At the end of February, some residents from the Fumba area who engage in various economic activities on Kwale Island gathered to express their concerns after receiving confirmation that the island had been handed over to an investor.
Kwale Island, located in Fumba, in Mjini Magharibi region, Zanzibar, is one of the island’s unique tourist attractions. It is known for its natural beauty, white sandy beaches, and clear waters that attract visitors from around the world.
Kwale is a key destination for marine tourism, including activities such as snorkeling, swimming, boat tours, and eco-tourism. The area is also famous for traditional fishing, which is a major source of livelihood for residents of Fumba and even people from other areas.
In 2024, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar announced a plan to lease the island to an investor for development purposes. This decision sparked intense public debate among local residents.
Kwale is among 10 islands that the Zanzibar Government had allocated for investment in 2021 and manage to receive investment bid of USD 68 million from Group Eight Limited. Other islands which investors were approved includes Changuu island which went to Changuu Lodge Limited who pledge to invest USD 20 million. Bawe Island which went to Bawe Retreat Limited with a pledge of not less than US 20 million investment. The island inaugurated a 400 rooms hotel, dubbed Bawe Island Cocoon Collection in Janaury 2025, with estimated investment of USD 42 million.
Other islands have also been allocated to various investors. Chapwani Island was awarded to Zan Texas Limited, a local company, with an estimated investment of no less than USD 20 million. The same company also secured Snake Island, with an expected investment of no less than USD 10 million.Misali Island was allocated to East African Investment Limited, which has pledged an estimated investment of USD 83 million.Pamunda A and Pamunda B were both awarded to Tulia Zanzibar Beach Resort, with each island carrying an estimated investment of USD 15 million. Pungume Island went to Emperial East African Limited, which plans to invest approximately USD 10.5 million.
In February 2022, Zanzibar government issued a call for investment in nine more islands including : Yombe, Kwata, Matumbini A, Miwi , Sume, Fundo, Kashari, Njau and Popo.
Kwale residents have voiced concerns over the anticipated investment plan, fearing the loss of their income sources, especially fishing, which is their main livelihood. Salma Aziz, a woman who sells food to fishermen and tour guides on the island, said the government’s move to hand over the island could mean the loss of her business opportunity.
“I’m a widow, and there are many other widows here. I have eight children. If the investor takes over, where will we go?” said Salma, visibly worried about being displaced from a place where she has earned her income for over 15 years. Hadia Omar, one of the women involved in the fish trading business on Kwale Island, shared that it’s not just her who will be affected, but also her children who work in the tourism sector.
“Our children work there, that’s how they make a living. If the island is given for investment, that livelihood will disappear. The President should consider this matter seriously so that we can keep the island and our children can continue working there,” said Hadia.
Kwale Island brings together a variety of entrepreneurs, including fishermen, tour guides, and small boat captains.
Mkadam Mohammed Mkandam, a fisherman who owns a fishing boat and works on the island, said continuing to work there after the investor starts operations would be nothing but a dream.
“We’ve already heard that Kwale Island will soon be handed to an investor or maybe it already has. Only the starting date is left,” said Mkadam, adding, “An investor won’t allow us poor people to continue working in a place he paid money for. That won’t happen.”
Abdullatif Thani, who has been working in the transport sector for 12 years, questioned whether locals will have the chance to continue their tourism activities, urging the government to consider the consequences of denying locals access.
“If the island is taken away, what will happen to all of us? What will we do? I don’t expect people will be allowed to fish once the island is taken over. This has happened in many other places. So, the first thing is that fishing jobs there will disappear,” Thani concluded.
According to tourism sector research, Kwale Island contributes significantly to Zanzibar’s tourism. Its attractions include a sandbank in the middle of the sea, a fallen baobab tree that has regrown, and various fish species found in the surrounding reef.
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It is estimated that over 500 tourists visit the island daily during peak season, while around 300 come during the off-season. Each visitor pays around USD 3. The number of boats registered with the government is over 60, and each pays an annual tax of 100,000 Tanzanian shillings.
Responding to the complaints and concerns recently, the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Labor, Economy, and Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff, confirmed that the government has already handed over the island to an investor and that citizens need to accept this change.
“The government came up with this idea. We have already given the island to an investor. So, what the citizens need to do now is accept that the area is now for investment purposes, and we’ve already allocated it,” said Shariff.
He added that locals would not be excluded and that there would be discussions between the investor and the community, with government guidance already provided.
“It’s not that they will miss out. We’ve already brought the investor to the table to talk with the residents so they can also benefit from the investment. But the important thing is that the government’s stance is that the island will be developed,” Shariff concluded.
Zanzibar government see the islands as an opportunity to expand its tax base and also attract more tourists when they are fully developed. On January 7, 2025, the Zanzibar government issued a three-month ultimatum to investors who had failed to develop the islands allocated to them since 2022.
The directive warned that if development had not commenced within the given timeframe, the government would reclaim the islands. On March 20, 2025, the Zanzibar Minister of Investment reiterated the warning, emphasizing that any undeveloped islands as of April 7, 2025, would be returned to government custody.
