Zanzibar has secured a Sh115 billion (approximately USD 500 million) financing package from CRDB Bank and Bpifrance, France’s public investment bank, to implement a comprehensive land management system across the semi-autonomous region.
The grant, formalized in a signing ceremony attended by President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Bpifrance Vice President for Structured Export Finance Alienor Daugreilh, and CRDB Bank Managing Director Abdulmajid Nsekela, will support the digitization and modernization of Zanzibar’s land registry, enhancing transparency and efficiency in property administration.
“This initiative marks a historic step towards ensuring secure land tenure, reducing disputes, and facilitating investment in Zanzibar,” said President Mwinyi. “A modern land management system is central to sustainable economic growth and urban planning.”
The funding will support the following objectives:
1. Digitization of Land Records: Converting paper-based land records into a secure, searchable digital database to reduce fraud and administrative delays.
2. Streamlined Land Transactions: Creating an integrated system for property registration, transfers, and mortgage management to encourage investment.
3. Sustainable Urban and Rural Planning: Leveraging geospatial data to support infrastructure development, zoning, and environmental protection.
4. Capacity Building: Training government staff and stakeholders on modern land administration practices.
“The new system will strengthen governance, attract both domestic and foreign investment, and ensure that landowners’ rights are protected,” said Alienor Daugreilh, Bpifrance Vice President.
The project is a collaboration between public and private sectors, with CRDB Bank providing financial structuring expertise and Bpifrance offering technical and export financing support.
Officials say the initiative will also enable transparent tracking of land usage, a crucial step in curbing illegal allocations and improving revenue collection. It aligns with Zanzibar’s broader digitalization agenda, which aims to modernize public services and integrate technology into governance.
“This is more than just a financial package,” explained Abdulmajid Nsekela of CRDB Bank. “It is a long-term commitment to creating an efficient and investor-friendly land administration system that benefits all Zanzibaris.”
Experts highlight that the modern land management system will have far-reaching benefits:
• Boost to investment: Secure land titles encourage real estate development and commercial ventures.
• Reduced disputes: Digitized records will minimize property conflicts and legal cases.
• Improved revenue collection: Transparent land records enhance taxation and municipal planning.
Analysts also note that the initiative could serve as a model for other East African regions seeking to modernize land governance while promoting economic development.
Implementation is expected to begin in early 2026, with phased rollout across urban and rural districts. Authorities stress the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate landowners on the new system.
President Mwinyi emphasized the government’s commitment:
“We aim for a system that is efficient, transparent, and equitable. Our goal is to create a land administration framework that will serve Zanzibar for decades to come.”
