Mwinyi reaffirms commitment to heritage preservation

ZANZIBAR:PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi has marked the fourth anniversary of ‘Stone Town Day’ by reaffirming the government’s commitment to preserving the heritage site’s status.

The event, held at the iconic Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town on Monday, saw the President calling upon all residents and users of the area to actively contribute to the conservation efforts led by the government.

In his address, Dr Mwinyi announced that the government had allocated 9bn/- for extensive renovations of buildings which are in critical condition within Stone Town where residents are unable to afford repairs. He urged all stakeholders to support the vital efforts.

Furthermore, the President directed the Zanzibar Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority (STCDA) and other relevant institutions to promptly address issues related to damaged drainage infrastructure.

He highlighted that the presence of damaged infrastructures tarnishes the image and reputation of Stone Town, lowering its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Let us be committed to conserving our heritage site,” Dr Mwinyi emphasised at the climax of the ‘Stone Town Day (STD)’ which is celebrated on 2nd December annually. Dr Hussein initiated the Day in 2020 after becoming the Isles President.

The President also announced that the government is finalising a feasibility study for a project to place all electricity, communication cables, water pipes and other infrastructure underground in Stone Town.

He said the initiative is part of the World Bank’s BIG-Z project, which aims to restore the aesthetic appeal of the buildings while preparing for major improvements in road infrastructure and public spaces to enhance the site’s reputation, particularly for Zanzibar’s tourism sector.

Dr Mwinyi insisted that Stone Town cannot remain vibrant without significant repairs as he called for the collective effort of all stakeholders, including residents, public and private institutions, to contribute towards its maintenance, preservation and development.

Dr Mwinyi thanked the government of Oman for its generous support to Zanzibar in preserving Stone Town and other historical sites.

Moreover, the President commended INFINIX, Maxbit and the Tanzania National Commission for UNESCO for their substantial contributions to Zanzibar, through STCDA in conservation efforts.

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Dr Mwinyi praised the STCDA initiative to introduce and launch a digital system to improve its operations and services to visitors, including proper management of tourists’ entry.

He said: “This move is expected to boost government revenue and ensure accurate data about Stone Town.”

Earlier, the celebrations involved various activities, including the launch of a free painting project for all buildings in Stone Town, covering over 2,700 buildings that was initiated by INFINIX and launched by President Mwinyi.

The President also visited the historical royal tomb museum near the People’s Palace in Forodhani and made interactions with small tourism entrepreneurs and witnessed a special Makachu sports competition organised by Stone Town youths.

The Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mudriki Ramadhan Soraga, noted that the positive changes under the eighth phase government have significantly boosted Stone Town’s reputation internationally.

The Director General of STCDA, Engineer Ali Said Bakari, expressed gratitude to the Oman government for a 25million US dollar (about 66.2bn/-) donation towards the major restoration of the House-of-wonders (Beit el Ajaib).

The Beit el Ajaib building, which is of great historical and tourism significance to Zanzibar. partly collapsed in December 2020 and it’s now undergoing big repair. This year’s STD celebrations theme is “Dr Mwinyi: The Light of Stone Town.”

Speaking on behalf of the residents of the stone town, Mr Ahmed Saleh Mbarouk from the ‘Zanzibar Stone Town Community Stakeholders Forum (STCSF)’ organisation, appealed to the Zanzibar Government to continue with maintenance programme and remove car parking fees for residents, which they consider a big burden.

UNESCO’s representative in Tanzania, Michel Toto, commended the government for its continued efforts to protect, preserve and develop Stone Town, ensuring it remains a World Heritage Site.

The Executive Secretary of the Tanzania National Commission for UNESCO, Prof Hamisi Masanja Malebo, highlighted Stone Town’s uniqueness as a living historical town where residents conduct their economic, social and tourism activities making it unparalleled in the East African coastal region.