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| Zanzibar President, Ali Mohamed Shein, inspects a guard of honour at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar yesterday. |
In his speech that was preceded by a colourful ceremony, Dr Shein said tangible progress has been achieved during the last 52 years, including the provision of free health services and education -- as well as improvements to public infrastructure and the islands’ overall economic growth.
“Despite some challenges, we are happy to record stable economical growth (gross domestic product) at 7 per cent per annum, with a hope for further growth,” said Dr Shein. He attributed the stable economic growth to peace and stability enjoyed in the Isles, which has also been attracting serious local and foreign investors, with already big projects in pipeline.
He asked the people of Zanzibar to show support by maintaining the existing peace. Dr Shein informed the gathering that between January and December last year, 31 investment projects, worth 316 million US dollars in various sectors, had been registered and approved by the Zanzibar Investments Promotion Agency (ZIPA), expecting to create at least 2,500 jobs.
He mentioned some of the projects, which have started as Fumba Modern City at the Fumba Village Economic Processing Zone (EPZ), where a dairy factory has been established since 2014, alongside construction of a new satellite city with 650 residentialhouses to be sold to people on mortgage basis.
“Fumba is being developed by the government and investors led by Bakhresa Group of Companies (Union Property Developer and Coastal Dredging),” said Dr Shein, adding that the grand project will be complete with a road network.
He said that another satellite city is being developed at Matemwe coastal areas, north of Unguja, where Pennyroyal of Gibraltar Company is developing the place to have business/trading centres, luxurious hotels, modern residential houses, and a golf course, which meets international standards.
“The company has already allocated 800 million US dollars for the project,” Dr Shein said, adding that the historical state-owned Bwawani Hotel will be reconstructed by Quality Group Limited of Dar es Salaam.
“The government has already signed an agreement for the Bwawani Hotel while Quality Group has set aside 200 million US dollars for the project -- to include an international conference centre,” the Isles leader told the gathering.
According to President Shein, Tanzanians should also expect to see and visit a man-made luxurious Islet (set by reclaiming the sea) at the Mtoni Marine area to the north of the Zanzibar Stonetown, where Bakhresa Company has been working to develop a high-class tourist beach.
The work being done by the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF) to construct modern Houses at Bweni was another good news revealed by Dr Shein, saying 7-storey 18 houses with 252 flats will be available for rent in the near future.
He added that there has been progress in oil and natural gas prospecting while the government has also recorded achievements in improving agriculture, livestock keeping, infrastructure, fishing, entrepreneurship and the media.
“Due to the vulnerability of our Islands, we must also conserve environment as the government plans to plant 50 million mangroves in worst affected areas,” said Dr Shein.
Turning to the political impasse that resulted from the nullification of the October 25, 2015 elections, Dr Shein asked the people to maintain peace and stability as they wait for fresh elections on a date to be announced by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC).
But despite progress in various areas, Dr Shein acknowledged that Zanzibar still has to overcome a number of challenges, such as unemployment and inflation. He pledged that the government has been working hard to address the problems.
Dr Shein joined Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, Chairperson of the Celebrations’ Organising Committee, to thank all people, including ambassadors who turned up for the event.
Thousands of people, led by President John Magufuli, filled the stadium where they watched military parades and cultural performances. Residents of Zanzibar Municipality had watched fireworks; popularly known here as ‘fash fash’ at midnight as it clocked January 12, 2016 amidst a heavy presence of security personnel patrolling the streets.
In April 1964, three months after the revolution, Zanzibar united with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania, to which Dr Shein emphasized: “The union will remain safe because the people want it”.
Dignitaries who attended the ceremony include the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, Zanzibar Second Vice-President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, former Union presidents Jakaya Kikwete, Benjamin Mkapa and former Zanzibar presidents Mr Mwinyi and Amani Abeid Karume; and ministers from both Union and Zanzibar governments.
Daily News