Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has pledged to leave office with the archipelago free of public debt while accelerating major infrastructure and social development projects.
Speaking at the State House on Tuesday after a media tour of ongoing initiatives, Mwinyi said a dedicated account has been established, into which 15 million U.S. dollars are deposited monthly to service debt obligations.
He highlighted achievements in his first term, including vast improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and market access.
Mwinyi pointed to the completion of more than 1,000 kilometres of paved roads — far surpassing the 99-kilometre target set by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) manifesto — alongside significant gains in tax revenue collection. The additional funds have enabled the construction of modern hospitals, where patients now receive free treatment and meals. He also underscored progress in ICT, water supply, and the blue economy, with new investments in fisheries and fish processing expected to drive economic growth and create jobs.