China Exim Bank loans $19 million USD for E-Government and Fiber Optic Backbone Project in Zanzibar

On January 5, 2013, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania attended a completion ceremony for the E-Government and Fiber Optic Backbone Project in Zanzibar (桑给巴尔岛电子政务及光纤骨干网项目 or E-Revolution). It was financed by a $19 million USD "soft" loan from China Exim Bank. The commitment year and loan terms are unknown. This project involved laying 350 km of fiber optic cable with a total capacity of 40G across Stone Town, Mazizini, Gulioni, Mtoni,Beit-el-Ras, Mkokotoni on Unguja Island, and Chake Chake, Machomane and Wete on Pemba. The e-government aspect of this project included the construction of 12 sub-stations at: Fumba (the entry point from Tanzania mainland), Kizimkazi, Paje, Kiwengwa, Nungwi, Amani, Jamhuri Garden, and Mazizini on Unguja island; Chunjuu, Wete, and Konde on Pemba Island. Eventually, all Zanzibari government departments should be linked to the main hub at Mazizini Street. ZTE was the implementing contractor for both the fiber optic cable network and the e-government components with Helios-Tech of Israel as the supervising consultant company. Mr Mohamed Juma Ame, head of the project facilitating committee, reportedly said that plans for the e-government project in Zanzibar began in 2006, but the ground work was finished in just one year.

Additional details

The commitment year is unknown, so it is coded as 2013 (the project completion year) for the time being.

Number of official sources

8

Number of total sources

15