EU-Project Launch "Together for peace"

Details

European Union Delegation Nairobi Representative, Rashmi Thapa.

Registrar of NGO's, Ahmed Khalid Abdulla.

Deputy Attorney General, Shabban Ramadhan Abdallah.

KAS Country Director, Dr. Tilmann Feltes.

Lead Project Manager, Maria Kayombo.

ZAFELA Director, Jamila Mahmoud.

Project Cordinator, Almas Ali.

Group Photo of the EU-Project "Together For Peace" Team.

PRESS RELEASE

NEW EU PROJECT ‘TOGETHER FOR PEACE’ IN ZANZIBAR LAUNCHED TODAY

(April 11th, 2022)

The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has welcomed the new European Union’s Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace funded project named “Together For Peace in Zanzibar” in the frame of an official launch event on 11th of April, saying the project, among others, will help to rebuild confidence in dialogue between political parties and communities on Zanzibar.

Launching the project in Stone Town among circa 50 participants, the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Governance, Hon. Haroun Ali Suleiman of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar says the project comes at a right time whilst the government has initiated to build the Blue Economy strategy.

“I take this opportunity to commend both ZAFELA and KAS Tanzania for coming up with this unique project which brings together all key stakeholders,” he says.

According to the Minister, the new project complements the government’s efforts of ensuring that all citizens in Zanzibar live in peace, harmony and tranquility all the time regardless of their religious and tribal backgrounds.

“On behalf of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, I also take this opportunity to thank the EU and KAS for co-funding the project,” he says, adding that the government recognizes the support of development partners and civil society.

Representing the EU, Ms. Rashmi Thapa (Regional Crisis Response Planner for the EU’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments), emphasizes Zanzibar’s great potential with its young population and highlightes the important role of youth and women groups. They can serve as role models and mentors to other youth and women and bridging the gap between the citizens and its government.

The EU is actively engaging in promoting peace and stability in Zanzibar and next to that put together a comprehensive package of actions in further sectors (for example namely agriculture, energy, fisheries and Blue Economy, Environment/Climate change, urban development, civil society, gender equality and culture) throughout the whole country of Tanzania.

Earlier in his welcoming remarks, the Project Director (Dr. Tilmann Feltes, Resident Representative of KAS Tanzania), said the project can be a great chance

for political parties and communities to strengthen cooperation with each other in order to build a common ground for long-term peace in Zanzibar.

He thanks and appreciates the engagement of the EU in Zanzibar to foster peaceful socio-economic development in Zanzibar. He emphasizes that Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (KAS) as project implementing organization, together with its partner ZAFELA, will support the implementation of interesting activities in the next year in Zanzibar, in which different stakeholder groups shall be trained and brought together to reinforce dialogue.

The project coordinator, Mr. Almas Ali, brings some practical information on the project. He explains, the project will be implemented in both Pemba and Unguja for the next 12 months. The overall project budget is allocated with 577,302 EUR (approximate to TZS 1.5 Billion). The project will focus its activities on political parties (youth and women wings), religious leaders, civil society organization (CSOs) and councilors from both Pemba and Unguja.

The Assistant Project Director, Ms. Jamila Juma (Director ZAFELA) says the project, which will be implemented jointly with KAS Tanzania, is meaningful for Zanzibar and its people.

“We really appreciate the way the government has received this project. We believe that the successful implementation of this project will have a multiplier effect for all Zanzibaris,” she says. She emphasizes that the project stresses the need of using dialogue platforms as a requisite of conflict resolution and peace building.

Speaking at the same event, a representative of the German Embassy to Tanzania, Mr. Johannes Sperrfechter, says Germany, as a member of the European Union, fully supports this project, that will be implemented by the German political foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the Zanzibar Female Lawyer Association (ZAFELA). Also Germany recently revived its relations with Zanzibar and therefore this project comes at a right time.

“Building on the Peace Conference in January 2021, that Germany supported in collaboration with the Friends of Zanzibar, and the agreement on a Government of Unity in Zanzibar, Germany decided to renew its cooperation with Zanzibar to support the inclusive course of H.E. President Mwinyi,” he says, noting that in January 2022, Germany restarted its development cooperation with Zanzibar again, particularly in the areas of water and sanitation.

He says Germany hopes that the project “Together for peace” will help tackling such issues and contributes to resolving political conflicts on the islands and rebuilding trust amongst communities.

“Our long-term cooperation with Zanzibar in the social sectors depends very much on a peaceful and stable environment,” he says.