What You Need to Know
Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi has inaugurated the Mangapwani Integrated Port project, aimed at enhancing the Isles’ economic growth by improving trade and investment opportunities. The port will address existing infrastructure challenges and is expected to handle over 200,000 containers annually, significantly boosting Zanzibar’s logistics capabilities.
Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi has said that the construction of the Mangapwani Integrated Port will significantly accelerate the Isles’ economic growth by unlocking new trade and investment opportunities.
Dr Mwinyi made the remarks yesterday, during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the strategic port project in North Unguja Region.
He noted that the project will address long-standing bottle necks that have constrained Zanzibar’s economic development, including the aging and overstretched Malindi Port, which struggles to handle cargo efficiently, resulting in prolonged vessel waiting times.
The president also cited inadequate electricity supply and limited fuel storage capacity, factors that have contributed to high energy costs and hindered industrial and commercial growth.
“The Mangapwani Integrated Port will position Zanzibar as a key logistics and transport hub for East and Central Africa,” Dr Mwinyi said.
The project is designed to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with a capacity of up to 15,000 containers at once and more than 200,000 containers annually.
It will include modern fuel storage facilities with a capacity exceeding six million litres, expected to stabilise supply and reduce fuel costs.
Additionally, the project will incorporate a 200-megawatt power generation plant, significantly boosting energy availability across the Isles.
Dr Mwinyi stressed that these developments will play a critical role in driving Zanzibar’s economic transformation.
He also commended North Unguja residents for their cooperation and assured that those affected by land acquisition will receive fair compensation.
Earlier, Chairman of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, Bai Yinzhan pledged that the company is committed to delivering the project on time and in line with international standards, while praising President Mwinyi for his efforts to strengthen Zanzibar’s economic infrastructure.
Zanzibar Minister for Works and Transport, Dr Khalid Salum Muhammed, described the project as a game changer that will create substantial employment opportunities for residents of North Unguja and Zanzibar at large.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engineer Ali Said Bakari, provided a technical overview, noting that the project is estimated to cost 300 million US dollars (about 778.6bn/-) and is expected to be completed by 2028. Once operational, the port will have the capacity to handle more than one million tonnes of cargo annually.
The ceremony also marked the allocation of construction blocks for a strategic oil and gas storage facility, to be implemented jointly by One Petroleum and the Zanzibar Ports Corporation, alongside new fuel depot developments for Puma, Gapco and Zanzibar Petroleum (ZP), which will relocate and establish modern storage facilities at Mangapwani.
Earlier on the same day, President Mwinyi expressed satisfaction with the progress of preparatory works during a meeting at the State House with Bai Yinzhan and his delegation.
He said the current pace of implementation indicates strong prospects of tangible progress by September this year, when the first phase of the project is expected to be completed.
Bai reaffirmed the contractor’s commitment to maintaining momentum while adhering to quality standards and praised the strong cooperation extended by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar has historically faced economic challenges due to limited infrastructure and outdated facilities, particularly at the Malindi Port. The Mangapwani Integrated Port project is a strategic initiative aimed at modernizing the Isles’ port capabilities, which is crucial for facilitating trade in East and Central Africa. This development is part of broader efforts to enhance Zanzibar’s economic landscape and attract foreign investment, ultimately aiming to transform the region into a logistics hub.
