Do not hike food prices during Ramadan, Dr Mwinyi tells Zanzibar traders
President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi visits the Ismaili Community’s Aga Khan Jamati in Kiponda and signs the condolence book following the death of the community's leader, Prince Karim Al-Husseini Aga Khan IV, who passed away recently in Lisbon, Portugal, aged 88. PHOTO|JESSE MIKOFU
What you need to know:
- Dr Mwinyi made these remarks on Friday, February 7, 2025, when addressing Muslim worshippers at Masjid Jibril located in Mkunazini, where he had joined them for Friday prayers
Unguja. The President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has urged business owners to prepare for the holy month of Ramadan by conducting their businesses with integrity and showing compassion towards the people, without arbitrarily raising food prices.
Dr Mwinyi made these remarks on Friday, February 7, 2025, when addressing Muslim worshippers at Masjid Jibril located in Mkunazini, where he had joined them for Friday prayers.
He noted that it has become a common practice for some unscrupulous traders to increase the prices of goods during Ramadan, despite the tax reduction effected by the government during this period.
"Ensure that you do not raise prices of essential goods, as this burdens the people who are unable to afford them," said Dr Mwinyi.
This year, Ramadan is expected to begin in the evening on Friday, February 28, 2025, and end on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
The Islamic Calendar follows a lunar cycle, and while these are the calculated expected dates of Ramadan, they can differ from place to place based on moon sightings or lack thereof.
Speaking on the upcoming General Election, Dr Mwinyi said it was important to maintain peace for elections to be held smoothly.
Tanzania is expected to hold elections in October this year to elect the President of the Union Government, Members of Parliament and councillors.
Additionally, Zanzibaris will go the polls to elect the President of Zanzibar and representatives in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Dr Mwinyi visited the Ismaili Community's Aga Khan Jamati in Kiponda and signed the condolence book following the death of their spiritual leader.
Prince Karim Al-Husseini Aga Khan IV died recently in Lisbon, Portugal, aged 88.
The funeral ceremony for His Highness will take place on Saturday at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, Portugal.
The ceremony, which starts at 11 am, will be open only to invited guests including members of the Aga Khan family, leaders of the global Ismaili community and the Aga Khan Development Network, international dignitaries, and officials of the Portuguese government and State authorities.
The ceremony will be live-streamed on The Ismaili TV, according to an official statement released on Thursday.
Thereafter, the Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, will be laid to rest at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt, on Sunday, 9th February.
