Samia urges project ownership

ZANZIBAR: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday urged citizens to take ownership of public water infrastructure, warning that government investments can only deliver lasting benefits if communities protect and maintain the projects for future generations.

These projects are major investments made for the benefit of the people. It is the responsibility of every resident to protect and maintain them so they can continue serving both present and future generations,” President Samia said while addressing residents in Kizimkazi, South Unguja Region.

The President made the call after commissioning a new water storage tank and inspecting development projects during activities marking the Kizimkazi Festival 2026.

She said sustainable development depended not only on government funding but also on active participation by citizens in protecting water sources, public infrastructure and the environment.

“Water is life. If we destroy the sources and fail to maintain the infrastructure, we will be harming ourselves and future generations,” she said.

President Samia also urged residents to plant trees and conserve the environment as part of efforts to reduce the effects of climate change and safeguard water resources.

During the visit, she planted a tree at Kizimkazi Hospital before touring the Pango water source in Machomwe area. She later laid the foundation stone and planted a tree at the Kizimkazi VETA Vocational Training College before commissioning the newly completed water tank.

The President said her government remained committed to ensuring that no community was left behind in development and that investments in water, health and education would continue to receive priority.

“We will continue investing in essential social services because improving people’s welfare remains one of our key priorities,” she said.

On healthcare, President Samia announced plans to establish a rehabilitation and orthopaedic centre in Kizimkazi to provide specialised treatment for people with physical disabilities, including children born with limb-related conditions.

“We intend to establish a rehabilitation and orthopaedic centre here in Kizimkazi so that people with disabilities can receive specialised services closer to their homes,” she said.

Zanzibar’s Deputy Minister for Water, Energy and Minerals, Seif Kombo Pandu, said technical assessments had established that the Kizimkazi water source had the capacity to produce 2.4 million litres of water.

He said a water tank with a storage capacity of one million litres had been completed and assured residents that there was sufficient water to meet the area’s needs.

“The government has invested heavily in this project, and residents should have confidence that the area has adequate water resources,” Mr Pandu said.

Mainland Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso said the government had made significant efforts to address water shortages in Kizimkazi and neighbouring villages.

“We will continue working closely with the Zanzibar Government to ensure every village has reliable access to clean and safe water,” Mr Aweso said.

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South Unguja Regional Commissioner Hamida Mussa Khamis said security had been strengthened during the Kizimkazi Festival to ensure the safety of residents and visitors attending the celebrations.

She added that regional authorities would continue protecting development projects implemented for the benefit of local communities.

Residents who attended the events welcomed the projects, saying they had brought relief and renewed hope for improved social services.

Mr Mohamed Mahmoud, a resident of Kizimkazi, thanked President Samia and the Zanzibar Government for supporting development initiatives in the area.

“These projects have changed our lives. We now have greater hope for better water services, healthcare and other social services,” he said.

He also urged fellow residents to work together to protect the new infrastructure and continue preserving the Kizimkazi Festival and the area’s cultural heritage.

During her visit, President Samia also handed over an ambulance to Kizimkazi Hospital and inspected the newly completed water tank before concluding her programme with a meeting with local residents and leaders.