Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Zanzibar Second Vice-President (2VP), Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, has called on local and foreign investors to seize emerging economic opportunities linked to the construction of the AFCON football stadium in Fumba, Unguja Magharibi B District.
Hemed made the call after touring and inspecting the progress of the multi-billion-shilling project, accompanied by journalists from various media outlets.
The visit was aimed at assessing the implementation of the stadium, which is set to host matches during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027. He said the completion of the stadium is expected to unlock vast business opportunities, particularly in tourism, transport, hospitality and service industries, driven by the anticipated influx of visitors from across Africa and beyond.
“I urge Tanzanians and investors from outside the country to invest in this project. Once completed, the stadium will generate numerous business opportunities due to the arrival of visitors from different countries,” he said.
Hemed added that the Office of the Second Vice-President will continue conducting regular inspections to enhance accountability, ensure adherence to required construction standards and guarantee timely completion of the project.
He further noted that his office will maintain close cooperation with the media during inspections of government development projects, enabling journalists to provide the public with accurate and reliable information on actual progress on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Riziki Pembe Juma, said the journalists’ tour was intended to deepen their understanding of the project and strengthen their professional capacity to report accurately while highlighting government initiatives and achievements.
Pembe emphasised that the government is encouraging entrepreneurs and business owners to prepare early, noting that AFCON will open up vast commercial opportunities, especially in tourism and service sectors.
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“The government will ensure that citizens have opportunities to do business and showcase their products, particularly those linked to tourism,” she said.
She added that once completed and operational, the stadium will significantly benefit hotel operators, transport companies and logistics service providers, as increased visitor numbers are expected to stimulate economic activity.
On AFCON preparations, Pembe said the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government is working closely with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania to ensure the successful hosting of the tournament, building on the experience gained from CHAN 2024.
Earlier, Project Consultant Engineer Abdul Hamid Muhoma said construction of the stadium has reached 30 percent completion and is progressing steadily. He noted that the first phase, valued at 150 million US dollars, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
He explained that the completion of the first phase will make the stadium operational, as it includes the football pitch, swimming pool, parade ground, access roads and parking facilities capable of accommodating more than 2,000 vehicles at a time. Engineer Muhoma added that FIFA has already visited the site and expressed satisfaction with the progress, giving
