Tanzania Kicks Off $300M Mangapwani Integrated Port Project in Zanzibar
On 22 March 2026, the President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, laid the foundation for the construction of the Mangapwani Integrated Port Project (#MIPP) in the North Unguja Region of Zanzibar Island. Several ministers and other personalities were in attendance to show their support for the flagship project under the Blue Economy strategy of Tanzania.
In his speech, President Mwinyi underscored that although Zanzibar enjoyed sustained growth of over 7% over the past few years, structural bottlenecks, such as the seaport, limited the development of its full potential. Firstly, President Mwinyi pointed out to the outdated and congested port of Malindi with a single berth, built in 1920. Secondly, he also noted that Zanzibar’s reliance on electricity from Mainland Tanzania is no longer sufficient to meet rising demand. Thirdly, the inadequate fuel storage capacity is driving up costs. Therefore, the Mangapwani Integrated Port Project is a brave and deliberate decision to address the above-mentioned issues.
The Tanzanian Minister of Works and Transport, Khalid Salum, highlighted that the MIPP is a game-changer for Zanzibar, Tanzania, and even the region. It shall play a part in reinforcing Tanzania as a key gateway to the East African Community (EAC) and will motivate further improvement in connectivity infrastructure. The Mangapwani Port will complement the ports of Dar es Salaam, where India’s Adani Group has a 30-year concession, and Bagamoyo, where global shipping line major MSC has replaced China as the lead.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Ali Bakari, revealed that the total cost of the #MIPP is estimated at USD 300 million. It includes upgrading the berth to a length of 680 meters with a depth of 20 meters in order to simultaneously accommodate two large ships, each with 15,000 TEU. Two additional smaller berths, measuring about 200 meters each, with a depth of 15 meters, are also part of the project.
The Zanzibar Ports Corporation (ZPC) Managing Director, Akif Ali, explained that the Mangapwani container terminal will serve both domestic and transshipment cargo. A container yard of 18 hectares is part of the first phase.
In addition, the Project involves a 200-megawatt power plant to ensure a stable supply of electricity. A new fuel storage facility with a capacity of 60 million liters is planned to meet the domestic demand of Zanzibar for three months.
Engineering firm Dar Al Handasah drafted the master plan. SMEC undertook all the requisite studies, including feasibility, socio-economic, geotechnical, oceanic and environmental investigations. Site acquisition and preliminary has already started well upstream to get to where we are today.
The Project is structured as a Public-Private Partnership and applies a blended financing model. AfDB and Africa50 are the institutional financiers. Discussions are ongoing with the Oman Investment Authority and the Abu Dhabi Ports.
Several international civil contractors are jockeying for a piece of the action, which will be awarded after an international bid exercise. Other than China Harbor Engineering, Turkish firm Orgun and other companies have expressed an interest. CHEC Chair BAI Yi8nzhan reiterated the commitment of his company to complete the first phase of the project by September 2028.