Sunday, August 25, 2024 Kizimkazi Festival: NBC Bank Strengthens Sports and Tourism in Zanzibar The National Bank of Commerce (NBC) has significantly contributed to the success of the Kizimkazi Festival, an annual event that has evolved into a vibrant celebration of sports, entertainment, and tourism in Zanzibar. This year’s festival received high praise from President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Vice-President Dr. Philip Mpango, who both attended the weekend events.
NBC’s active participation, alongside Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL), was a key factor in the festival’s success. The festival featured a variety of exciting events, including the “Bongo and Zenji Flavor Night,” a major music festival held in Paje, which was honored by the presence of President Samia. The festival also saw the culmination of the Kizimkazi Youth Soccer League, known as the “Samia Kizimkazi Youth Cup,” with the final match held at the New Amaan Complex Stadium.
Vice-President Dr. Mpango led the celebrations, presenting the trophy to Kusini Secondary School, who triumphed over Muyuni Secondary School with a 3-0 victory. During the award ceremony, Vice-President Dr.
Mpango, along with senior government officials and sponsors, including TTCL and NBC Bank, commended the efforts of the young athletes. The bank also played a crucial role in inaugurating the ‘Salaam Cave Aquarium’ at Kizimkazi-Dimbani, further enhancing the festival’s appeal. President Samia expressed her gratitude to NBC and TTCL for their continuous support of the Kizimkazi Festival since its inception nine years ago.
She highlighted the bank’s involvement in organizing football matches and the grand entertainment event in Paje, underscoring her commitment to attending the evening festivities. NBC’s Managing Director, Theobald Sabi, reiterated the bank’s dedication to the Kizimkazi Festival. He noted that NBC has leveraged the event to promote sports, entertainment, and various community development initiatives in education, health, tourism, and financial services.
“Since the festival began nine years ago, we have been actively involved in the construction of classrooms, the donation of a Mobile Clinic vehicle, and the development of the Kizimkazi Saccoss and Health Center. Our efforts have been focused on improving the quality of life for the people of Kizimkazi,” Sabi explained. Sabi also emphasized NBC’s commitment to promoting tourism in Zanzibar.
He highlighted that the newly inaugurated Salaam Cave Aquarium at Kizimkazi-Dimbani will create employment opportunities and boost national income through tourism. NBC has also pledged to implement a digital payment system to facilitate transactions for tourists visiting Salaam Cave and other attractions in Zanzibar. The Kizimkazi Festival exemplifies the power of collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities.
The successful partnership between NBC Bank, TTCL, and the residents of Kizimkazi has transformed the festival into a showcase of Zanzibar’s potential in sports, entertainment, and tourism, further establishing the island as a premier destination in East Africa. This year’s festival has once again demonstrated the immense potential of Zanzibar, solidifying its position as a leading destination for tourism and cultural events in the region..
