Under President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Zanzibar is moving government services, payments and tourism onto shared digital platforms. Businesses that connect early will find it easier to work with government, visitors and each other.
A clear direction from State House
President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, now in his second term after the October 2025 election, has made digital government a visible priority for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.
In May 2026 he directed the Zanzibar e-Government Authority (eGAZ) to speed up the development of government systems and to repair systems with technical faults. He also told ministries and public institutions not to build their own platforms without approval from the Authority, saying: "It is unacceptable for any institution to create systems outside the national framework." The same directives called for continuous training for ICT staff and for proper funding of ICT departments.
One government payment gateway: ZanMalipo
Government revenue in Zanzibar is collected through ZanMalipo, the government payment gateway run by the e-Government Authority. It issues control numbers for government services and connects public institutions, local authorities, banks and mobile money operators, so a payment can be made from almost any channel. The Zanzibar Public Finance Act was amended to require government revenue to go through the gateway.
For businesses this means fewer cash trips to government offices, and a clear audit trail for licences, fees and taxes.
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Our guide to digital payments, TIPS and ZanMalipo explains how businesses can connect these payments to their own systems.
Za Explore: tourism attractions on one platform
Alongside a new pension benefit management system, the government launched Za Explore, a revenue collection system that brings Zanzibar's tourist attractions onto one digital platform. Visitors can pay before they arrive at a site, and officials expect it to simplify access, promote the islands and close gaps that allowed revenue to leak.
Tour operators, hotels and guides should expect visitors to arrive with digital tickets and should be ready to check and support them.
More in our guide to smart tourism in Zanzibar.
A policy for the whole digital economy
Zanzibar's Digital Transformation Policy was launched at the Tech & AI Expo Zanzibar 2026, with support from the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) through the EU-funded TIDE programme since 2023. At the launch, President Mwinyi stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough: a digital economy also needs skills, services and businesses that use them.
The Ministry of Communications, Information Technology and Innovation has said it wants to attract technology investment in areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech, agritech and smart tourism.
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Read what this means for organisations using AI in our article on AI policy in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Faster internet for homes and businesses
In June 2026 the government, through the Zanzibar ICT Infrastructure Agency (ZICTIA), signed a public-private partnership worth about TZS 300 billion with Yas Fibre. The government builds the backbone, Yas Fibre connects homes and businesses, and about 100,000 households are expected to be connected within the first three years. The rollout started in Stone Town and is planned to extend across Unguja and Pemba.
As Minister Mudrick Soraga put it: "Digital transformation cannot be achieved without strong connectivity."
What Zanzibar businesses should do now
Government is moving online. Businesses that prepare will spend less time on paperwork and serve customers faster:
- Keep company records, licences and tax details in a secure digital form, ready for online services.
- Accept and reconcile control-number and mobile money payments instead of relying on cash.
- Upgrade your office network and Wi-Fi so fibre speeds actually reach staff and guests. See our guide to fibre in Zanzibar.
- Protect customer data: digital services bring data protection duties. Read our data protection checklist.
- Train staff on the systems they will use every day.
Not sure where to start? Take our free digital readiness quiz.
How Extrion can help
Extrion is a Zanzibar-based technology company. We help organisations map their processes, choose and integrate systems, build reliable networks and train their teams. Book a consultation or explore our digital transformation consultancy.
Frequently asked questions
What is ZanMalipo?
ZanMalipo is the Zanzibar government's electronic payment gateway. It generates control numbers for government services and lets people pay through banks and mobile money operators.
What is Za Explore?
Za Explore is a Zanzibar government system that brings tourist attractions onto one digital platform so visitors can pay before arriving at a site.
Who is building fibre internet to Zanzibar homes?
The Zanzibar government, through ZICTIA, signed a public-private partnership with Yas Fibre in June 2026, aiming to connect about 100,000 households within three years.
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