Zanzibar to build tallest building in sub-Saharan Africa

Zanzibar authorities on Tuesday, August 24 announced the next construction of the tallest skyscraper in sub-Saharan Africa, amounting to $1.3 billion (1.1 billion euros), more than 60% of the Tanzania archipelago’s annual budget.

At 70 storeys high, the commercial tower, named Zanzibar Domino, will be developed 15 kilometers from Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and will involve the construction of an artificial island, as well as a marina. For yachts and cruise ships.

The total cost of the works will exceed 3 trillion Tanzanian shillings, an amount that exceeds 60% of the semi-autonomous archipelago’s budget for 2021-2022.

Zanzibar State Minister of Labor, Economy and Investment Mudrik Ramdhan Soraga told reporters on Tuesday that the project would strengthen “Government efforts to attract more local and foreign investors to the islands”.

“Glance of an Icon”

The tower will feature apartments, luxury hotels, a golf course and a wedding chapel, according to a statement from design firm xCassia, Tanzanian group AICL and Scotland’s Crowland Management Ltd, the companies involved in the project.

“After my late father, my two sons and I first sketched in Paris in 2009 after playing a game of dominoes, I’ve dreamed of building this project for over a decade”, said Jean-Paul Cassia, the founder of the named firm, in a press release. “He looked like an icon that everyone can remember. All he needed was a visionary investor and a suitable site to make it a reality.”, she added.

Upon completion, the building will be the second tallest building in Africa after the 80-story Iconic Tower, which is currently under construction in Egypt and is expected to be completed in 2022.

The tallest building on the continent today is the Leonardo (55 floors) in Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg.

Famous for its turquoise waters and spice plantations, Zanzibar relies heavily on tourism, a region that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.