President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has commended the World Bank for its continued support to Zanzibar through development projects that are helping improve public services and drive economic growth.
Speaking during a meeting held at the State House in Zanzibar on May 18, 2026, Dr. Mwinyi said cooperation between Zanzibar and the World Bank has brought notable progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development.
The meeting was attended by outgoing World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia, Nathan Belete, who paid a farewell visit after completing his term, alongside incoming Country Director, Firas Raad.
Dr. Mwinyi said Zanzibar is looking to deepen cooperation with the World Bank, particularly in strategic sectors such as health, energy and road infrastructure through the BIG-Z project, which is expected to improve connectivity and support economic activities across the Isles.
He also proposed the establishment of a World Bank office in Zanzibar, saying the move would strengthen coordination and speed up the implementation of development projects that directly benefit wananchi.
For his part, Mr. Belete reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to continuing its partnership with Zanzibar in implementing development programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and supporting sustainable economic transformation.
