ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has called on the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) to move beyond policy declarations and focus on implementing programmes that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
He urged the organisation to strengthen engagement with global partners to ensure resolutions adopted at its meetings are translated into practical initiatives that improve the livelihoods of people across member states.
Dr Mwinyi made the remarks on Thursday at the State House in Zanzibar during talks with OACPS Secretary-General Mr Moussa Saleh Batraki, who was on an official visit to Tanzania.
The President said key outcomes from recent high-level meetings, including the Eighth Meeting of Ministers responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters and Fisheries held in Dar es Salaam in 2024 and the 11th OACPS Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo this year, should result in concrete programmes rather than remain policy commitments.
He noted that the Dar es Salaam Declaration provides a strong framework for enhanced cooperation among member states in the sustainable management of oceans, fisheries, aquaculture, marine environmental conservation and the development of the Blue Economy.
Dr Mwinyi said Zanzibar has already benefited from several programmes implemented under the OACPS-European Union partnership, including the Fit for Market initiative, which promotes plant health standards and food safety.
Through the programme, the Zanzibar Association of Fruit and Vegetable Farmers (UWAMWIMA), representing more than 2,000 smallholder farmers, has received training in business management, record-keeping, market standards and food safety compliance.
The President reiterated that the Blue Economy remains central to Zanzibar’s development strategy, given the ocean’s role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, strengthening food security, preserving cultural heritage and protecting the environment.
He identified fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed production and value addition, beach tourism, maritime transport, marine conservation and processing of marine products as priority sectors under the strategy.
Dr Mwinyi further urged the OACPS Secretariat to strengthen direct cooperation among member states, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), coastal nations and countries with extensive maritime zones, to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, best practices and joint solutions to common challenges.
He said such collaboration would enable Zanzibar to learn from other member states while sharing its own experience in advancing the Blue Economy.
For his part, OACPS Secretary-General Batraki commended Tanzania for its financial contributions, active participation in OACPS activities and leadership in promoting ocean governance, fisheries and Blue Economy initiatives.
He also briefed Dr Mwinyi on ongoing institutional reforms within the organisation and sought his views on challenges facing small island states in implementing Blue Economy strategies.
The OACPS delegation included Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Said Shaib Mussa, alongside senior officials from both the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.