Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

His Highness the Aga Khan yesterday assured Zanzibar of continued support in undertaking development projects, including setting up a microfinance scheme that will provide loans amounting to more than Sh1 billion.

Speaking during the opening of the refurbished Forodhani Park, the Aga Khan said the initiative would offer about 1,000 loans to different segments of Zanzibaris.

Forodhani Park has been rehabilitated by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) at a cost of $3 million (Sh3.9 billion) from the initial estimates of $2.4 million (over Sh3 billion).

The facelift involved the restoration of walkways, landscape, infrastructure upgrading, incorporating lighting, sewerage drainage and civic amenities, and the rehabilitation of the seawall fronting the park.

He said that the trust was ready to undertake the second phase of the seafront project to give the area a new attractive look.

The Aga Khan said the success of the project was the outcome of great partnership when people, the public sector and international organisations come together to implement a common cause.

He was sure that the project would attract visitors and more enterprises, and improve lives of the people of Stone Town, where the park is located.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Amani Abeid Karume said that after the successful refurbishment of the park located in the famous Stone Town, a World Heritage Site, his government planned more projects. The aim, he added, would be to make the entire Zanzibar a World Heritage Site.

He also supported an idea by the Aga Khan to establish the Indian Ocean Marine Museum, saying the facility would be of more benefit to Zanzibar.

Work done by AKTC was also praised by the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Inventors (Zati). Its chairman, Mr Simai Mohammed, told The Citizen that the refurbished Forodhani Park would add value to the tourism products that Zanzibar offers to its visitors.

"It will enable Stone Town and Zanzibar to be more attractive and more competitive. There is no doubt that this project is very important as it will improve Zanzibar's tourism profile," he said.

The project also saw 57 traders trained in modern business skills. They were picked from among local businessmen, who used to trade at the old Forodhani.

The chairman of the Forodhani Traders Association, Mr Salum Mohammed, told The Citizen on the sidelines of the celebrations to launch the new park that the training they had received would improve their activities.

"Even our incomes will improve as, apart from the new attractive park, we are now armed with new business skills," he said.

The training of the businessmen, which is still going on, started in January.

Forodhani, one of the last open spaces in the Stone Town, a densely populated world heritage site, is regarded as one of the most popular places for outings. It is also one of the most attractive features in the Isles.

It was once a location for the main port and landing point for the sultans of Zanzibar, but the park has over the years remained a central meeting place for leisure and entertainment.

Over the last decade, the park had deteriorated due to over-use, prompting the restoration as part of a seafront upscaling in the Stone Town.

The agreement for the project was signed between President Karume and His Highness the Aga Khan.

Under the agreement, also proposed for an upgrade as part of the seafront up scaling, is an Indian Ocean maritime museum that will showcase culture, including displays of naval vessels, artifacts reflecting the historic, commercial and cultural contacts between Africa, Middle East and India.

The trust has also worked with the Government of Sweden and the Ford Foundation to conduct training workshops on conservation and traditional construction methods for architects.

The trust has been active in Zanzibar since 1989, and has successfully completed restoring 11 buildings in the Stone Town.

The AKTC is a part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) which over the last 20 years has championed efforts to integrate culture in the broader economic and social programmes.