British developer Pennyroyal has announced plans to construct a $1bn resort on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar that will include five five-star hotels, an equestrian centre, an international school, a medical centre and an airport complete with 3km runway.
Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen reported on Monday that heavy construction machinery had already begun to prepare the resort site at the village of Matemwe on the island’s northeast coast.
Brian Thompson, the director of the Gibraltar-based company, confirmed that the Zanzibar Amber resort, was under way, and said it would take about eight years to be fully operational.
He added that the main challenge to the scheme was a lack of reliable mains electricity, so the development would include the installation of between 25 and 30MW of energy generated by gas and wind turbines.
The project is expected to lead to the creation of more than 1,500 permanent jobs, including engineering apprenticeships and vocational training programmes. The local community will also be gifted an arts centre and a police station.
The area has endemic problems with a lack of sanitation, healthcare facilities and employment, according to The Citizen.
Matemwe’s present industry is based on fishing and seaweed gathering.
Image: Aerial surveying of the Matemwe site (3DroneMapping)
