Kizimkazi Festival to open children’s recreational centre

ZANZIBAR: A NEW recreational centre for children is due to open in Zanzibar as part of this year’s Kizimkazi Festival, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan expected to officiate the launch.

The centre will open on Wednesday during the festival in Kizimkazi, southern Unguja, which runs from 7 to 14 August.

Unguja South Regional Commissioner Hamida Mussa Khamis said the facility would be available for children to use after its official opening. She said the centre was intended to support children’s welfare by providing them with a place for recreation.

“We care about the welfare of children, so the centre will provide them with a place where they can play and take part in recreational activities. We expect President Samia Suluhu Hassan to officiate the opening of the recreational centre.”

The opening is among a series of activities planned for the festival, which brings together participants from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania and elsewhere.

On 11 August, the festival organising committee secretary, Hamid Khamis, said the programme will include finals of several sporting competitions, a dhow race and a friendly football match between supporters of Simba and Yanga.

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The match will be held at Kitogani Football Ground from 04:00 pm, with Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, expected to attend.

A visual arts exhibition will also be held at Kwanza Hotel, with President Samia expected to attend as guest of honour.

The official opening of the festival is scheduled for 12 August. Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi is expected to lead a half-marathon starting at Hasnuu Makame Secondary School and ending at Uwanja wa Maendeleo in Kizimkazi.

He is then expected to officially open the festival. Khamis said the festival was an opportunity to bring together people from Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania and other parts of the world. The festival will conclude on 14 August.