SMZ STILL OWNS LAND AT MAKURUNGE, BAGAMOYO - MINISTER!

The Guardian reported today that the Zanzibar government had confirmed it still owns 6,069 hectares of land at the former RAZABA ranch in Bagamoyo.

According to Minister Hamza Hassan Juma, the property is now managed by the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA).

This follows an arrangement in 2007 that divided the original ranch land, with most of it allocated for other development purposes.

During the presidency of Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi, Zanzibar operated a large cattle ranch on mainland Tanzania, specifically in Makurunge, Bagamoyo, in the Coast Region (Mkoa wa Pwani).

It was known as RAZABA - Ranchi ya Zanzibar Bagamoyo.

The history of RAZABA

Item	Historical information
Location	Makurunge, Bagamoyo, Mainland Tanzania
President	Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi (1972–1984)
Established	Around 1974–1976
Original land area	Approximately 28,000 hectares
Purpose	Raising beef cattle to supply Zanzibar
Herd size	Approximately 7,000 cattle
Employees	Approximately 300
Operations ceased	1994

The Zanzibar House of Representatives records that the Revolutionary Government established the ranch in 1976 to meet Zanzibar's demand for meat.

An environmental assessment of the later Bagamoyo Sugar Project confirms that around 7,000 cattle were kept there, with approximately 300 workers from Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania.

Why did the project end?

The historical records identify several difficulties:

• Tsetse flies affecting the cattle.

• Attacks by predators, including lions and leopards.

• Difficulties maintaining the large ranching operation.

The ranch ceased operating in 1994, and the remaining cattle were transported to Zanzibar.

For the Zanzibar House of Representatives Report on RAZABA , please click below:

https://zanzibarnikwetu.blogspot.com/2015/15/zanzibar-house-of-representatives.html