Pemba Port to open more opportunities for tourism

PEMBA: MINISTER of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Engineer Hamad Yussuf Masauni, has said Pemba has vast tourism potential and that the construction of the Mkoani Port will open more opportunities across various sectors, particularly tourism.

Eng Masauni said the Mkoani Port is a vital lifeline for the people of Pemba, serving as a key gateway for trade, education, health services, tourism and social interaction between Pemba, Unguja and Mainland Tanzania.

He made the remarks on Saturday, while laying the foundation stone for the construction of a modern passenger terminal at the port.

The new terminal will have the capacity to serve more than 1,500 passengers and is expected to upgrade port services to international standards, as part of activities marking the 62nd anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.

He said statistics show that more than 90 per cent of passengers travelling to and from Pemba Island rely on maritime transport, underscoring the port’s importance to the island’s social and economic development.

“Maritime transport is not an alternative but a basic necessity in the daily lives of our people. That is why the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has prioritised investment in modern and safe passenger infrastructure,” Eng Masauni said.

He explained that construction of the terminal is being undertaken through an investment agreement between the Zanzibar Ports Corporation and Fumba Port investors, describing it as a good example of public-private partnership aimed at accelerating the development of strategic infrastructure.

“This partnership reduces the burden on the government, improves service quality and efficiency and stimulates the economy by creating employment opportunities for youth and the wider community,” he said.

Minister Masauni called on port service providers, marine transport operators and passengers to use the infrastructure responsibly and to safeguard it so that it serves both present and future generations.

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He also urged contractors and project supervisors to ensure the project is completed on time, meets the required quality standards and delivers value for money.

On his part, the Director General of the Zanzibar Ports Corporation, Mr Akif Ali Khamis, said completion of the project will significantly help address challenges related to reliable passenger transport between Pemba, Unguja and Mainland Tanzania.

Mkoani District Commissioner, Mr Miza Hassan Faki, said the port has contributed to an increase in the number of vessels docking in the area.

He noted that while the port previously handled about 60,000 passengers per month, it currently serves more than 100,000.

He added that the port has also boosted employment opportunities for residents of surrounding areas, particularly youth, and helped ease fuel supply challenges.

Previously, fuel storage capacity stood at 100,000 litres, but it has now increased to two million litres.