Zanzibar, often referred to as the “Spice Islands,” has recently been facing scarcity of beer. Prices of beer have shot up by almost 100 per cent after the supply chain was disrupted by a sudden change of importers.

Zanzibar is renowned for its production of spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper, which has historically been major exports from the region. Zanzibar’s spice trade has played a significant role in its cultural and economic history, attracting traders from around the world for centuries making it a tourist centre for people all over the world.

The minister of the islands, Simai Mohammed Said, resigned on January 25 and Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, a prominent political organisation in the country has questioned the former Zanzibar tourism minister, weeks after his resignation amid shortage of alcohol in the islands.

According to the BBC, Simai Mohamed Said appeared before the party’s ethics committee on Tuesday but did not disclose why he had been summoned. 

“It is normal to visit the party’s office, and I am not the spokesperson for the meetings, you can find the chairperson or the secretary general of the committee to say something,” Mr Said told journalists immediately after the meeting.

BBC mentioned that before his resignation, Mr Said publicly accused the Zanzibar Liquor Control Board of mismanaging the liquor industry; however Zanzibar’s President Hussein Mwinyi accused Mr Said of having a conflict of interest, while he was the minister.

Reports link one of Mr Said’s relatives to an alcohol importing company whose licence was not renewed.

Mr Said’s resignation is suspected to be linked with the shortage of alcohol in Zanzibar.