Mwinyi pledges affordable, reliable power supply
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Hussein Mwinyi has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring reliable and affordable electricity across the islands through major strategic energy projects, such as solar, wind and undersea cable expansion.
Launching the Zanzibar Electricity System Transformation and Access (ZESTA) project here, Dr Mwinyi said the initiative forms part of a broader plan to modernise the energy sector and meet the growing demands of households, businesses and investors.
He disclosed that the cost of household connections to the national grid will soon be cut by half from 200,000/- to 100,000/-, making electricity more accessible to ordinary Zanzibaris. The project is also expected to connect at least 70,000 new customers.
“This is a deliberate step to ensure every citizen enjoys reliable electricity at affordable cost. Even residents of small islets such as Kokota and Njau will benefit, with solar plants of 80 kilowatts and 50 kilowatts respectively, funded by the government of Norway,” he said.
The ZESTA project entails the construction of new 132KV transmission lines from Welezo to Makunduchi and Matemwe, modern substations and reinforcement of 11KV distribution lines in Bambi, Dole, Kilimahewa and Maruhubi.
The investments are aimed at ending persistent low-voltage problems and power shortages in Unguja and Pemba. Dr Mwinyi further announced that the government has signed agreements with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to finance new undersea cables capable of carrying 270 megawatts to Unguja via a 220KV line and 100 megawatts to Pemba through a 132KV line. Plans are also underway to generate renewable energy from solar and wind.
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“The energy sector faced major challenges when this government took office, with outdated infrastructure and rising demand overwhelming existing systems. Through this project and others, those challenges are being overcome. In just a few years, Zanzibar’s energy problems will be history,” he assured.
The president stressed that reliable electricity is critical for economic growth, noting that in the past, hoteliers and businesses were forced to rely on costly generators while many citizens could not run small-scale enterprises due to weak or unavailable power supply.
“This is a turning point for Zanzibar’s energy sector. With reliable power, we are not only improving lives but also accelerating investment and economic growth,” Dr Mwinyi declared.
He commended the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals and the project contractor, Novasis International, for delivering the project on time, urging them to safeguard the infrastructure and design more impactful projects.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Joseph Kilangi, said the project, worth 8.4 million US dollars, has already increased the transmission capacity from mainland Tanzania from 114KV to 132KV.
On his part, Zanzibar Electricity Company (ZECO) General Manager, Haji Mohammed Haji, described the upgrade as a strategic milestone that strengthens supply stability, reduces technical losses, supports investment and indirectly creates jobs.
The new system integrates modern technologies, including voltage regulators, capacitor banks and STATCOM, to curb fluctuations and ensure consistent, highquality power across Unguja and Pemba.
