DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- A China-assisted safe water supply project in Tanzania's Zanzibar has been officially inaugurated, marking a significant boost to community health and grassroots development.
Launched in August 2025, the project, the first of its kind on Zanzibar's Unguja Island, was implemented by China's Jiangsu Province. Wang Wei, leader of the China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis prevention and control expert team, said that China and Zanzibar worked closely to select three pilot communities on the Island.
The initiative involved laying pipelines, building collection points, upgrading storage facilities, and installing disinfection systems. Wang noted that the project now provides safe and reliable water to roughly 18,000 people, relieving long-standing shortages and improving conditions for households, schools, and health facilities.
Zhou Minghao, deputy director of the Health Commission of Jiangsu Province, highlighted that access to clean water reduces exposure to contaminated sources, lowering the risks of schistosomiasis, cholera, and other waterborne diseases.
Chinese Consul General in Zanzibar Li Qianghua described the project as a "life-protecting initiative," emphasizing its role in reducing childhood illnesses and enhancing overall community well-being.
Zanzibar's Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Hamad Omar Bakari commended the project's high standards and rapid progress, saying the new facilities end years of long walks to fetch water, particularly easing burdens on women and children.
A single purchase
