UNGUJA, Zanzibar - The World Heritage Committee (WHC) will consider adherence to construction guidelines of a hotel and development of Mambo Msiige building at Stone Town, Zanzibar.
The guidelines would be considered at the upcoming 38th Session of the Committee to be held in Doha, Qatar from July 15-25, 2014.
The hotel, Grand Hyatt is being constructed at Shangani opposite to Mambo Msiige historical building--it is located within Zanzibar’s Stone Town, a World Heritage Site.
But, according to WHC, non-observance of the matrix and construction guidelines, Stone Town risks inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger. As of now there are 44 properties worldwide, WHC has decided to include in the list of World Heritage in Danger. In Tanzania the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara are listed.
The Director General, Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority (STCDA), Issa Sarboko Makarani said recently construction adhered to international standards and given “consent” by UNESCO after long time negotiations.
However, according to Makarani the hotel in question nears completion and may open. “It is not a question of UNESCO ‘allowing’ construction…UNESCO worked with the national authorities (including the local authorities in Stone Town) to ‘guide’ the construction,” said Karalyn Monteil, Programme Specialist at WHC told East African Business Week.
Monteil, said the main issue is whether the ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ (OUV) for which Stone Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List has been affected by the development.
By Andrew Zablon, Monday, June 09th, 2014
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