Zanzibar to build modern passenger port at Mpigaduri
President Hussein Mwinyi witnesses the signing of the construction of the Mpigaduri passenger port between the founder of the ZF Devco company, Matthew VanderBirgh (left) and the PS of the Ministry of Construction, Communication and Transport, Khadija Khamis Rajab at the State House, Zanzibar.
Unguja. The challenge of passenger congestion at the Malindi Port in Zanzibar is expected to be resolved after the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar signed a contract for the construction of the Mpigaduri Port with the Zanzibar Ferry Development (ZF Devco) Company.
The agreement was signed on January 9, 2024 at the Zanzibar State House, witnessed by Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi, with construction of the port set to take a period of 36 months.
The port, which will be built in two phases, will cost $250 million, equivalent to Sh627 billion, for the first phase, and will have the capacity to serve 8,000 passengers per day and three million passengers per year. The second phase of the project will cost $150 million, equivalent to Sh377.2 billion.
The port will feature modern amenities such as passenger boats, water taxis, seaplanes, and a boat mooring area. This is a significant upgrade from the Malindi Port, which is congested and has limited capacity.
President Mwinyi said that the Mpigaduri Port is a major investment that will boost the economy of Zanzibar and improve transportation for the people of the island.
“The situation at the Malindi Port is not good,” said President Mwinyi. “There is a lot of congestion and even security is a concern. That’s why the government has made the decision to build a new, modern port.”
He added that the port will also create new business opportunities and attract more tourists to Zanzibar.
“This is a great opportunity for businesses,” said President Mwinyi. “We are confident that the Mpigaduri Port will change the landscape of Zanzibar and establish modern public transportation.”
The construction of the Mpigaduri Port is a partnership between the Zanzibar government and the private sector. President Mwinyi praised this collaboration and said that it is a model for future development projects in Zanzibar.
“This project shows the commitment of the Zanzibar government to working with the private sector,” said President Mwinyi. “We believe that this partnership is the key to unlocking the economic potential of Zanzibar.”
