Unguja. Zanzibar’s President Hussein Mwinyi, has emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism, conservation, and responsible investment to ensure that Zanzibar becomes a leader in sustainable growth, cultural preservation, and economic development.
Mwinyi made the remarks over the weekend during the opening of the Tourism and Investment Expo in Fumba, which featured 110 exhibitors from over 10 countries both within and outside Africa.
“It is our shared dedication to ensure that Zanzibar becomes a beacon of sustainable tourism,” he said
The president further added: Tourism is undoubtedly the backbone of our economy, but it must also serve as a vehicle for promoting sustainability. Every visitor, every business project, and every initiative must contribute to the long-term well-being of our environment, communities, and culture.
According to him Zanzibar offers more than just attractions; it provides opportunities for engagement, a beautiful environment, and a vibrant people.
“This is the essence of responsible tourism, which we must develop and promote. By aligning our efforts with global sustainable goals, Zanzibar can become a model for other island economies worldwide while the government continues to foster a business-friendly environment.
Zanzibar’s minister for tourism and heritage Mudrick Soraga and Mr Javed Jafferji sign certificates
The President noted that partnerships between the public and private sectors (PPP) are crucial for achieving common goals. Through collaboration and dialogue, they can harmonize public policies with private sector innovation to build a robust and inclusive tourism economy.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of tourism and investment reach all corners of the islands, empowering local communities and creating opportunities for everyone.
“As we pursue economic growth, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to environmental conservation. The natural beauty of Zanzibar is not just an asset; it is a responsibility. Our forests, coral reefs, and wildlife are treasures that we must protect,” he stated.
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Mudrick Ramadhan Soraga, corroborated the President’s remarks stating that sustainable tourism development is the foundation of their economic agenda.
“Our goal is not just to attract tourists but also to promote a style of tourism that preserves our natural beauty, celebrates our heritage, and empowers our communities. Next year, this exhibition will be larger and better, continuing to be the leading platform for promoting Zanzibar worldwide,” he said.
According to him the exhibition which is a premier is a premier investment event aims to link investment opportunities with tourism, calling on all investors to sign on the greener Zanzibar initiative.
“We want to broaden the scope of tourism not the one that just ends at the beaches,” said Mr Soraga.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Tourism Commission, Arif Abbas Manji, that the exhibition attracted 110 exhibitors and 70 international buyers from countries including Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, the UK, Jordan, the US, South Africa, the UAE, and Nigeria.
Between 2021 and 2024, 162 tourism-related investments were made, totaling an investment of $1.9 billion (Sh5.2 trillion) and creating 9,535 jobs for the people of Zanzibar.
Manji noted that the Zanzibar 2024 Tourism and Investment Exhibition is a beacon of what the nation aims to achieve. It provides a platform to showcase significant opportunities within the tourism sector, highlighting Zanzibar as a hub for international tourism and investment.
Through this exhibition, they aim to attract investors and international stakeholders to see how they can contribute to economic expansion.
According to Manji, they are currently positioning themselves in the global market by identifying priority areas for tourism development, including cultural and heritage tourism, sports tourism, medical tourism, and halal tourism.
The goal is not only to promote Zanzibar as an attractive destination but also to establish it as a responsible and lucrative investment market.
Share this news
This Year's Most Read News Stories
Zanzibar liquor importers face fresh hurdle despite court order
The liquor shortage in Zanzibar is far from over, even after a court order granted relief to the three importers.Continue Reading
Zanzibar terminates land lease offered to British developer
The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) has terminated a land lease held by British property developer Pennyroyal Limited in Matemwe, the developer has announced.Continue Reading
Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania is winning the battle against maternal and newborn deaths, as the latest numbers reveal a significant decline.
“Tanzania is committed to reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe deliveries as part of the national development plan. The Safer Births Bundle of Care is one of the key strategies supporting this effort,” said Dr. Benjamin Kamala, the Senior Research Scientist at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and Principal Investigator for the program, leading its implementation across five regions in Tanzania.
A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the innovative health program in Tanzania – centered on regular, on-the-job training for healthcare workers – reduced maternal deaths by 75% and early newborn deaths by 40%. The three-year study, conducted across 30 high-burden healthcare facilities in Tanzania, tracked approximately 300,000 mother-baby pairs under the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme. The programme focuses on improving care for mothers and babies during the day of birth, the critical time when a woman goes into labor and delivers her baby.
Maternal health is a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tanzania’s program combines continuous, simulation-based training for frontline healthcare workers alongside innovative clinical tools to improve labour monitoring (fetal heart rate monitoring) and newborn resuscitation.It also uses data to drive ongoing improvements, ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills, confidence, and competence to manage birth-related complications for both mothers and newborns.
“We work closely with healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary tools to improve the quality of care, ensuring they can effectively manage both mothers and babies during and after childbirth,” Dr. Kamala said, which helps them build on over a decade of innovative research and collaboration to improve care during childbirth.
“To give you a sense of the scale of the burden of maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania when the Safer Births Bundles of Care program was in early development in 2015/16, there were around 556 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 25 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.
The published study demonstrates the “transformative impact” of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program conducted across 30 hospitals in five high-burden regions of Tanzania, where there were about 300,000 mother-baby pairs.
Maternal deaths at the start of the program were recorded at 240 per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders being the leading causes of death, he said. Over the 24-month study period, this number dropped to approximately 60 per 100,000 live births, representing a 75% reduction. The number of newborn deaths – which are primarily due to breathing difficulties and complications related to prematurity – declined by 40% – from 7 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“These results are remarkable,” Dr. Kamala said.
According to Dr. Kamala, the 75% reduction in maternal deaths was not expected, and a key lesson was the important role of the in-situ team simulations – including for postpartum bleeding – with reflective debriefings that trained facilitators led.
“This seems to be a major part of the success of the program,” he said. “We are delighted by these results and hope that other countries adopt and scale the Safer Births Bundle of Care program… Beyond the numbers, the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has fostered a dramatic culture shift in our healthcare system,” he said. “Healthcare workers are now more confident and better equipped to handle birth-related complications for both mothers and babies.”
Maternal death drop
Dr. Kamala attributed the 60-70% reduction in newborn deaths in Geita and Manyara to several factors.
“Firstly, Manyara was the first site for implementation, giving the region more time to adapt and experience the impact of the program. Most importantly, both regions had a high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, making them ideal targets for focused intervention. As a result, newborn deaths decreased by 60-70%, showcasing a clear positive impact on newborn survival,” he said.
Dr. Kamala said another possible explanation is the differences in the culture of practices, where some health facilities reported inaccurate data due to the fear of blame and shame. However, with the project’s implementation, reporting became more accurate after mplementation. Some regions, such as Tabora, reported an increase in the number of referrals to the study hospitals from other care centers after the program was implemented. These were more likely to be late admissions, which increase the likelihood of poor health outcomes, he said.
After the implementation of the program, there was a 40% decrease in newborn deaths within the first 24 hours after birth, according to the study.
Dr. Kamala said Tanzania’s remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality by 80% is driven by strategic investments and innovative programs focused on improving maternal and child survival rates.
“Over 2,000 new healthcare facilities have been developed, free health services are being provided to expectant mothers and children under the age of five, and emergency obstetric care – including better transport to hospitals in rural areas are helping to ensure timely, life-saving interventions.
“Most importantly, the Ministry of Health works in collaboration with healthcare workers, hospitals, and development partners to strengthen the skills of frontline healthcare workers, which has been a key factor in driving this progress.
“Political leadership, alongside strategic partnerships and financing, has been crucial in driving progress in maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The program was made possible by the support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, Norad, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, as well as the Ministry of Health and Haydom Lutheran Hospital. Their partnership and investment enabled the scaling of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to 30 hospitals and supported the research. “The government has now scaled the program to over 150 sites, and there are plans for further expansion to three regions this year and then nationally,” he said.
Dr. Kamala outlined key policy recommendations for other governments can adopt to prioritize maternal health.
“Firstly, it focuses on cost-effective and relatively simple interventions that are essential to preventing maternal and newborn deaths. For example, stronger primary healthcare that is delivered in the community and a well-trained healthcare workforce are also critical. Additionally, working in close collaboration with national, regional, and local health authorities is key.”
He said Tanzania’s approach, where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program was successfully scaled and sustained by aligning the initiative with national guidelines for obstetrical and newborn care. In addition, the creation of mentorship programs and regular supervision has helped to sustain the results.
Looking ahead
Tanzania now plans to expand to three new regions in 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout.
The success of the program has attracted interest from other countries, with Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Namibia expressing interest in adapting the program to their healthcare system. In Nigeria, the program has already been launched in two states, Gombe and Borno, marking a significant step in its scaling.
Source: allafrica.com
