Soaring Chicken Taxes Ruffle Feathers in Zanzibar: Consumers and Traders Cry Foul

 Zanzibar's beloved chicken dinners may soon come at a steeper price, as the government’s latest move to hike import taxes has sent shockwaves through markets, kitchens, and dinner tables across the islands.

Source: Irish Farmers' Association

In a dramatic shift unveiled in the 2025/2026 national budget, Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Saada Salum Mkuya announced that taxes on imported chicken and fish would skyrocket from TSh 300 to a jaw-dropping TSh 1,000 per kilogram. The move, officials say, is meant to ignite a local production boom and wean Zanzibar off cheap foreign imports—but not everyone is applauding.

The government is betting big on this policy, projecting over TSh 7.25 billion in new revenue. The funds, they promise, will bolster economic development and reduce reliance on imports by propping up local farmers and fishers.

“We must prioritize our own producers,” Dr. Mkuya said during the budget reading. “This is about food security, jobs, and national pride.”

But as the announcement ripples through the economy, not all Zanzibaris are convinced. For importers, retailers, and everyday consumers, the tax hike feels more like a punch to the wallet than a patriotic duty.

“Chicken is no longer just food—it’s now a luxury,” lamented Salma, a mother of four shopping in Darajani Market. Like many others, she fears the price surge will hit low-income families hardest, especially at a time when the cost of living is already rising.

Retailers and small traders warn that without a clear strategy to ramp up local production, the policy could backfire. Zanzibar’s domestic poultry industry, they argue, is still in its infancy and lacks the capacity to meet rising demand. With imports becoming more expensive overnight, they fear chicken could vanish from many households’ menus—or be replaced with less nutritious alternatives.

“It’s too much, too fast,” said one poultry trader in Mlandege. “We need time to adjust. Right now, there’s not enough local supply to meet the demand. Prices will go up, and people will suffer.”

While local farmer associations have welcomed the move, calling it a “long-overdue opportunity,” experts are urging caution. Economists warn that without robust support—such as subsidies for feed, investment in breeding facilities, better veterinary care, and cold storage—the tax hike may do little more than raise prices without lifting local output.

“This can’t just be about taxation,” said Dr. Asha Mwinyi, an agricultural economist. “It has to be about building a resilient, self-sufficient poultry sector. Otherwise, we risk market chaos.”

The chicken tax is just one piece of a broader fiscal shakeup. The budget also includes higher excise duties on alcohol, increased fuel levies, and a controversial new infrastructure tax on bottled water—all part of a government push to boost domestic revenue and invest in roads, clean water, and public services.

But among all the reforms, it’s the chicken tax that has stirred the most emotion. For now, both traders and consumers are anxiously watching the markets, uncertain if this bold policy will hatch the growth the government hopes—or just leave Zanzibar’s dinner plates emptier than before.