Mwinyi pledges more access to decent housing

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has said providing citizens with decent, safe and affordable housing remains a government priority, as part of efforts to improve living standards across the Isles.

Dr Mwinyi made the remarks yesterday when he officially launched the sale of modern houses under the Saateni Housing Project at a ceremony held in the Urban West Region.

He said the project was part of the implementation of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 2025–2030 Election Manifesto and Zanzibar Development Vision 2050, which seek to improve people’s living standards and expand opportunities for homeownership.

“Housing is an important pillar of economic and social development, the government will continue creating a conducive environment to enable public servants, young people, workers, businesspeople and low- and middleincome earners to own homes through affordable arrangements,” he said.

Dr Mwinyi directed the Zanzibar Housing Corporation (ZHC) to introduce flexible payment arrangements and strengthen partnerships with financial institutions to make homeownership more accessible, stressing that decent housing should not be a privilege enjoyed by only a few.

He also urged the corporation to accelerate ongoing housing projects and initiate new ones, while calling on homebuyers to meet their payment obligations on time, so that the funds collected could support the implementation of other housing schemes.

“ZHC should to allocate 25 houses to families who surrendered their land for the Saateni project and provide a 50 per cent rent subsidy for the houses allocated to these families in recognition of their contribution to the implementation of the project,” he said.

Dr Mwinyi said the government would continue improving housing conditions in different parts of Zanzibar, including Michenzani and Kilimani, where ageing buildings pose safety risks to residents.

He also urged homeowners in Mkombozi living in unsafe houses to cooperate with the government in rehabilitation and improvement initiatives.

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He commended the Ministry of Lands and Housing Development and ZHC for their efforts in implementing housing projects, noting that the corporation had strengthened its financial and operational capacity.

For her part, Minister for Lands and Housing Development, Ms Rahma Kassim Ali, said the government was committed to ensuring that housing policies and pricing arrangements accommodated the needs of all citizens without excluding any group.

“The government’s objective is to promote decent housing for everyone, while appreciating the cooperation shown by residents, particularly in maintaining their houses and keeping their surroundings clean,” she said.

ZHC Director General, Mr Sultan Said Suleiman, said the corporation’s asset value had increased from 70bn/- to 1.12trn/-, while its budget had grown from 3bn/- in 2024 to 300.1bn/- this year, reflecting its expanding capacity and contribution to Zanzibar’s development.

He attributed the growth to visionary leadership, government support and cooperation among the corporation’s board, management, employees and other stakeholders under Dr Mwinyi’s leadership.

“The Saateni project comprises 209 modern houses with between one and four bedrooms, alongside commercial facilities, social amenities and parking spaces,” he said.

He added that the allocation of 25 houses to families who surrendered their land demonstrated the corporation’s commitment to ensuring that development projects also safeguard the interests of affected communities.

Mr Suleiman further said the corporation was strengthening customer services through partnerships with institutions, including the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) and the Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA), to facilitate access to services such as insurance, gas and modern communication facilities.

Speaking on behalf of Saateni residents, Ms Safia Zubeir commended the Eighth-Phase Revolutionary Government for providing modern houses that would enable families to enjoy safer and more comfortable living conditions.

She said the project had given Saateni a new outlook while preserving the area’s unique history and identity.

The project also contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements, including access to adequate, safe and affordable housing.