ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR is accelerating efforts to build a stronger digital economy, with President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi highlighting investments in technology, artificial intelligence, innovation and digital skills for young people.
The government is also stepping up efforts to widen access to high-speed internet through Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure. The initiative aims to bring dependable internet services to approximately 100,000 households across Zanzibar within the next three years.
Dr Mwinyi made the remarks yesterday while officially launching the Tech and AI Expo Africa Innovate 2026 at Golden Tulip Hotel-Airport, where he said technology and innovation presented opportunities to improve public services, expand access to education and healthcare, boost productivity and create new employment opportunities.
He said advances in technology and AI also presented Africa with opportunities to address development challenges and create new economic opportunities.
The President said the government instituted several measures to accelerate digital transformation, including establishing a dedicated Ministry responsible for Communications, Information Technology and Innovation to provide strategic leadership and coordinate digital transformation initiatives.
He said Zanzibar was also strengthening connectivity through submarine cables and developing data storage and processing facilities, which would increase the island’s capacity to provide technology-based services.
“These investments will provide a foundation for expanding technology-driven businesses and public services,” Dr Mwinyi said.
He said Africa should not remain merely a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere, but should develop the capacity to become a producer of technology, intellectual property and innovation.
Dr Mwinyi said African countries needed to make better use of their talent and create an environment that enabled innovation and investment.
He said Zanzibar was seeking to use technology and innovation to create opportunities for young people and strengthen their participation in the digital economy.
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Innovation, Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, said Zanzibar wanted to create an environment in which young people could develop, produce and sell technology products and services locally and internationally.
He said the government’s ambition was for young innovators in Zanzibar to develop solutions capable of competing in international markets.
“A young person in Zanzibar should be able to develop a technology solution for the hotel sector that can be used in Dubai, a financial system that can be used in Nairobi, or a cybersecurity solution that can be sold in international markets,” Soraga said.
He said Zanzibar aimed to become a producer, innovator and developer of technology solutions rather than merely a technology user.
Soraga said the government intended to harness technology, innovation and AI to strengthen the digital economy and position Zanzibar as a hub connecting ideas, technology, innovation and investment from Africa and other parts of the world.
He said technological development was advancing rapidly, with young people increasingly using smartphones and computers to establish businesses and develop solutions to social and economic challenges.
As part of efforts to nurture young talent, Soraga said 30 young people would participate in a technology hackathon aimed at developing solutions to challenges facing communities.
The expo will also feature technology training programmes for young people and innovation competitions involving participants from across Africa.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ms Fatma Mabrouk Khamis, said effective use of AI required strong digital foundations, including reliable communications infrastructure, computing capacity, cybersecurity, skilled professionals and effective governance systems.
She said the government would continue building capacity, facilitating knowledge transfer, investing in young people’s talents and supporting innovations developed in Zanzibar to reach regional and international markets.
Ms Khamis said digital transformation required more than infrastructure, adding that skills, innovation and effective governance were also necessary to turn technology into sustainable economic opportunities.
She said the government will continue supporting young people to develop their talents and ensuring that innovations developed in Zanzibar could reach regional and international markets.
