Development Schemes (Hansard, 12 December 1957)

§ Mr. Profumo

Considerable developments are being undertaken for Pemba. The main emphasis in development for Pemba is on the improvement of communications, both internally and with Zanzibar. The main North-South road on the island is being improved on at an estimated cost of £156,000, of which £70,000 has been spent; improvements to the access road to Wesha Port are expected to cost about £30,000. Port development is a most important factor in the improvement of communications and it is proposed to develop the port at Wesha at a cost of some £120,000; the improvement of the port at Mkoani is also planned at an estimated cost of £30,000. During the past two years, two new vessels, together costing approximately £500,000, have been built for the Zanzibar Government and they are used156W for the maintenance of communications between Pemba and Zanzibar. It is hoped in due course to provide a satisfactory airport on Pemba, subject to the availability of sufficient funds, amounting to at least £40,000.

Great importance is attached in the island to the provision of an adequate electricity supply. The Zanzibar Electricity Board has approved a scheme for Pemba costing £250,000 and orders for the generators and main equipment have already been placed.

The Zanzibar Government envisage the extension of health and education services, of water supplies and of town planning projects. Work on the general improvement and extension of Wete Hospital costing £38,500 will start in 1958. £5,000 has been spent on rural health services and an additional dispensary costing £1,000 will also be built next year.

Education services are being expanded as quickly as possible: £25,000 has already been spent on town and country schools, and on houses for staff and a further £4,000 is to be spent in the near future. Work on three water supply schemes costing £90,000 is in progress. Housing areas are being developed at a cost of £12,000, of which £7,000 has been spent, and work on other town planning schemes costing £15,000 will begin in 1958. An aerial survey scheme is also being carried out, under which the photography has been mostly completed, leaving the mapping to be done.