Zanzibar launches renewed Forodhani Gardens facelift

ZANZIBAR: FORODHANI Gardens, one of Zanzibar’s busiest tourist attractions, has begun a major cleanup and restoration drive, with damaged areas being repaired, dead trees replaced and food safety inspections strengthened as the Zanzibar City Council moves to restore the landmark’s appeal.

Mayor Kamal Abdulsatar Haji, who led the cleanup exercise, said the initiative followed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s September 2 call for regional commissioners, municipal authorities and city councils to step up efforts to keep urban areas clean.

“The intention behind taking over the management of these gardens is to restore their beauty, considering that this is an important area visited by people from different parts of the world. We want to restore it to its original condition, he said.

The exercise was carried out in partnership with Otesha, Tanzania’s national environmental and tree management system, and marked the second cleanup since the Zanzibar City Council assumed responsibility for managing the gardens.

Mayor Kamal said the city had already begun seeing visible improvements in the gardens’ appearance and surroundings within a short period of taking over their management.

He said the council was also strengthening cooperation with food vendors operating at Forodhani and ensuring food sold at the site is inspected to meet public health and safety standards.

The measures, he said, are intended to provide residents and tourists with food services in a cleaner and safer environment while preserving the gardens as a welcoming public space.

Otesha Head of Sales and Public Relations, Mr Joseph Singano, said the company was proud to partner with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar through the city council to improve one of the islands’ most recognisable landmarks.

He said the work includes repairing damaged sections of the gardens, replacing trees that had died, improving the landscape and repainting benches to create a more pleasant environment for visitors.

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“Our main objective is to improve the appearance of the gardens, restore damaged areas, replace trees that have died and repaint seating areas that had deteriorated in order to restore the gardens’ beauty,” he said.

Mr Singano said Forodhani Gardens play an important role in shaping visitors’ impressions of Zanzibar, making environmental improvements at the site a worthwhile investment.

He called on businesses and other stakeholders to join the government’s efforts to expand green spaces across Zanzibar.

“I appeal to other stakeholders to support these efforts. Our main goal is to make Zanzibar greener,” he said.

He added that Zanzibar’s identity should be reflected not only in its beaches and ocean scenery but also in its well-maintained parks and green public spaces.