ZANZIBAR yesterday inaugurated its first elevated road section at Mwanakwerekwe in Unguja city, as among activities to mark the 61st anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.

President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi described the construction of the flyover in the Isles as a lasting symbol, marking the first time that such a road section is built, indicating progress in its transformation.

Building the flyover started on December 1, 2022 and is slated for completion by mid-March next year, at an estimated total cost of $19m, where 2.7bn/- was allocated for compensating families displaced for enabling the project, now 80 percent complete, he said in his remarks.

The project is likely to uplift the image of the city, and put paid to those who have been denigrating these efforts, he stated, affirming that similar projects are underway.

The government is working to secure additional financial resources to continue developing Zanzibar from different angles, he said, noting that major projects leave a lasting mark in leadership.

This is a permanent symbol, he said, expressing satisfaction at being able to fulfil promises made to the people in the past electoral campaign, while praising the Infrastructure team in the relevant docket for its supervision efforts.

Roads and bridges are being constructed across the Zanzibar islands, he said, noting that implementing projects that were not even included in the 2020/2025 election manifesto. “Even greater things are on the way,” he declared.

Dr Khalid Mohamed, the Infrastructure, Communications and Transport minister, stated that the government is building 197.2kilometres of roads in Unguja and Pemba islands, taking the breadth of improved road network to 1,344-kilometre.

 The government plans to build bridges connecting Chwaka and Charawe villages as well as Uzi and the main island as the island villages can only use boats to leave and return to the islands, he said.

Progress isi being made with the construction of a 15-kilometre road on Tumbatu Island, as well as the development of a port there, occasioning huge pleasure on the part of residents, he said.

Makame Haji Machano, the deputy permanent secretary, noted that flyover construction is part of a 100.9-kilometre urban road project, which includes two flyovers in Mwanakwerekwe and Amani.

Expanding economic activity pushing up the number of vehicles and road traffic congestion prompted the government to build elevated roads to alleviate the situation, he said.

Completing the flyover will ease traffic congestion, reduce road accidents and improve the urban environment, he stated, while Idrisa Kitwana Mustafa, the Zanzibar Urban West regional commissioner hailed the president for the numerous new roads being built.

This has cemented popular trust in his leadership as part of the progress made in Zanzibar over the past four years, he added.