Zanzibar’s 269bn/- road projects for AFCON signals a bigger sporting ambition

ZANZIBAR: AFTER Tanzania won the right to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Uganda, the immediate focus was naturally on stadiums, training grounds and football itself.

And, in Zanzibar, the government appears to understand a deeper reality about modern sports tournaments: successful hosting is no longer defined only by what happens inside the stadium. It is equally about roads, airports, drainage systems, urban mobility and the overall visitor experience.

That is why the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar’s decision to allocate 269bn/- for the construction of 63.8 kilometres of roads linking Zanzibar Town to the planned Fumba Sports City may ultimately become one of the most consequential investments in the island’s sporting history.

The project forms part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport’s massive 1.815tri/- budget for the 2026/2027 financial year, presented in the House of Representatives by Minister Khalid Salum Mohammed on Tuesday. At first glance, the figures appear staggering.

Yet beneath the numbers lies a broader national strategy, using AFCON 2027 not simply as a football event, but as a catalyst for long-term economic transformation, tourism expansion and urban modernisation. Across Africa, major football tournaments have increasingly become instruments for infrastructure development.

South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup reshaped transport systems in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Morocco has consistently used sports infrastructure to drive tourism and investment.

Qatar’s World Cup demonstrated how sports can accelerate national transformation projects. Now Tanzania and Zanzibar in particular, appears eager to pursue a similar path.

The proposed Fumba Sports City road network, which includes several sixlane roads, is expected to improve movement for teams, officials, supporters and tourists during the tournament. However, its significance extends far beyond the few weeks of AFCON competition.

ALSO READ: List of all AFCON winners since start of tournament in 1957

For decades, infrastructure limitations have slowed the full economic potential of many parts of Zanzibar. Poor road connectivity affects tourism access, urban planning, investment attraction and public mobility.

By connecting Zanzibar Town with the planned sports city and surrounding areas, the government is effectively investing in a future urban corridor that could reshape economic activity long after the final whistle of AFCON 2027. Fumba has increasingly emerged as one of Zanzibar’s fastest-growing development zones.

Its transformation into a sports and infrastructure hub signals a strategic shift in how Zanzibar positions itself regionally. Modern sporting cities are no longer viewed purely as venues for competition.

They are increasingly designed as integrated economic ecosystems featuring sports facilities, hotels, commercial centres, residential developments, tourism services and entertainment zones. If properly executed, the Fumba Sports City project could permanently elevate Zanzibar’s profile within African sports tourism. The road investments, therefore, represent more than transport infrastructure, they are foundational assets for future economic activity.

Sports economists often argue that the true value of hosting major tournaments lies not in ticket sales or short-term tourism revenue alone, but in the long-term infrastructure legacy created for local communities. In Zanzibar’s case, the improvements could strengthen tourism accessibility, investment attractiveness, business mobility, urban expansion and regional integration. Equally important is the aviation component.

The continued expansion of Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA), including Terminal II upgrades, a new control tower and additional aircraft parking areas, will be critical for handling increased passenger traffic during AFCON. Meanwhile, the allocation of 144.5bn/- for Pemba Airport expansion could significantly improve connectivity between the islands and the wider East African region.

For Zanzibar’s tourism sector, these upgrades may prove just as important after AFCON as during the tournament itself. Modern sports events demand efficient logistics, and international visitors increasingly judge destinations based on mobility, convenience and infrastructure quality.

Still, the road to AFCON 2027 will not be without challenges. Large infrastructure projects often face budget overruns, delays, procurement concerns and implementation bottlenecks. There will also be pressure to ensure that investments directly benefit ordinary citizens rather than serving only tournament needs.

Questions may emerge regarding maintenance sustainability, environmental impact, urban congestion and long-term utilisation of facilities after AFCON. This is where careful planning becomes essential. Experts warn that some countries have struggled with “white elephant” infrastructure, expensive facilities that become underutilised after major tournaments conclude.

Zanzibar’s success may, therefore, depend on ensuring that every project aligns with broader economic and urban development goals beyond football. For Zanzibar specifically, the tournament may become a defining moment in its sporting and infrastructure evolution.

The 269bn/- road investment signals confidence that sports can drive economic transformation when integrated into wider development planning. If delivered successfully, the roads connecting Zanzibar Town to Fumba may eventually symbolise far more than transport routes to a football tournament. They could become the arteries of a modern sporting economy that reshapes Zanzibar’s future for decades to come.

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The post Zanzibar’s 269bn/- road projects for AFCON signals a bigger sporting ambition appeared first on Daily News.