Zanzibar's ruling CCM pledges legal overhaul of land compensation after Bumbwini grievances
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CCM's deputy secretary-general for Zanzibar says the ruling party will push for new laws on land compensation and revenue sharing after residents of Bumbwini in North Unguja complained that payouts for land taken for development are inadequate.
Zanzibar's ruling party, CCM, has said it will seek permanent and lawful solutions to land disputes facing citizens, following grievances submitted by the Bumbwini Constituency Political Committee in North Unguja Region on September 21, 2026. CCM Deputy Secretary-General for Zanzibar, Mr Abdi Mahamoud Abdi, said the party intends to channel the complaints through established decision-making platforms and has pledged to monitor the concerns closely to protect residents' property interests.
"In the strategy to seek a legal solution, the party is directing representatives and MPs to fulfil their core responsibility by taking these grievances to the Legislative Council and Parliament to enact robust laws that protect the rights and interests of citizens in land properties," Mr Abdi said. A primary focus, he said, is the system governing farms and agricultural land.
Mr Abdi said many residents have relied on their plots for generations to secure food and sustain their livelihoods, and that a fresh approach is needed when land is required for development projects. "A big challenge arises when the government or investors need areas for development projects, because the compensation given for crops or trees often does not suffice to enable a citizen to get another residential area or start alternative economic activities," he explained.
The party is encouraging wider discussions on mechanisms that would allow landowners to benefit over the long term by taking a share of the revenue generated by incoming development projects. "The goal is to ensure citizens get sustainable income to run their families instead of depending on a single lump-sum compensation that does not meet future needs," Mr Abdi added.
Party and government leaders have also been instructed to conduct frequent field visits to listen to citizen grievances, provide public education and safeguard local rights wherever major projects are implemented. As part of his regional tour, Mr Abdi inspected progress on the Mangapwani Integrated Port project in Bumbwini, described as a strategic venture intended to accelerate Zanzibar's economic growth.