Zanzibar Halts Stone Town Hotel Building on 9 October

TANZANIA · ZANZIBAR

A hotel project in the heart of Zanzibar’s old town is on hold while officials check permits and count the damage.

Zanzibar’s tourism minister has ordered an immediate halt to all demolition and building at a hotel site in Stone Town. Dr Nasra Nassor Omar acted on Friday, 9 October, after claims that the works damaged homes and lanes.

Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major draw for foreign visitors to Zanzibar. The order shows that the islands’ government is willing to stop a tourism investment to protect it.

The site is the former Zanzibar Hotel in Shangani, a seafront quarter of the old town. Mwananchi, a major Swahili-language daily, reported the decision on Saturday, 10 October.

What the Minister Ordered

Dr Nasra is Zanzibar’s Minister of Tourism and Heritage (in Swahili, Utalii na Mambo ya Kale). She visited the Shangani site and ordered every demolition and building activity there to stop.

“I say again, all activities must stop immediately,” she said, according to Mwananchi. She added that those responsible must appear before Stone Town’s conservation authorities to explain themselves and have their permits checked.

Nobody responsible for the project was present during her visit. Mwananchi reported that the minister took this to mean they might be hiding.

The contractors building the hotel were suspended over claims that they demolished and damaged residents’ buildings without consulting them. The works also allegedly affected lanes that residents and tourists use to reach parts of the old town.

A Damage Assessment and the Law

The minister ordered a detailed assessment of the damage, with action to follow under the law. “An assessment of the damage done must be carried out and appropriate action taken according to the law,” she said.

She said the government does not intend to block development or investment in Zanzibar. But every project must follow the law, respect residents’ rights and protect the islands’ historic heritage, she added.

“Stone Town is the heritage of Zanzibar and the world, and we have a duty to protect it,” Dr Nasra said. She also said the old town must not become a place for haphazard building and demolition.

Any investment there must respect plot boundaries, residents’ rights and conservation rules, she said. The order is an administrative halt, and no court has ruled on the allegations.

Residents Describe Blocked Lanes

Some residents told Mwananchi that the building work had closed lanes and made daily movement difficult. One Stone Town resident said some homes had been demolished without residents being consulted.

“It is a dangerous matter that needs to be dealt with,” the resident told the paper.

Dr Nasra is touring tourist sites across Zanzibar to follow the sector’s progress and strengthen heritage protection. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania with its own government, led by President Hussein Mwinyi.

What It Means for US Readers

Stone Town’s narrow lanes are a standard stop for visitors to Zanzibar, including Americans, and the halt affects a seafront quarter. Visitors may find some Shangani lanes partly blocked while the site stays closed.

For US and other foreign investors, the order is a reminder that heritage rules in Stone Town carry real weight. A permit dispute can stop a project overnight, so due diligence on conservation approvals matters.

For UNESCO, which the United States has announced it will leave, the case tests how Zanzibar protects a listed site. The Bank of Tanzania says tourism earnings keep Zanzibar’s current account in surplus.

What Is Not Known

Mwananchi did not name the developer or the contractors, and the size and cost of the hotel project are unknown. It is not clear whether the project held valid permits from Stone Town’s conservation authorities.

The number of homes affected has not been published. The developer’s response has not been reported.

What Comes Next

The developers must now appear before the conservation authorities and present their permits. The damage assessment will decide what legal steps follow.

The halt does not mean the hotel is cancelled. The minister stressed that Zanzibar still welcomes investment that follows the rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Zanzibar stop in Stone Town?

All demolition and building at a hotel site in Shangani, at the former Zanzibar Hotel. The tourism minister ordered the halt on Friday, 9 October.

Why was the hotel work halted?

The contractors are accused of damaging residents’ buildings without consulting them and blocking lanes. The minister ordered a damage assessment and a permit check.

Is Stone Town a World Heritage Site?

Yes. Stone Town is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Can tourists still visit Stone Town?

Yes. The halt covers one building site in Shangani, though some nearby lanes may be affected.

Is the hotel project cancelled?

No. Work is suspended until the developers explain themselves and their permits are checked.

Sources: Mwananchi, report on the Stone Town halt (Swahili); UNESCO World Heritage List, Stone Town of Zanzibar; Bank of Tanzania, Monetary Policy Committee statement, 8 October 2026 (all accessed 11 October 2026).

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