ZANZIBAR'S SECOND VICE PRESIDENT UNVEILS STANBIC-FUNDED EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRE IN MWANAKWEREKWE

Second Vice President of Zanzibar, H.E. Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, representing H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, joined by Anna Athanas Maalim, Zanzibar's Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children; Saada Mkuya Salum, Minister of State in the President's Office – State House, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar; and Derick Lugemala, Stanbic Bank Tanzania's Chief Financial and Value Officer, officially cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi Childcare Centre in Mwanakwerekwe, marking a significant milestone in expanding access to quality early childhood care and education in Zanzibar.

Stanbic Bank's TZS 500 Million Commitment Strengthens Early Childhood Development and Economic Inclusion in Zanzibar

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania – July 22, 2026 – Zanzibar's Second Vice President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, representing President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has officially inaugurated the Mwanakwerekwe Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre, a landmark facility funded by Stanbic Bank Tanzania to provide safe childcare and quality early learning services for children of traders and workers at Mwanakwerekwe Market and surrounding communities.

The new centre marks a significant milestone in Zanzibar's efforts to expand access to quality early childhood development services while supporting working families, particularly women engaged in the informal economy.

The facility was established through a strategic partnership between the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Stanbic Bank Tanzania, and Save the Children International, demonstrating the impact of public-private collaboration in promoting inclusive socio-economic development.

Supporting Working Families Through Early Childhood Development

The Mwanakwerekwe ECD Centre has been financed through the first TZS 350 million disbursement of Stanbic Bank Tanzania's TZS 500 million commitment to the Government's Adopt an ECD Initiative, reinforcing the bank's long-term investment in Zanzibar's social and economic development.

Strategically located within the busy Mwanakwerekwe Market, the facility has been designed to meet the needs of working parents by offering integrated services that include:

• Safe childcare
• Early learning programmes
• Nutrition support
• Basic healthcare services
• Child protection

The centre has the capacity to accommodate up to 60 children each day, allowing parents—especially women traders—to engage more productively in income-generating activities with the assurance that their children are receiving quality care in a secure environment.

Government Applauds Stanbic's Investment

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla praised Stanbic Bank Tanzania for making a meaningful contribution to Zanzibar's development and encouraged other financial institutions to support similar initiatives.

"We commend Stanbic Bank for this strategic investment and its continued support for socio-economic development, not only in Zanzibar but across Tanzania. I call upon other banks and financial institutions to emulate this commendable contribution to nation-building," he said.

His remarks underscored the importance of private sector participation in advancing national development priorities, particularly those focused on education, child welfare and economic empowerment.

Stanbic: Investing in People and Tanzania's Future

Stanbic Bank Tanzania's Chief Financial and Value Officer, Derick Lugemala, described quality childcare as both a social necessity and an economic enabler.

"A child's future should never be limited by a parent's need to earn a living. The Mwanakwerekwe ECD Centre gives children a safe start in life while enabling working parents, especially women, to participate more fully in the economy. As we mark 30 years in Tanzania and deepen our presence in Zanzibar, we remain guided by our purpose: Tanzania is our home, we drive her growth," he said.

Lugemala noted that the bank's investment goes beyond infrastructure, representing a long-term commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable national development.

"Our TZS 500 million commitment is an investment in people, opportunity and Zanzibar's future. This centre reflects the impact that can be achieved when government, business and development partners work together to strengthen families, empower communities and unlock the potential of the next generation," he added.

Supporting Zanzibar's Long-Term Development Agenda

The inauguration coincided with the launch of the Zanzibar Multisectoral Early Childhood Development Programme 2026–2031, a government-led strategy aimed at improving the well-being of children from birth to eight years of age through coordinated interventions in health, nutrition, caregiving, early learning, child safety and protection.

Following the ceremony, the Second Vice President also presided over a Development Partners Round Table, bringing together government institutions, development agencies and private sector stakeholders to mobilise financial, technical and institutional support for implementing the programme over the next five years.

A Model for Public-Private Partnership

The Mwanakwerekwe ECD Centre stands as a practical example of how collaboration between government, financial institutions and development partners can simultaneously address child development challenges while promoting women's economic participation.

As Zanzibar continues expanding access to quality early childhood education and care, Stanbic Bank Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside government and development partners to strengthen families, create opportunities and contribute to sustainable national development.

The initiative further reinforces Stanbic Bank's broader purpose of driving inclusive growth by investing in communities and empowering future generations through impactful social investments.