Chuwini market to outshine Dar’s Kariakoo with its modern design, scale
Chuwini market.
What you need to know:
- With the Chuwini, Kwerekwe, and Jumbi markets underway, Zanzibar is set to experience a significant shift in its economic dynamics, potentially surpassing the long-standing prominence of Dar es Salaam’s Kariakoo Market
Unguja. The newly constructed Sh43 billion Chuwini Market in Zanzibar is poised to become a major economic hub, surpassing the famed Kariakoo Market in Dar es Salaam.
Kariakoo is currently undergoing a Sh28 billion reconstruction after being gutted by fire.
Chuwini Market is part of a series of modern markets being developed across Zanzibar, including the Kwerekwe Market, built for Sh35.8 billion, and the Jumbi Market, which costs Sh24 billion.
Computer generate model of Kwerekwe market.
With a capacity to accommodate over 4,000 traders, Chuwini Market will dwarf Kariakoo, which can host between 1900 and 2000 traders.
A key feature of the market’s design is an integrated bus terminal, capable of handling up to 114 vehicles at a time, a development expected to further boost local commerce and improve connectivity.
The details of the project were revealed during a visit to Zanzibar by the CCM Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, Amos Makalla.
Mr Makalla, who toured the site on January 31, 2025, as part of his regional visit, emphasised the transformative potential of the market.
He described the Chuwini Market as a symbol of Zanzibar's economic growth, highlighting its potential to significantly improve the livelihoods of residents in Chuwini and nearby areas, who previously had to travel long distances to access essential services.
“This land, once a paddy farm, has now been turned into a bustling, modern market. For those who doubted the project, I urge them to come and witness the remarkable progress for themselves—seeing is believing,” Makalla said.
Once completed, the Chuwini Market will not only boost local commerce but also ease the daily lives of residents in Chuwini and surrounding villages, eliminating the need for long-distance travel to access services.
According to observers, with the Chuwini, Kwerekwe, and Jumbi markets underway, Zanzibar is set to experience a significant shift in its economic dynamics, potentially surpassing the long-standing prominence of Dar es Salaam’s Kariakoo Market.
