Minister wants history of Isle’s Prison Island preserved at museum

Prison Island is among the ten islands in Zanzibar that have been given to investors.

Speaking at the launch of a museum in the island yesterday, the minister said that the island carries Zanzibar history which has to be known to tourists visiting the isles.

He said that the presence of the museum would help visitors to know the history of Prison Island where its structures included a prison that was mainly for long-term prisoners during slavery.

Said urged the investor to make sure the preserved history is narrated in different languages because the island attracts tourists from various countries around the world.

He said the government decided to give the islands to investors to increase productivity and revenues from the tourism sector.

“The investor on this island will construct 50 hotel rooms and provide jobs to 300 people. Zanzibar residents are also expected to benefit from the various activities including business,” he said, calling upon the investor to ensure environmental protection.

Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), Shariff Ali Shariff said the investor has been tasked to preserve the island as well as its history.

He said the island is important for the growth of the economy, calling upon other institutions to collaborate with the investor in developing the various areas within the island.

“Most of us are familiar with beach tourism; the sector has grown and we now encourage the use of museums as tourist attractions,” he added, calling upon potential investors to grab the available opportunities.

Davide Azzola who has invested at the island said they decided to establish the museum at the Prison Island to make sure tourists get the right information.