Zanzibar Faces Sea Transport Challenges Impacting Cargo Costs
Zanzibar is grappling with significant challenges in its sea transport system, primarily due to the absence of direct shipping routes. This has resulted in delayed cargo arrivals and rising product costs for local businesses.
Currently, many large vessels arriving in Zanzibar from international destinations first dock at Dar es Salaam or Mombasa. This routing forces additional delays and exacerbates shipping logistics on the island.
As a consequence, cargo unloading at Zanzibar’s port experiences substantial delays, further increasing operational costs for local enterprises.
At the recent 16th Annual General Meeting of the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), local entrepreneurs convened to discuss the implications of these transport issues on the cost of doing business on the island.
Karama Karama, a representative from the business community, emphasized the detrimental effects of limited direct sea transport for overseas goods, noting that excessive routing through Mombasa and Dar es Salaam extends delivery times significantly.
The underlying reason for the lack of direct shipping routes is the relatively low volume of cargo handled in Zanzibar. This has led shipowners to view operations in the region as less commercially viable.
Transport Minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa addressed the sea transport challenges, highlighting the upcoming meeting of the Federation of Customs and Freight Forwarding Agents in Africa and the Middle East (Fiata-RAME 2025), scheduled on the island from April 30 to May 1.
Mbarawa indicated that these transport challenges could also provide new investment opportunities. He pointed out significant disparities in cargo volumes between vessels, mentioning that while ships traveling from China to Dar es Salaam carry more than 10,000 containers, those destined for Zanzibar typically carry only about 100.
To tackle the rising transportation costs, Mbarawa stressed the necessity to increase the volume of cargo shipped directly to Zanzibar. He pointed out that fostering an environment conducive to investment in direct shipping routes could help reduce costs significantly.
Additionally, Dr. Khalid Salum Mohamed, the Minister of Works, Communications, and Transport, reported improvements in port operations over the past year, reducing ships’ average stay from 40 days to just eight days. However, demand spikes in anticipation of Ramadan have recently increased this average stay back to 18 days.
Omar Said Shaaban, Minister of Trade and Industry Development, warned that industrial growth in Zanzibar could stagnate unless the challenges in transport—especially sea transport—are adequately resolved. He called for immediate solutions to safeguard the interests of both the business community and the nation.
Zanzibar’s Second Vice President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, opened the meeting by recognizing the pivotal role played by the ZNCC in advocating for better business conditions. He reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborate with the private sector to enhance trade and investment prospects.
Abdulla also emphasized ongoing government efforts to reinforce regulatory frameworks governing the private sector, ensuring alignment with international standards. He urged ZNCC leaders to promote ethical business practices and encourage timely tax payments to generate revenue for infrastructure and social services.
In a related effort, the ZNCC’s Executive Director announced the chamber’s initiative to streamline the process for obtaining export certificates, addressing lengthy procedural setbacks.
Furthermore, a representative from TradeMark Africa highlighted their commitment to partnering with the government and private sector to improve business infrastructure and remove trade barriers, thereby empowering local enterprises to thrive and overcome operational challenges.
