Unguja/Zanzibar:
Zanzibar’s tourism sector is booming once again, with the latest figures from the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT) showing a rise in the number of tourists visiting the Isles.
The figures from ZCT show that by August 2022, over 322,748 tourists had visited Zanzibar, a number that is close to the 2021 figures, which stood at 394,185.
But with figures presented by ZCT showing that most tourists usually do not return, sector specialists and insiders say the growth in real estate is critical to the promotion of tourism, just as other markets have witnessed.
They cite Qatar, the UAE, Singapore, and other island states such as Mauritius, Seychelles, and Malaysia as examples that Zanzibar can always look up to.
According to the executive secretary of ZCT, Ms Hafsa Hassan Mbamba, there is a need to diversify, as opposed to beach tourism which now serves as a lone source of attraction which makes it a one-off market for tourists.
Speaking at an event organised by Re/Max Omela real estate agents and Dolson Interiors, minister for Tourism Simai Mohammed Said, said investments in real estate are critical in the growth of the tourism sector, otherwise, tourists cannot come to a non-existent entity.
“And that is where credible real estate firms like Re/Max Omela come into play because they have information and advice on the kinds of plots and properties that suit an investor’s profile,” he said.
According to him, with the growing number of high-profile real estate investments, Zanzibar’s fortunes will soon change to host returning tourists.
“The launch of the 17 new off-plan housing developments mentioned by Mr Prevost, will give smaller to medium-sized investors the opportunity to own properties in Zanzibar, which will create a continuous tourism based on the owners returning to their property annually,” said the minister.
His statement is corroborated by the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority’s executive director Shariff Ali Sharif, who said the authority is giving special consideration to the promotion of foreign and domestic investment in the islands.
According to Mr Shariff, they have put in place strategies to attract investors and members of the global diaspora, by focusing mainly on promoting high-tech and real estate projects, among others.
“The booming Zanzibar real estate development industry is primarily feeling the ripple effects of the flood of tourists in the exotic settings of the islands of Zanzibar. Buyers of the real estate development are eligible for 100 percent ownership and a resident permit under the new incentive package, therefore, numbers of foreign nationals own residences in Zanzibar, causing their relatives to frequently visit them here,” said Mr Shariff.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Re/Max- Dolson’s one-stop hub for real estate and interior design, James Provost said the majority of their buyers are European, who account for 54 percent of the total transactions, followed by 34 percent from Africa, six percent from the Middle East, four percent from Asia, and two percent from North America.
“The top five countries investing in Zanzibar are Tanzania (28 percent), Poland (11 percent), Germany, France, and Belgium. Over the years, it has been difficult to penetrate the United States market due to the travel distance, but since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of website visits and inquiries from the United States and Canada has increased by over 312 percent,” Provost said.
He added: “It’s also crucial to note that Zanzibar has been undervalued as a tourism destination to invest in, but as 2023 approaches, the global real estate market bubble is predicted to collapse, which would likely cause property values to drop by between 12 and 25 percent.”
According to him, the ‘unbalanced market’ will come to an end and a “buyer market” will kick in, primarily due to the rise in prime lending rates in western markets from 1 percent to 3.5 percent in 2022 and as high as 7 percent by mid-2023.
“The properties that will generate attention from investors will depend on which assets are priced at “fair market value.” His advice to sellers is to fairly price the property in order to draw in purchasers.
Lending credence to Mr Provost’s claim on real estate’s contribution to the growth of tourism is developer Richard Ashby, whose Emerald Villas construction in Paje, Zanzibar, kicked off this week.
According to Ashby, although the industry is still in its formative years, the early gains in the tourism sector are obvious for all to see.
“One of the questions that most tourists ask is whether they are allowed to own properties here, and that is where we, the developers, and real estate agents come into play,” he said.
Abdullah Mohammed Said Al Kharusi is a former Omani diplomat who fell in love with Zanzibar and who now owns a home in Bweju.
“The years I spent here as a diplomat informed my choice, and immediately after I retired, I decided to come back here, but that was because there were homes available for returning visitors like me, and from what I have seen on the ground, there are going to be many of these returnees,” said Mr Kharusi.
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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
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