ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has commended the Iyilik dernegi organisation from Turkey for its determination to make Zanzibar the main hub for preparing the implementation of all projects for East African countries.
When speaking to the organisation delegation yesterday at the Zanzibar State House under the auspices of its Acting Chairman Metin Calbay, Dr Mwinyi expressed gratitude.
Among other things, they described the work the institute does in several nations around Africa and the Middle East.
He said he was pleased with the organisation’s ambition and that the government will provide all kinds of cooperation to achieve that ambition.
Dr Mwinyi said that they have already received the institution’s request to be given land for the construction of a centre which will include school buildings from nursery to secondary school, an agricultural college as well as a technical college.
“We acknowledge that the government is responsible for carrying out this duty, but we thank you for the numerous aid you provided to the Zanzibari community and to Africa as a whole,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Calbay said that the institution has the desire to build a major centre in the country for the implementation of permanent projects in East African countries and therefore requested the government to look into the possibility of giving the land to achieve that.
He said that the institution has already helped the people of Zanzibar with 450 dairy goats as well as 1,550 goats for the people of mainland Tanzania, as a measure to empower them economically.
According to him, the institute with its headquarters in Turkey is engaged in providing aid in various countries in Africa, including distributing food during the holy month of Ramadan.
Mr Calbay added that the organisation aids in wells drilling and gives assistance to regions hit by natural disasters or war.
He said the institution has successfully built houses and schools for refugees in war-torn areas in Syria as well as provided three million dairy goats to 25 countries in Africa, as a measure to help families with poor lives.
Meanwhile, President Mwinyi thanked and received condolences after the death of his brother Hassan Ali Hassan Mwinyi, which occurred recently.
Dr Mwinyi also joined hundreds of citizens in the event of praying for the late Mwinyi, an event held at the Zanzibar Mosque, Mazizini Urban West.
The prayer was led by Sheikh Jaffar from Masjid Noor Muhammad and attended by various government leaders, including retired President of Tanzania Alhaj Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the Chief Mufti of Tanzania Sheikh Abubakar Zubeir, the Mufti of Zanzibar Sheikh Saleh Omar Kaab, various sheikhs, family members and citizens.
