ZANZIBAR, June 18 -- ZANZIBAR lawmakers have called on the government to prioritise industrial development by tapping into the islands vast natural resources, saying the time has come for bold and strategic investments that will transform local produce into high value goods through domestic manufacturing.

The appeal was made during the ongoing debate on the 2025/2026 budget in the Zanzibar House of Representatives in Chukwani, where members stressed that sustainable economic self-reliance can only be achieved by building industries rooted in Zanzibars own assets.

Malindi constituency representative, Mr Mohammed Ahmada Salum, said the establishment of industries that add value to marine and agricultural products would open up local marke...