The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Hon. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has said that the Kizimkazi Festival has continued to be an important platform for promoting culture, tourism, trade and investment opportunities in Zanzibar, while encouraging citizens to participate in development activities.
President Dr. Mwinyi said this, on August 12, 2026, when he officially launched the Kizimkazi Festival 2026, South Unguja Region, with the theme “KIZIMKAZI Kumenoga!”
President Dr. Mwinyi has congratulated the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, for the vision of establishing the Kizimkazi Festival, which has continued to promote and preserve traditions and culture as well as stimulate the development of the people of Kizimkazi and the South Unguja Region in general.
President Dr. Mwinyi commended the creativity that continues to be added to the Festival through various activities, including canoe competitions, art exhibitions, sports, local foods, music, trade fairs and the launch of development projects. He said that these activities contribute to respecting culture, introducing it to future generations and increasing the attractiveness of the Festival.
He said that the Festival has become a platform to promote economic and social development through trade fairs, development projects and various conferences, including those related to the use of clean energy and opportunities available in the Blue Economy.
President Dr. Mwinyi said the Kizimkazi Festival supports the Government’s commitment to increase the number of tourists visiting Zanzibar from 800,000 to 1.5 million, by adding special tourism events and continuing to promote natural attractions, historical heritage, culture, cuisine and hospitality of Zanzibari people.
Speaking about the opportunities of the Southern Unguja Region, President Dr. Mwinyi urged the regional and district leadership to continue to use the Festival to promote investment opportunities in land and sea, so that these resources can increase productivity and benefit the people.
He said the Government has committed to developing the fishing sector by strengthening infrastructure, including the construction of modern fishing nets, better markets and fishing ports, in parallel with promoting deep-sea fishing using modern tools and equipment to increase production and income of fishermen.
President Dr. Mwinyi said there is still a great opportunity to increase the production of seaweed species needed in world markets as well as increasing the value of the crop, so that farmers can benefit more.
President Dr. Mwinyi also commended the contribution of the Private Sector in the development of the Southern Unguja Region, especially investment in tourist hotels, which has contributed to increasing employment, government revenue and economic opportunities for the people. He assured the Private Sector that the Government will continue to create a favorable investment environment, especially in the tourism, industrial and Blue Economy sectors.
Before the launch, President Dr. Mwinyi, accompanied by his wife Hon. Mama Mariam Mwinyi, various leaders of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Chama Cha Mapinduzi have participated in a walk from Kibuteni to Kizimkazi along with physical exercises.
Later, President Dr. Mwinyi inspected various exhibition pavilions involving Government institutions, the Private Sector, traders and entrepreneurs, and saw for himself the products, services and various activities carried out by these stakeholders.
Dr. Mwinyi commended the Organizing Committee, sponsors, Government institutions, the Private Sector, entrepreneurs, artists, sportsmen and citizens of the Southern Unguja Region for their participation in making the Kizimkazi Festival 2026 a success, and encouraged them to continue using the Festival to open up new development opportunities for the citizens.
In the continuation of the Kizimkazi Festival events, President Dr. Mwinyi is expected to inaugurate the new Amani Residency residential project and participate in the Kizimkazi Night Event on August 13, 2026, in the Southern Unguja Region. He is also expected to participate in the climax of the Festival on August 14, 2026, which will be held at the Mwehe Stadium, Kizimkazi.
