What You Need to Know
Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi has sworn in a new group of District Commissioners, emphasizing the need for results and integrity in their service. The ceremony, attended by senior officials, saw various appointees pledge to address local challenges, including land disputes and urban planning, while focusing on development goals.
Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has sworn in a new batch of District Commissioners, tasking them to deliver results and serve the people with integrity and accountability.
The swearing-in ceremony, held at State House in Stone Town on Monday, was attended by senior government officials, including Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, alongside representatives from political parties and security organs.
Those sworn in include Dr Said Haji Mrisho as District Commissioner for Mjini (Urban) Unguja, Ms Lailah Burhan Ngozi for Magharibi ‘A’ Unguja and Mr Ali Abdalla Said Natepe for Magharibi ‘B’ Unguja.
Others are Ms Riziki Daniel Yussuf, appointed District Commissioner for North Un – guja and Ms Zuhura Mgeni Othman for Chake Chake District in Pemba.
Speaking shortly after taking the oath, the leaders expressed gratitude to President Mwinyi for the trust bestowed upon them, describing their appointments as both an honour and a responsibility to serve the people of Zanzibar diligently.
Ms Lailah Burhan Ngozi pledged to execute her duties in line with the law and gov – ernment directives, stressing the importance of teamwork with civil servants to realise development goals in her district.
“As a member of the CCM Central Committee, I understand the party manifesto and government priorities. I am ready to implement them effectively,” she said.
On land disputes, she acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge and vowed to handle cases fairly by listening to all parties involved.
Dr Said Haji Mrisho, the new Urban District Commissioner, committed to upholding his oath by building on the achievements of his predecessors while addressing unresolved issues.
He identified security, urban planning and sanitation as key priorities.
“We will strengthen oversight of the Municipal Coun – cil and improve revenue col – lection, which is essential for maintaining cleanliness because cleanliness requires resources,” he said.
Dr Mrisho added that authorities would explore part – nerships with capable private companies to improve waste management, noting that a clean city is critical to Zanzibar’s tourism sector.
For Pemba, Ms Zuhura Mgeni Othman pledged close collaboration with communities and local leaders to sustain development in Chake Chake District.
She noted that ongoing infrastructure projects, including airport expansion and road construction, would boost tourism and economic growth in Pemba, in line with President Mwinyi’s vision of opening up the island economically.
Meanwhile, Mr Ali Abdalla Said Natepe described Magharibi ‘B’ as a fast-grow – ing urban district facing multiple challenges, particularly land disputes.
He pledged to work closely with the Ministry of Lands to ensure proper land use and dispute resolution.
He also emphasised the need to enforce municipal sanitation responsibilities to keep the district clean and liveable.
In a related development, President Mwinyi appointed Mr Juma Hassan Juma Reli as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the People’s Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) and Mr Ali Aboud Mzee as Chairman of the Zanzibar Ports Corporation.
Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, has a unique political landscape shaped by its history of sultans and colonial rule. The current governance structure involves a president and a revolutionary council, reflecting a blend of traditional and modern political practices. The appointment of District Commissioners is crucial for local governance, as they play a key role in implementing government policies and addressing community needs, particularly in areas like urban planning and economic development.
