Zanzibar and the right to natural resources

Outcome

Due to our campaigning efforts, the plans were dropped and the development was never completed.

The Issue

Tourism Concern was alerted to a British-controlled company which was planning a £2.8 billion tourist enclave on the Nungwi peninsular of Zanzibar. The development was to be the biggest in East Africa, with luxury hotels, golf courses and an airport. However, the plan failed to take into consideration the 20,000 people living on the peninsula, most of whom were extremely poor. Local residents had not had a say in the development. They feared they would be forcibly evicted from their homes and lose access to fertile agricultural land and beaches vital to their livelihoods.

Our campaign

Tourism Concern worked to highlight the proposal in the media in the UK, Zanzibar and Tanzania. We put pressure on the company directors, asking for verification of the proposal, details of its environmental and social impact assessments and management plans.