstay your welcome, police warned

In intensifying war against corruption and illicit drugs in the country, the Deputy Minister for Home affairs, Mr Hamad Yussuf Masauni, concluded a three-day working visit to Zanzibar with a call on security forces to observe ethics and enforce laws.

After his calls to various areas including seaport and airport, Mr Masauni expressed concern over loose security at the entry points ‘without or weak’ screening altogether – even with a machine that could detect drugs having been brought into the isles specifically for that purpose.

“You need to have sniffer dogs and modern equipment to screen cargo and luggage, you must also avoid asking for bribes … it’s unethical … and you risk being fired from work or face prosecution,” said Mr Masauni who was in the Islands over the last weekend.

Addressing members of the police and immigration officers, he said some of them were involved in the criminal acts, such as tampering with investigations on drugs and corruption.

“It’s time, the police and Immigration officers do not stay longer than necessary at a single work station,” Mr Masauni said, and directed both Commissioners – police and immigration -- to ensure that an officer who has ‘overstayed’ their work places for more than two years are shifted elsewhere.

He said overstaying in one work place may contribute to corruption and abuse of power, so heads of department should not allow anyone to overstay ‘his credibility’ in one place.

Mr Seif Hamad Ali, acting Head of Police unit at the Zanzibar International airport, and Mr Abdalla Juma Abdalla- Director General, Zanzibar Ports Corporation (ZPC) defended the record of their juniors at different occasions, saying their staff had recorded sterling performance in accordance with existing regulations.

“They are committed, only that they lack modern equipment which ends up frustrating our efforts to do more,” Mr Ali and Mr Abdalla said, even as the deputy Minister promised to find lasting solutions to the problems they cited, mainly shortage of equipment at the entry points.