Kitomari Banking & Finance Blog: NCBA BANK TANZANIA PLANTS 13,000 MANGROVE SEEDLINGS IN ZANZIBAR UNDER "CHANGE THE STORY" CAMPAIGN

Friday, 16 October 2026

NCBA BANK TANZANIA PLANTS 13,000 MANGROVE SEEDLINGS IN ZANZIBAR UNDER "CHANGE THE STORY" CAMPAIGN

The initiative extends the bank’s environmental conservation efforts to Zanzibar as it works towards planting and nurturing 20,000 trees across Tanzania by December 2026.

ZANZIBAR, October 16, 2026 – NCBA Bank Tanzania has purchased and planted 13,000 mangrove seedlings in Muyuni A Shehia, South District, South Unguja Region, Zanzibar, as part of its Change the Story – Badilisha Simulizi environmental campaign.

The initiative aims to promote environmental conservation, restore natural vegetation and protect coastal ecosystems for the benefit of local communities and future generations.

The planting exercise brought together representatives of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, community leaders, forestry experts, seaweed farmers, students, teachers and other stakeholders, highlighting the importance of collective action in protecting the environment.

The Zanzibar initiative contributes to NCBA Bank Tanzania’s commitment to planting and nurturing 20,000 trees across Tanzania by December 2026. The bank had previously planted 2,000 trees in Arusha and another 2,000 in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking during the exercise, NCBA Bank Tanzania Managing Director Alex Mziray said the campaign reflects the bank’s belief that empowering individuals and communities to achieve their goals must go hand in hand with environmental conservation.

“NCBA believes responsibility extends beyond banking services. As we empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve their goals and aspirations, we also recognise the importance of protecting the environment that makes those achievements possible,” Mziray said.

He added that successful mangrove conservation requires close collaboration with local communities, particularly seaweed farmers whose livelihoods depend significantly on the health and sustainability of coastal ecosystems.

To strengthen conservation efforts, the bank also provided equipment to support the care and maintenance of the planted seedlings, helping improve their chances of survival and long-term growth.

Umulkurthum Khamis, a Forest Officer with the Department of Forestry in Unguja, Zanzibar, said mangroves play a vital role in protecting coastal areas and supporting economic activities that depend on healthy coastal ecosystems, including seaweed farming.

“Mangroves play an important role in protecting coastal areas and supporting economic activities that depend on these environments, including seaweed farming. It is essential for communities to actively participate in caring for the planted mangroves to ensure they thrive and continue to deliver long-term benefits,” Khamis said.

Meanwhile, Abdalla Sharif, an Extension Officer with the Zanzibar Community Forest Conservation Association (JUMHIJAZA), urged residents to become environmental ambassadors by actively protecting mangroves and preventing activities that could damage them.

Sharif emphasised that community participation is essential to the long-term success of tree-planting initiatives, noting that residents have an important role to play in protecting and maintaining natural resources in their local areas.

Through its Change the Story – Badilisha Simulizi campaign, NCBA Bank Tanzania continues to advance its environmental conservation agenda, with the Zanzibar initiative highlighting the importance of partnerships between financial institutions, government agencies and local communities in protecting natural ecosystems.

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