Support national development, diaspora told

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Hussein Mwinyi has called on Zanzibaris living abroad to return home and work with the government in advancing national development.

President Mwinyi made the appeal while officially opening the Jibril Mosque located at Fuoni Bwiti, in Unguja West ‘B’ District.

He said that the government is encouraged when stakeholders and donors step forward to support social services across various sectors, as this helps ease the burden on the government.

“Members of the diaspora, particularly skilled youths such as engineers, healthcare professionals and other social service experts, return and join the government in building the nation,” Dr Mwinyi urged.

Speaking about the newly inaugurated mosque, President Mwinyi encouraged Muslims to take good care of the facility and use it diligently for worship, fulfilling the noble intentions of the donors who funded its construction.

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He proposed the establishment of a special fund to pay those who maintain the mosque, as well as madrasa (Quran) teachers and imams (leaders).

President Mwinyi also said that many Quran schools (Madrasa) and mosques are in poor condition due to lack of proper maintenance, despite being built with significant donor contributions.

In addition, he emphasised the need for Muslims, benefactors and donors to direct more efforts toward strengthening madrasa institutions, many of which operate in substandard conditions. He also called for increased support to Imams and madrasa teachers.

President Mwinyi commended the organisations, Tears of Joy and Jibril Foundation, for their effective oversight, which enabled the successful construction of the mosque.

On the issue of peace, Dr Mwinyi urged Zanzibaris to conduct elections in a peaceful and secure manner to allow the country to continue advancing.

He said that many development achievements over the past five years have been made possible by the prevailing peace and stability, which must be preserved, as the government aims to undertake even greater initiatives in the next five years.