TANZANIA ZANZIBAR & MOZAMBIQUE
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DAR ES SALAAM
A little over three hours flying time from Johannesburg
will transport you into a refreshingly different world. Tanzania, almost
four times the size of the UK, has a fascinating history, legendary
game parks, world class scuba diving and almost 1500 kilometres of the
world’s finest white-sand and blue-water beaches. And if you are
fortunate, you may still find an unspoilt stretch of beach, complete
with coconut palms and a baobab or two, for a price somewhat less than
the cost of a two bedroom flat on the Natal South Coast!
Independent since1961, Tanzanians have largely
been left alone to make their own way in the world and as a result,
are wonderfully free from colonial prejudice and apartheid style hang-ups.
They’re extremely nice people. It’s refreshing to find that
security is not generally a topic of dinner table conversation and that
visitors will encounter only friendliness and courtesy at every turn.
A handshake and a heartfelt “jambo, karibu sana!” (“Hi!
you’re very welcome!”) is the standard greeting. While Swahili
is the most commonly used language, getting around is no problem since
English is widely spoken. South Africans, in particular, will immediately
feel at home with Shoprite, Nando’s, Spur, Debonairs, SAB and
many other SA brands being much in evidence!
Early experiments with socialism and collectivism
having failed, the country has adopted a policy of privatisation, a
programme which has recently been strongly endorsed by President Kikweti.
As a result, the economy is beginning to pick up, international aid
agencies are assisting in formulating development plans and foreign
investment is warmly welcomed and favourably treated. In recent years
much of this investment, particularly for tourism, has come from Europe
and from Italy in particular. Considerable investment has been channelled
into tourism on Zanzibar as well as the areas around Dar es Salaam,
Kilimanjaro and the northern game viewing circuit. On Zanzibar particularly,
where the historic Arab “Stone Town” has been declared a
World Heritage Site and is being restored to its former glory, tourism
is booming. There are no foreign exchange restrictions and entry into
the country is simple. A tourist visa may be purchased on arrival for
US$50.
Since this article is intended as a brief overview of the property sector
let’s take a look at what’s available. Dar plays host to
a multitude of Foreign Embassies and High Commissions as well as dozens
of international aid agencies and non-governmental organisations. As
a result the rental market is extremely buoyant. Although the centre
of town is now a traffic planner’s nightmare, the recent building
boom has moved the focus of residential property northwards. The more
affluent suburbs now have a more than adequate supply of extremely elegant
villas, refurbished mansions, town houses and comfortable flats for
rent, many with sea views and swimming pools. Rentals, in the more popular
areas, quoted in US$, range from about $1,500 p.m. to as high as $8,000
p.m. Many of the more expensive properties are, of course, located close
desirable amenities such as the recently completed up-market shopping
centres and restaurants and are extremely well furnished. Renting is
a relatively simple affair.
Buying a property is somewhat more complicated.
Virtually all property is owned by the state and is available for sale
only on leasehold terms for periods of up to 99 years. Foreigners cannot
own property outright and the most favoured method of purchase is to
set up a company with a reliable nominee Tanzanian director. In practice
this seems to work well. Mortgages are not readily available and bank
loans not always easy to negotiate. In some cases ownership appears
somewhat woolly and it is essential to establish beyond doubt who the
real owner of the property actually is, whether the land has been properly
surveyed and whether it has been, or is capable of being, registered
into the name of the purchaser. This is not always an easy task since
professional estate agents are few. On the other hand the Property Registry,
originally established along UK lines, appears to work efficiently and
owners hold property under a formal “Certificate of Occupancy”
issued under Section 9 of the Land Ordinance by Land Ordinance Services.
After considerable research we have identified
a professional firm of Estate Agents, Valuers and Real Estate Investment
Analysts with whom we have entered into a co-operation agreement. We
are confident that this firm is competent to advise foreign buyers on
the intricacies of purchase and to guide them through the official registration
process. Please note however that anyone intending to invest in Tanzania
is now required to make a minimum investment of US$300,000.
Learning
about properties for sale and Making arrangements to view them is not
the easiest exercise unless the prospective buyer has time to spare.
The market is small and there are no dedicated property publications
or property sections in the daily newspapers. Smaller agencies are difficult
to find and often have part time staff and no transport. Even the larger
firms who may have a list of apparently available properties often appear
unwilling to take clients out on viewing tours. The most sensible course
is to hire a reliable taxi driver on a daily basis, pick through the
classified sections of newspapers and general advertising publications,
get good written directions and if you are using an agent, take a representative
of the agency along to cope with the language. In the northern suburbs
many streets are un-named, un-surfaced, grazed by cattle and full of
potholes large enough to swallow a mini! Inspecting properties is therefore
not a task for the faint hearted. .
That having been said, the better quality
properties are generally situated on large plots of ground, (anything
up to an acre or more), and are fully walled and secured. Houses tend
to be large and intended to cope with the needs of extended families
so construction is often of two or more storeys, usually with separate
staff accommodation. The quality of most new homes is excellent, extensive
use being made of imported ceramics, hardwood joinery, air conditioning
and aluminium windows with fitted fly screens. A stand-by generator
and large capacity water storage tanks are definite plus points.
There are numerous imposing but unfinished,
mansions in the better suburbs. These apparently belong to former “wa-Benzi”
who have lost senior jobs or influence under the current president and
whose income from graft has therefore been severely curtailed! Several
of these, at prices from about $150,000, seemed to offer good value
for any buyer willing to complete the finishing work. Owner supervised
building costs appear to be very reasonable.
Because the housing market is not formalised
prices for most properties are extremely flexible with owners and their
agents belonging to the “think of a number and double it”
school. Local agents or middlemen will try to establish what a foreign
buyer might be prepared to pay before quoting a much higher price and
expecting to haggle. It appears, however, that because of recent over-building
many property owners are becoming increasingly anxious to sell and that
with perseverance bargains are there to be had.
Buying
vacant land cheaply from a Tanzanian farmer or fisherman may sound attractive
but can be even more frustrating since all such sales have to be approved
firstly by a full family council and secondly by a village council comprising
the whole village population. A procedure which offers ample opportunity
for petty jealousies to creep in and for the price to be pushed up at
every stage! However, for those with ample time to spare, patience may
very well be rewarded.
A visit to booming Dar es Salaam, the capital
of Tanzania, although occasionally frustrating, will always be enjoyable.
The people are so nice! Should the visitor have time to spend in exploring
the countryside he will gain a fascinating insight into the everyday
life of the Swahili people and learn that for them the welcoming phrase
“Jambo, karibu sana” is a philosophy of life.
TANZANIA -
ZANZIBAR
To hear someone merely whisper the word “Zanzibar”
conjures up impossibly romantic images combining the magical adventures
of Sinbad the Sailor and the erotic tales of Scheherazade’s Thousand
and One Nights. Not so far off the truth - Zanzibar has a very special
kind of magic!
 |
It has a fascinating and often
bloody history, an enchanting Arab casbah, impossibly white beaches,
turquoise seas, rustling palm trees, friendly people and the scent
of coffee and spices on the balmy evening breeze! However, since
this is not a travel documentary but a property website, let’s
stick to a few very basic facts to help put the Island into context. Those
in search of more comprehensive information should read the Rough
Guide to Tanzania or Lonely Planet’s Tanzania – they’re
well researched and full of really useful and up-to-date information! |
Geography: The
major islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, with a combined area of around
2, 500 km² and some of the world’s finest beaches, are situated
some 12º south of the Equator and are, at the nearest point, a
mere 35 km off the African coast. That’s very close - the
town of Zanzibar can be reached by air in 20 minutes or by fast ferry
from Dar Es Salaam in about two hours.
Climate: The climate
is tropical but tempered by cooling breezes from the Indian Ocean. Traditionally
there are two rainy seasons each year, the Masika, or long rains, lasting
more or less from March to May and the Mvuli, or short rains, lasting
from October to early December. However, even during the rains
the sun still shines on most days and in the intervening seasons the
weather is generally hot and dry.
History:
What makes Zanzibar both fascinating and different from other
Indian Ocean islands is its rich history. First mentioned by
Greek explorers around the first century AD the Islands had
already been colonized by Bantu-speaking peoples from the mainland. Zanzibar
was also regularly visited by Arab and Asian traders and Shirazi
merchants who were becoming predominant by the 8th century.
From the 8th century onwards larger and more permanent
settlements were established leading up to the island’s
most glorious period which lasted from the 15th to 18th centuries
when Persian and Omani influences dominated the Island’s
culture and economy. |
|
| The power and influence
of Zanzibar during that period was built on the enormous wealth
generated by a thriving trade in gold, ivory, spices and slaves. Wealth
pouring out of what Europe saw as the “Dark Continent”
promoted the rapid growth of Arab civilization on the Island,
particularly the characteristic architecture, social customs and
the growing popularity of Islam. |
The Portuguese were the first European power
to obtain a brief foothold in the early 16th century but were quickly
ousted by the local Omanis. They were followed in turn by British
merchants who, instead of having conquest in mind, used the Island merely
as a congenial staging post on the route to India.
By 1840 the Island’s economy had become
sufficiently important for the Sultan of Oman to relocate his court
from Muscat to Zanzibar which now became the hub of the flourishing
Omani trading empire. By 1862 Zanzibar felt strong enough to declare
itself independent of Oman. In 1890, after a somewhat stormy political
relationship, Zanzibar was persuaded to accept British protection.
 |
During the preceding centuries adventurous
Arab merchants had opened up trading routes across Africa as
far as the Congo Basin, the Maghreb and the West Coast in their
quest for ivory and slaves. European colonial expansion
into the Caribbean and the Americas during the 17th, 18th and
19th centuries, which resulted in the development of tropical
agriculture, gave huge impetus to the already well established
demand for slaves who were seen as essential for the development
of the newly established plantations. Although this trade was
hugely profitable, anti-slavery sentiment was hardening. By
the mid 19th century, particularly in Britain, enlightened political
attitudes, liberalism and Christian missionary activity would
finally bring to an end the appalling Atlantic slave trade. |
| Europe’s competitive
colonial expansionism and the growing interest in African exploration
now made Zanzibar the most favoured base for African travellers.It
was essential to secure the Sultan’s blessing and assistance
in order to penetrate into the interior with any degree of safety.
The roll call of famous visitors during the mid 19th century makes
for interesting reading. Even so, Zanzibar’s golden age
was already drawing to a close and with growing international
pressure the notorious and hugely profitable Zanzibar slave market,
(although not slavery), was officially closed down in 1876. |
New Beginnings:
After the Second World War Zanzibar was formally declared a British
Protectorate in 1946. In December 1963 the Island gained independence
in the form of internal self-government and in January 1964 the last
Sultan was overthrown in a bloody left-wing coup. Finally, in April
1964 the Island joined with Tanganyika to form the socialist inspired
United Republic of Tanzania.
Stone Town: If
it’s happening – it’s happening in Stone Town!
All the best beaches may well be located on the East Coast but history
ensures that Stone Town, (now a United Nations World Heritage site),
remains the historic, cultural, social and religious centre of the Island.
Local attitudes to foreigners are relaxed and friendly and all
nationalities and religions mingle amicably. In spite of the archipelago’s
closeness to the African mainland one should never forget that Zanzibar,
with its long Arab history, is predominantly a Muslim society. Good
manners and a little restraint will therefore be appreciated, particularly
during Ramadhan.
As in many other parts of the world tourism
has transformed the Island. Miraculously, modern sewerage has been installed
in the narrow alleys of the old town and many of the splendid old merchant
houses have been converted into atmospheric luxury hotels.
New international restaurants, craft shops and even a few bars
exist to cater for all tastes. Tourism unfortunately means crowds and
the narrow streets and twisting alleys are thronged with visitors of
all nationalities. It is advisable to keep alert in order to avoid being
bowled over by an ever growing number of cars, motor scooters and bicycles.
Progress, it seems, comes at a price.
Buying Property in Zanzibar
| Property Law in Zanzibar
differs from that applying on the mainland. Subsequent to the
elections of December 2005 more stringent regulations are being
applied. Foreigners may no longer purchase beach front
land in their own right and leases are difficult to secure and
often for very limited periods of time. Investments of all
types must now be channeled through the Zanzibar Investment Promotion
Authority who, should the project be approved, will arrange for
any subsequent property purchase through the Department of Lands
and Survey. ZIPA has established various categories and degrees
of investment which may be approved and have set the minimum investment
in the service sector at US$150, 000 rising to US$4 million in
the hospitality industry. Many categories are reserved for native
Zanzibaris. |
|
Intending purchasers may still buy through
the medium of a Zanzibari citizen or Zanzibari owned company with a
letter of undertaking arranged through an attorney. Buying a property
privately in Zanzibar through a local middleman may sound easy but in
practice can be fraught with difficulty. In some cases a property or
business may be purchased but the granting of a lease or certificate
of occupancy for the land on which it stands is not always guaranteed.
Purchases which do not follow the approved government procedure will
not be recognized, however well attested.
Mozambique
Unlike, say, Kenya, Mozambique is still a relatively unknown quantity
for potential purchasers of holiday, resort or residential property.
The long-running and extremely destructive civil war between FRELIMO
and RENAMO which ended in 1992 destroyed much of the remaining colonial
infrastructure and laid waste the economy. However, the country’s abandonment
of Marxism in 1989 and the acceptance of a new more liberal constitution
in 1990 paved the way for a period of greater social and economic stability.
Mozambique has made rapid progress since the UN-negotiated cessation
of the civil war in 1992 and more particularly since Armando Emilio
Guebeza assumed the presidency in December 2004. A period of sound economic
and fiscal management has encouraged the growth of foreign investment
and although coming off a low base the country now boasts an extremely
encouraging growth rate of 7.5% in GDP. The government is placing particular
emphasis on the development of small, high quality, foreign owned tourism
projects designed to introduce significant amounts of foreign exchange.
Mozambique is a large, and in African terms, relatively under-populated,
country roughly twice the size of California. The country is bounded
to the North by Tanzania, to the North West by Zambia, to the West by
Zimbabwe and to the South and South West by South Africa and Swaziland.
It’s not surprising therefore that the population of 21 million is divided
between widely different tribal groups of whom the Makhuwa, Tsonga,
Lomwe and Sena are the most numerous. It follows that wide range of
tribal languages are in daily use but the official language and lingua
franca is Portuguese. English is becoming increasingly popular as a
medium of business.
The climate is generally tropical along the coast and in the low-lying
interior but sub-tropical in the uplands of the North West. The land
area is some 800, 000 sq km with a coastline on the Indian Ocean of
almost 2, 500 km, the majority of which remains undeveloped. The majority
of the population is rural, scratching a living from subsistence agriculture.
Much of the coast is protected by coral reef and lined with palm fringed
white sand beaches. Diving in the clear waters on the coral reef is
relatively unexploited and therefore of an unbelievably high standard.
The potential for tourism development is self-evident.
Excellent up-to-date, in-depth, and practical information on Mozambique
can be obtained by consulting guides published electronically by www.lonelyplanet.com
and www.roughguides.com and
the fact sheet from the US Central Intelligence Agency at www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mz.html
As in many other African states all land is vested in the state which
has laid down guidelines for licensing and land use. In brief, the only
title recognised is one of usufruct for an agreed term of years and
all transfers are subject to state authorisation. The purchase of freehold
beach land for private use is therefore not possible.
The process of obtaining a usufruct, (or lease), is both complicated
and time consuming and will certainly occupy more time and energy than
the average holiday maker has at his disposal. Professional services
are at best rudimentary. Finding a way through the red tape can take
years! For this reason we suggest that the most effective, and certainly
the least troublesome, approach for someone wishing to acquire property
in Mozambique is to buy into one of the already established foreign
owned and managed complexes which offer future financial return with
the minimum of hassle and the maximum of security.
Elephant Beach, a fully approved project currently
being developed by a South African consortium near Ponta Techobanine
is a typical example. When completed, the development will consist of
18 architect designed cabanas clustered round a natural water feature
and with direct access onto the beach with a range of beach and water
sport facilities. Details of this project can be found at www.elephantbeach.co.za
or contact ALLEN DENTON-MILLER Tel: +27 (0) 39 695 0203 Cell: +27 (0)
72 717 7771 E-mail denton.miller@mweb.co.za
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© denton-miller estates 2001
