Zanzibar, an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, is preparing to enforce a ban on the import and consumption of Shisha and E-cigarettes.
The decision comes as authorities express concerns about the careless use of these products in public spaces.
Masoud Ali Mohammed, Zanzibar’s Minister of State, Office of the President, Regional Administrations, Local Governments, and SMZ Departments, announced that the government would soon issue a special directive to regulate the import and sale of Shisha and electronic cigarettes.
Importers have been advised not to replenish their stocks and to await further instructions from the authorities. The ban is expected to impact various establishments, including tourist resorts and restaurants, where Shisha is particularly popular. Some stakeholders fear significant revenue losses as a result.
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This is not the first time that such a ban has been proposed in Tanzania. Previously, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda imposed a blanket ban on Shisha in the capital city.
However, this prohibition was later rescinded, leading to the resurgence of Shisha in many bars. Currently, approximately 500 containers of Shisha remain stranded at the Dar es Salaam Port from previous import attempts.
Shisha, also known as hookah or waterpipe, is a form of tobacco traditionally mixed with molasses or honey. Advocates argue that it is relatively “safe” compared to industrial cigarette tobacco, as it is made from natural substances.
Popular flavors include apple, strawberry, mint, and cola. Shisha smoking involves heating the tobacco with wood, coal, or charcoal in a water pipe to create smoke. It has become a cultural phenomenon among Africa’s millennials and is viewed as a trend that defies Western influence in the era of globalization.
