Zanzibar’s health ministry inks Sh28bn contract for construction of modern medicine warehouse

Unguja. The Zanzibar Ministry of Health, through the Zanzibar Drug Supply Agency (ZDA), has signed a contract with Hainan International Limited for the construction of a state-of-the-art warehouse aimed at resolving the ongoing shortage of storage space for medicines and medical supplies.

The facility will be located in Dunga Zuze on the island, marking a significant step towards improving the management and storage of pharmaceuticals in Zanzibar.

The announcement was made by Zanzibar's Minister of Health, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, on March 16, 2025, who revealed that the project would cost Sh27.6 billion and is expected to be completed within one year.

"This modern warehouse for storing medicines will be built in Dunga Zuze, and its construction will cost Sh27.6 billion. It is expected to be completed within one year," said Minister Mazrui during the signing ceremony.

The minister highlighted the importance of this initiative, noting that the Zanzibar Drug Supply Agency has faced significant challenges due to the lack of sufficient storage space since being granted commercial operating authority. The shortage had forced the agency to incur additional costs by renting extra warehouse space to accommodate medicines.

"For some time now, since the Drug Supply Agency was given the authority to operate commercially, we have faced a problem of insufficient storage space, which forced us to incur costs renting additional warehouses to store medicines," Mazrui added.

Mazrui further emphasised that the new warehouse would offer a large, safe, and precisely managed storage space for medicines, meeting international standards for drug storage. This, he said, would enable the agency to more effectively distribute medicines, ensuring that citizens receive the necessary drugs of required quality at health centres and hospitals across the country.

The Director-General of the Zanzibar Drug Supply Agency, Abdulhalim Mohamed Mzale, also commented on the project, stating that the warehouse would be a significant asset for both government and private institutions in need of commercial storage space. He assured that the new facility would provide ample storage for all medicines and medical supplies entering the country.

"This new warehouse will not only benefit the Drug Supply Agency but also increase opportunities for both government and private institutions that require space for commercial operations," Mzale said.

The construction of the new warehouse is seen as a major step towards improving healthcare logistics in Zanzibar, ensuring the safe and efficient storage of medicines, and enhancing the delivery of healthcare services to the population.