President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged investors to look beyond Zanzibar’s established tourism centres and explore emerging opportunities in Southern Unguja, where improved infrastructure and expanding economic activity are opening new prospects.
Speaking at the climax of the Kizimkazi Festival 2026 yesterday, President Samia said Southern Unguja had changed significantly in recent years, with investment in infrastructure and social services helping to unlock economic opportunities.
She said the growth should translate into lasting benefits for residents, particularly through employment, businesses and improved access to services.
“Peace is everything in our lives,” President Samia said, stressing that investment, tourism, trade and employment cannot flourish where there is instability.
Her remarks underline the importance of protecting the environment in which businesses operate, as Zanzibar seeks to attract more investment while ensuring communities benefit from economic expansion.
President Samia also urged investors to position themselves for opportunities expected to emerge from the planned construction of a sports stadium in Southern Unguja, which is expected to be used during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The development is likely to create opportunities beyond construction, including hospitality, transport, food services, retail and other businesses linked to sports and tourism.
The President further called on Tanzanians to protect peace, unity and security and to uphold the Union, saying stability remained critical to the country’s development ambitions.
Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, described the Kizimkazi Festival as more than a cultural event, saying it had become an important platform for promoting the area, preserving its heritage and supporting development.
He said the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar would continue maintaining and developing projects associated with the festival to ensure they remained useful to residents.
South Unguja Regional Commissioner Hamida Mussa Khamis said investment over recent years had transformed Kizimkazi and expanded opportunities for residents.
She pointed to training in financial management and access to capital for small entrepreneurs, opportunities for young people in tourism and increased fishing activities following investment in the blue economy.
These developments, she said, were helping more residents participate in the local economy rather than leaving investment benefits concentrated in a few areas.
Established in 2016, the Kizimkazi Festival has grown into an annual platform bringing together development, business, investment, sports, tourism and social activities.
Through the festival, various projects in education, health, water, roads, housing, sports and recreation have been launched or initiated, while the event has attracted businesses, investors and visitors from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania and abroad.
With Southern Unguja now gaining greater infrastructure and investment attention, the challenge will be ensuring that the new economic opportunities create meaningful local participation and sustainable benefits for communities.
The 2026 festival was also attended by international guests, including former Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
