Zanzibar: Pres Mwinyi pledges to boost isles economy, youth employment
RZANZIBAR, Nov 3 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has said the government will continue to strengthen the investment sector and business activities to boost the economy and increase numerous employment opportunities for the youth.
He said that the government has already registered and allocated over 330 projects with a capital investment of 5.4 billion US dollars in to generate more than 18,000 jobs across various sectors, including tourism with 112 projects, real estate with 56 projects, industries with 36 projects and others.
Mwinyi made the remarks at the Gombani grounds in North Region, where he launched the “Kijana Kijani” (Green Youth) campaign as part of the celebrations to mark four years of the eighth phase government under his leadership.
He said that the government has provided production equipment for 420 youth groups worth 985.5m/- along with a grant of 338.6m/- to 395 youth groups to support and empower them economically.
He said to ensure citizens have the capital to run their businesses, by March 2024, the government, through the Economic Empowerment Agency, had already disbursed over 31.8bn/- to small-scale entrepreneurs in Unguja and Pemba, with 40 per cent of beneficiaries being youth aged 18 to 35 years.
He added that the construction of modern market centre in each district for entrepreneurs and small business owners aims to provide Zanzibar’s youth with suitable spaces for their activities.
Regarding the government intention to boost Pemba’s economic development, President Mwinyi said that steady progress has been recorded, including the construction of roads, seaports, airports and other nfrastructure, as well as efforts to attract investors in Micheweni and Chamanangwe industrial area.
Speaking at the same event, Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla said people in Pemba are happy that Dr Mwinyi has brought many changes in terms of development in the past four years.
UVCCM National Secretary Jokate Mwegelo, said: “Backed by hard work of our leaders, including supporting young people in education, jobs creation, promoting peace and political stability, ruling party CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) will definitely win in all future elections.”
For his part, Regional Commissioner (RC) of South Pemba Region, Mattar Zahor Masoud, speaking on behalf of the people in Pemba, praised Dr Mwinyi for being behind the construction of 661 new classrooms in all regions of Pemba, 13-storey schools and creating jobs for 1,500 teachers.
“We also thank Dr Mwinyi for enabling the construction of toilets in various schools, construction of hospitals in three districts of Pemba, major renovations of ‘Abdalla-Mzee hospital’ with modern ICU services, kidney dialysis room, and creation of 468 jobs in the health sector in Pemba,” the RC said.
— NNN-DAILYNEWS