Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has challenged newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers to move closer to citizens, listen to their concerns and ensure government action translates into tangible improvements in their lives.
Dr Mwinyi said leaders should not wait for citizens’ concerns to reach their offices but should actively engage communities and follow up on problems affecting them.
He made the remarks on Monday, October 5, 2026, at State House in Zanzibar while swearing in ministers and deputy ministers appointed to serve in the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, as well as Secretary of the House of Representatives Hassan Ali Haji.
The President said the leaders must treat public service as a responsibility requiring integrity, accountability and commitment to results.
He directed them to ensure government plans and development projects are implemented on time and deliver measurable benefits to citizens.
“Be close to the people, listen to them and follow up on the challenges they face so that solutions can be found,” Dr Mwinyi said.
The President also ordered the new ministers to accelerate implementation of development projects and take firm action against negligence, unnecessary bureaucracy and misuse of public resources.
He said government resources must be managed efficiently and used to deliver services and development priorities that directly benefit citizens.
The swearing-in ceremony marked another step in the formation of Zanzibar’s Government of National Unity following the implementation of political reconciliation between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and ACT-Wazalendo.
Dr Mwinyi urged the leaders to use the new political arrangement to strengthen cooperation in government and focus on issues affecting citizens rather than political differences.
He said ministers and deputy ministers must work together regardless of their political, social or ideological differences to safeguard peace, unity and solidarity in Zanzibar.
The President said the success of the new administration would ultimately depend on its ability to turn government commitments into results that citizens can see and experience.
He urged the leaders to remain faithful to the oaths they had taken and to ensure that their decisions and actions reflected the public interest.
The directive places service delivery and accountability at the centre of the responsibilities of the newly appointed leaders as they begin their roles in the Zanzibar Government.
Dr Mwinyi said effective leadership required leaders to remain accessible to the people, understand challenges on the ground and take action to address them.
He also stressed the importance of eliminating delays in government operations and ensuring that public institutions deliver services efficiently.
The President’s call comes as the Government of National Unity begins a new phase of implementation, with the newly appointed ministers expected to oversee policies and programmes aimed at addressing development challenges across Zanzibar.