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

Zanzibar government has contravened laid down procedures in leasing out two of its Forodhani Beach buildings and a garden to a hotel group for 99 years, it has been confirmed.

Government sources told The Guardian the hotel group, Kempinski signed an agreement with the Isles government in October last year and paid $1.5m, equivalent to 2.1bn/-, an amount said to be a throw-away price for the prime area.

Efforts to speak to the hotel management proved futile. However, sources said the hotel is planning to construct a five star hotel at the site.

The oldest and first Jamatkhana in Africa -opened on 16th August 1905 by
Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah( AS)

2008, January 18: Zanzibar - The Aga Khan Trust for Culture will spend 2.6b/- for the rehabilitation of Forodhani park in Zanzibar's historical Stone Town. Prince Amyn Aga Khan said at the occasion that restoration of Forodhani park was part of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)'s long-term objective to revitalise the historical seafront of Stone Town. He said the rehabilitation was a major contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of the island, and that it should lead to its self-sustainability.

2009, July 24: The restoration of Forodhani Park in Zanzibar's historic stone town has been completed, thanks to a $2.4 million (over Sh3 billion) funding by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).The popular outing place, one of the attractive features in the Isles will be inaugurated later this month. The restoration project has transformed the historic park - one of the last open spaces in the densely populated world heritage site - and upgraded its social and recreational amenities.

Heritage photo: 2009, July 30: Zanzibar, Tanzania - H.H. The Aga Khan and President Amani Karume opened the Forodhani Park. - The US$ 2.4 million restoration of Forodhani Park in Zanzibar's Historic Stone Town has been completed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). [News] [Photo Galery]

Zanzibar - venue for eleventh international Seminar
Rapid demographic growth and deteriorating economic conditions in rural areas are adding millions more people every year to the already overcrowded cities of the Third World.

A number of new approaches to the chronic shortage of housing that results were formulated at the international Seminar on the Architecture of Housing' that ended in Zanzibar, Tanzania on October 16, 1988.

Since July 1989, AFK's education programme has been concerned with the integration of Zanzibar primary school children into secondary schools in which English is the medium of instruction. Although some English is taught in primary school, AFK became aware that the children's English was not at a sufficent level to carry out all their school work in English.

After his visit to Zanzibar in October 1988 to attend a seminar organized by the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Mawlana Hazar Imam returned to Zanzibar on December 6, 1988 to sign a Protocol of Co-operation for Development with the Government of Zanzibar. Chief Minister Hon. Omar Ali Juma received Mawlana Hazar Imam at the airport on December 6 and hosted a grand dinner at Hotel Bwawani the next day in honour of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Consideration of the marine and maritime dimensions of Zanzibar's history and culture, broader tourism opportunities and major education projects were among the expanded development initiatives agreed by His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims during a three-day visit to Tanzania.

Your Excellency President Mkapa
Your Excellency President Amour
Your Excellency the Chief Minister
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests

Your Excellency President Benjamin William Mkapa
Your Excellency President Salmin Amour
Your Highness (glancing towards Hazar Imam)
Your Excellencies
Honorable Ministers
Distinguished Guests

As Chairman of Tourism Promotion Services Zanzibar, the owner of Zanzibar Serena Inn, it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome you here today for the official opening of the fifth Serena property in the United Republic to begin operations within the past twelve months.

Your Excellency President William Mkapa,
Your Excellency President Salmin Amour,
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests

A fifth unit in the Serena hotels chain will be opened in Zanzibar this Saturday by His Highness The Aga Khan who is expected to arrived in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, according to confirmed sources.

The 39m dollar of investment follows the opening of three other tourist lodges in the northern tourist circuit and a luxury tented camp.

The 52 room Inn is located in the heart of Zanzibar's historic Stone Town. Two historical buildings were renovated for the purpose, through the Aga Khan Fund for Culture.

Serena Hotels, South Africa's Stocks and Resorts Hotel, and Gibraltar-based Feram Holdings are the three companies short-listed for the acquisition of a 75 per cent stake in the government-owned Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es salaam.

The Nairobi based Serena Group of Hotels, which submitted its bid last year after the government announced its plans to sel some of its shares in the hotel, and Stocks and Resorts Hotel are the only companies from the COMESA region to show interest in the venture, while Feram Holdings is the only firm from outside Africa to put in a bid.

"Investment in historic cities can be a productive development investment, meeting practical needs, releasing creative energies and providing sources of social cohesion - not an unproductive investment in stagnating, barren environments."

Speaking at the inauguration of a 100-year old building, newly restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the Aga Khan drew attention to "the emerging understanding of the importance of culture as a critical element in development strategies in general, and for efforts to revitalise the historic cores of the world's towns and cities in particular."

"Understanding of the importance of culture is slowly emerging as a critical element in development strategies in general", the leader of the world's Ismaili community said in Zanzibar yesterday.

His Highness the Aga Khan made the observation at the inauguration of a 100 year old building, newly restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

He stated that culture was also crucial for efforts to revitalise the historic cores of the world's towns and cities.

President Benjamin Mkapa and the Shia Ismaili Muslim spiritual leader, Prince Aga Khan, yesterday visited the health professions development centre of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

At the Centre, President Mkapa and The Aga Khan were shown various diagnostic facilities for critical areas of need such as cardiac care.

The enhancement of the Aga Khan Hospital's facilities is part of the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) programme of creating a regional health system across East Africa to ensure improved and high quality services.