From Mapinduzi to blue economy: Zanzibar’s Institute of Marine Sciences shapes the future

ZANZIBAR: AS Zanzibar commemorates 62 years since the 1964 Revolution, the sound of waves breaking along the Buyu coastline blends with a new rhythm, one of lectures, laboratory experiments and youthful ambition.

Here, overlooking the Indian Ocean, the University of Dar es Salaam’s Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) stands as a powerful symbol of how the ideals of Mapinduzi are being carried forward through education, science and innovation.

The expansion of IMS at Buyu, launched during the Mapinduzi anniversary celebrations, is more than an infrastructure project.

It quite clear that Zanzibar’s post-Revolution journey has entered a new phase, one where knowledge and the Blue Economy are central to national transformation.

Speaking during the launch, UDSM Vice-Chancellor Prof William Anangisye said the Institute’s growth reflects the long-term vision of the Revolution: empowering citizens through education and self-reliance.

“The Zanzibar Revolution was not an end in itself,” Prof Anangisye said.

“It was a foundation. Today, we are building on that foundation by investing in science, research and innovation that respond directly to our national needs and global challenges.”

Established in 1978, following the collapse of the East African Community, IMS inherited facilities of the former East African Marine Fisheries Research Organisation (EAMFRO) at Mizingani.

Initially, its mandate focused on postgraduate training, marine research and advisory services at a time when marine science was still a specialised and underdeveloped field in the region.

For decades, IMS scientists quietly shaped policies on fisheries management, marine biodiversity conservation and coastal environmental protection.

Yet, as Prof Anangisye noted, the Institute’s impact was constrained by limited space and infrastructure in Mizingani.

The decision to expand to Buyu, along Zanzibar’s coastline, marked a turning point.

“You cannot meaningfully study the ocean while being far removed from it,” he said.

“Buyu places our students and researchers at the centre of the ecosystems they are studying and serving.”

The Buyu campus came to life during the 2019/2020 academic year, when IMS admitted its first undergraduate cohort for the Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences, transforming the Institute from a postgraduate-only centre into a comprehensive training institution.

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Today, IMS is the only specialised marine sciences institute of its kind in East Africa, a fact highlighted by UDSM Chancellor Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete during the event to open the hostels, which is among the 62nd Mapinduzi celebrations.

“Zanzibar and Tanzania are maritime nations by geography and destiny,” Dr Kikwete said.

“The future of our economy, food security and environmental sustainability is inseparable from the ocean. IMS is preparing the experts who will safeguard that future.”

The newly completed facilities at Buyu include modern lecture halls, state-of-theart laboratories, administrative blocks and student hostels, dramatically expanding the Institute’s capacity.

Student enrolment is projected to rise from about 172 to more than 470 students annually. For students, the expansion represents opportunity and pride.

“I never imagined studying marine science in facilities like these, right next to the ocean,” said, a second-year undergraduate student.

“It makes you feel part of something important, not just for yourself, but for Zanzibar.”

Another student, Salum Mohamed Bakari, described the excitement on campus during the launch.

“There was music, flags, people celebrating Mapinduzi, but also a feeling that our future matters,” he said.

“This Institute shows that young people are part of the Revolution’s legacy.”

The progress of IMS aligns closely with Zanzibar’s and Tanzania’s development priorities, particularly the Blue Economy agenda, climate change adaptation and sustainable fisheries.

Researchers at IMS work closely with coastal communities, government institutions and international partners to ensure that scientific knowledge translates into real-world solutions.

Through partnerships with ministries, regional bodies and global institutions, IMS scientists contribute to national strategies on marine spatial planning, environmental conservation and climate resilience, areas critical to Zanzibar’s economy and livelihoods.

As Zanzibar reflects on 62 years since Mapinduzi, the expansion of the Institute of Marine Sciences demonstrates how revolutionary ideals can evolve with time.

From political liberation to knowledge-driven development, IMS stands as a living bridge between the Revolution’s past and Tanzania’s future, where classrooms and laboratories now carry the promise of transformation.