Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR First Lady Mariam Mwinyi yesterday launched the weeklong Kizimkazi festival, imploring Zanzibaris to invest in education and protect children against sexual abuses.
The first lady asked CRDB Bank—the event’s main sponsor—to explore more opportunities in supporting Kimzimkazi residents, educationally. “My plea to CRDB is to see how best you can support education sector in this area,” Mrs Mwinyi said in her brief launching speech at Kizimkazi Secondary School.
She told parents to “increase efforts in educating, providing decent upbringing and protecting our children against sexual abuses.”
The first lady further invited the islanders to visit the entrepreneur exhibitions to learn and buy products in support of the economic initiatives by Zanzibaris, while challenging entrepreneurs, who are undergoing training to learn effectively and put into practice the acquired knowledge.
“We have to appropriately use this training to benefit ourselves and the country as well,” she told the trainees. Entrepreneurial training is among the activities that beatify the six-day festivals whose climax President Samia Suluhu Hassan is scheduled to officiate on Saturday.
CRDB Bank’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations Tully Mwambapa said the financial institution is determined to promote effective participation of all islanders in the blue economy, adding that through the training over 300 entrepreneurs will be equipped with financial literacy and investment guts.
“Increased financial literacy will encourage more Tanzanians to join the formal financial system and boost financial inclusion in Zanzibar,” the director said, adding: “The target is to transform Kizimkazi, economically.”
The commercial bank has already agreed to provide credit facilities to finance a modern market and bus stand construction in the tourist hub, Ms Mwambapa said, describing Kizimkazi as a highly endowed suburb with massive riches in tourism attractions like beaches, dolphins, luxurious hotels, culture and history.
Unguja South Regional Commissioner (RC) Rashid Hadid Rashid said through the festival, many social and economic challenges that inflict wananchi will be addressed.
He said Kizimkazi is endowed with substantial economic opportunities, which yearn for exploration, citing farming, tourism services, fishing and trade as key economic activities in the area.
The RC invited all Zanzibaris to participate to the festivities, especially on August 27 and August 28, 2021 when visitors will have an opportunity to receive vaccination against COVID-19 at Kizimkazi Dimbani, the festival hosting grounds.
Kizimkazi festival started as a farewell ceremony for President Samia in August 2015 after completing her tenure as Makunduchi Member of Parliament and getting appointment as CCM presidential running mate under the late John Magufuli.
The festivities were in 2016 transformed into Samia Day under a special Samia Day committee, which was coordinating the celebrations at Kizimkazi Mkunguni up to 2018, when the name was changed to Kizimkazi Day, incorporating residents from Kizimkazi Dimbani.
Since then the festival has been growing, incorporating more Shehias—Mtende, Kibuteni and Muyuni.
