ZANZIBAR: Authorities in Zanzibar say progress has been made in expanding access to water and electricity during the first 100 days of President Hussein Ali Mwinyi’s second term, with new infrastructure projects aimed at improving services across the archipelago.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Water, Energy and Minerals, Nadir Abdullatif Al-Wardy, told reporters that the government has prioritised projects designed to strengthen essential services and improve living standards in both Unguja and Pemba Island.
Speaking at a briefing organised by Idara ya Habari Maelezo, Al-Wardy said the sectors under his ministry remain central to the archipelago’s socio-economic development.
Water access expanded
One of the key initiatives highlighted was a major water project financed by the Export–Import Bank of India, which has enabled about 17,726 households to be connected to clean and safe water supply directly to their homes.
The project, officials say, has helped reduce reliance on unsafe water sources while easing the burden previously faced by families, particularly women and children responsible for water collection.
“The water sector is crucial because it directly affects public health, tourism, industrial development and the overall well-being of citizens,” Al-Wardy said.
He acknowledged that ongoing road construction in parts of the islands has occasionally damaged water supply networks, but said authorities have acted quickly to restore services where disruptions occurred.
Electricity infrastructure strengthened
In the energy sector, the minister said improvements have been made to electricity distribution infrastructure through the state utility Zanzibar Electricity Corporation.
The corporation has established additional transmission lines aimed at reducing pressure on existing networks and improving the reliability of electricity supply.
According to the minister, the utility is also implementing broader measures to strengthen power generation capacity, expand transmission and distribution systems and reduce technical and commercial power losses.
Authorities are also promoting renewable energy and modern electricity storage technologies as part of efforts to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally friendly power system.
Electricity supply has also been reinforced through improvements to undersea power cable connections linking Zanzibar to mainland Tanzania, which officials say have helped stabilise supply and reduce outages across the islands.
Fuel price stability
Al-Wardy said the government continues to regulate fuel and cooking gas prices to shield residents from volatility in global oil markets and foreign exchange fluctuations.
Despite international market pressures affecting oil-producing countries, he said authorities are working to keep energy prices manageable while maintaining stability in the local market.
The minister also called on residents to help protect public infrastructure by avoiding vandalism, illegal electricity connections and unauthorised excavation that can damage water and power networks.
He urged citizens to report any activities that threaten critical infrastructure, noting that sustainable development requires cooperation between authorities and the public.
Al-Wardy added that the media plays an important role in raising awareness about responsible resource use and encouraging communities to safeguard national infrastructure as the government continues efforts to improve service delivery across Zanzibar.
