Zanzibar today has taken a decisive and dramatic step toward reconnecting with its global family, following the official launch of the Zanzibar Diaspora Card online registration system at the State House in Zanzibar.
The system was inaugurated by the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Hon. Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum, and is aimed at people of Zanzibar origin living abroad who do not hold Tanzanian passports. Through a fully digital platform, eligible members of the Diaspora can now register and gain access to a wide range of economic, residency, investment, and mobility benefits.
The Diaspora Card offers exemptions from work permit fees, facilitated residence permits, preferential land leasing, direct investment opportunities through the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), and the ability to invest in the tourism sector—including in areas typically restricted to foreigners. Card holders also benefit from subsidized domestic travel at local currency rates (Tanzanian Shillings) and tax exemptions on imported equipment for social development projects.
The initiative is coordinated through the Department of International Cooperation, housed within the Office of the President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, which has been formally mandated to oversee Diaspora affairs and integrate global Zanzibari expertise into national development.
Political commentators and governance analysts in Dar es Salaam, contacted by this blog, are already interpreting this bold move as a strong signal that Zanzibar is edging ever closer to the introduction of Dual Citizenship, in line with other East African states that have already formally adopted dual nationality frameworks—a long-standing aspiration of many Zanzibaris living abroad.
While no formal declaration has yet been made, analysts note that the scope, depth, benefits, and rights attached to the Zanzibar Diaspora Card closely resemble the practical outcomes of dual citizenship.
In contrast, observers regretfully point out that Mainland Tanzania remains considerably behind in providing comparable legal and institutional pathways for its Diaspora.
The much-discussed Hadhi Maalum (Special Status) policy on the Mainland now appears to have largely disappeared from the national agenda.
For many, this development from the Isles firmly positions Zanzibar as a policy pioneer, advancing progressive solutions that recognize global mobility while safeguarding national interests.
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