Nineteen schools in Mtambwe Constituency face resource constraints, prompting their Member of Parliament, Dr Muhammed Ali Suleiman, to channel TZS21.4 million into education support, including photocopiers and teaching materials.
The initial intervention will benefit five schools, with each of the five shehias in the constituency receiving one photocopier to ease teachers' administrative work and improve the preparation of learning materials.
Dr Muhammed, who is also Zanzibar's Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, handed over the equipment at Daya Primary School on October 26, 2026.
The donation, provided through the Constituency Development Fund, comprises five photocopiers worth TZS18.5 million, 25 boxes of printing paper valued at TZS2.5 million and two boxes of pens worth TZS400,000.
The beneficiary institutions are Uondwe Primary School in Mtambwe Kaskazini, Bwagamoyo Secondary School in Piki, Daya Primary School in Mtambwe Kusini, Mzambarauni Secondary School in Mzambarauni Takao and Kijumbani Primary School in Kisiwani.
Speaking during the handover, Dr Muhammed acknowledged that the equipment would not address all the challenges facing schools but said it was an important contribution towards improving the learning environment.
"Although this equipment is limited, I hope it will help improve education in the schools receiving it. We recognise your efforts as teachers, but through working together, we can make significant progress, achieve better academic results for our young people and eliminate zero scores in our schools," he said.
He said the intervention was intended to support teachers in their daily responsibilities and contribute to better academic performance.
However, the distribution to only five schools out of 19 means that the remaining institutions will still need similar support as the constituency works towards improving education services.
Dr Muhammed said he would strive to provide every school with a photocopier if financial resources allowed, while urging school managers to take responsibility for maintaining the donated equipment.
He also directed schools to contact his ministry if the machines developed technical problems so that arrangements could be made for repairs.
Beyond the provision of physical equipment, the minister said his ministry was extending fibre-optic internet connectivity to schools across Zanzibar, with some institutions in Mtambwe already benefiting.
The initiative is expected to expand access to digital services and strengthen the use of technology in teaching and learning.
Acting Deputy Administrator of the Ministry of Communication, Information Technology and Innovation, Ibrahim Seleh Juma, urged the committee responsible for managing the Constituency Development Fund to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of its resources.
He said the fund should deliver tangible benefits to residents, including supporting improvements in education.
Representing the Deputy Administrator of the Ministry of Education in Pemba, Hamad Issa Omar said the donation demonstrated how constituency resources could be directed towards addressing challenges in schools.
He said the photocopiers and printing materials would make routine school activities easier and help teachers perform their duties more efficiently.
School heads also presented challenges affecting their institutions and appealed to Dr Muhammed to follow up on the concerns and support efforts to find lasting solutions.
Their concerns highlight the need for continued investment beyond the initial equipment donation to ensure that schools across the constituency have adequate facilities and resources to support effective teaching and learning.