ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President, Hussein Ali Mwinyi, said that sport is a powerful force for uniting communities and nations, as he opened the AFED Sports Festival Zanzibar 2025 at the Maisara Sports Complex in the Urban West Region.
Mwinyi said hosting the tournament for the first time marked a historic milestone for Zanzibar and for the Khoja Shia Ithnashir community that established the games decades ago and has staged them in countries around the world.
About 300 male and female athletes from Khoja Shia Ithnashir communities globally are taking part in the festival that Mwinyi described as a platform for promoting unity, solidarity and the development of sporting talent.
“Beyond entertainment, sport instils discipline, respect and brotherhood, while strengthening cooperation within society,” he said.
Mwinyi added that international sporting events can also boost the economy by supporting trade and transport, creating jobs and attracting investment. He urged athletes to uphold values of friendship and brotherhood, and encouraged visitors to tour Zanzibar’s cultural and historical sites.
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In a separate development, Mwinyi praised the Africa Sports Federation for organising an investors’ seminar alongside the tournament to highlight economic and investment opportunities in Zanzibar, saying the initiative would help strengthen growth and international economic cooperation.
Earlier, Hassan Mohamed Raza, Secretary of the Islam Jammat of Zanzibar – the event’s host, said the islands’ modern sports infrastructure, including upgraded stadiums, had helped secure the tournament. He commended Mwinyi’s efforts to promote and develop sport.