Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi has emphasized the need for skills and technology to tackle youth unemployment in the country. He made these remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Tanzania Youth Icon (TAYI) Training, Education and Skills Centre in Kisauni Constituency, Unguja, on September 19, 2026. The President noted that national development depends on the knowledge and skills of young people.
The TAYI centre is an initiative aimed at providing training to young people to enable them to create employment for themselves and secure jobs. President Mwinyi commended institutions and development partners involved in the project, describing it as a good example of collaboration between the Government and the private sector. He also issued several directives to relevant ministries to ensure the centre operates effectively.
The President directed the Ministry of Construction and Transport to begin constructing roads around the project and instructed the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) to provide technical support to the centre. The TAYI centre will offer training in entrepreneurship, vocational skills, sports, and information technology (IT), based on young people’s talents. This initiative is expected to help address unemployment challenges in Kisauni Constituency.
Kisauni Constituency Representative and Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Hamad Masauni, welcomed the initiative, noting that it would help address unemployment challenges in the constituency. He disclosed that Kisauni Constituency has been among the biggest beneficiaries of Government loans, with more than Sh50 billion disbursed to entrepreneurs.
To further support young entrepreneurs, Mr. Masauni announced the establishment of a special constituency fund. The goal is to ensure that once a young person completes various training programmes, they have access to capital to develop their activities. This effort aims to support the President’s goal of creating 300,000 jobs.
Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency (ZEEA) Director Juma Burhan was tasked with overseeing Sh100 million provided by TAYI. The money will be used as a loan fund for entrepreneurs who graduate from the centre so that they can establish their own projects. This will enable young people to put their skills into practice and become self-employed.
The Zanzibar government is committed to implementing economic development plans aimed at bringing significant transformation, particularly in the informal sector, to increase citizens’ incomes. The TAYI centre is part of these efforts, which focus on education, vocational training, and technology as key areas to address youth unemployment.
Key points
- The Zanzibar government has committed to tackling youth unemployment through education, vocational training, and technology.
- The Tanzania Youth Icon (TAYI) Training, Education and Skills Centre will offer training in entrepreneurship, vocational skills, sports, and information technology.
- The centre will have access to a Sh100 million loan fund to support entrepreneurs who graduate from the programme.
