ZANZIBAR, Jan. 12 -- “BEFORE, reaching town felt like a struggle,” says Ali Bakari Mohamed, a commuter from the outskirts of Zanzibar Town.

“Now the road is smooth, traffic flows and I arrive at work on time. This is real development.”

As Zanzibar celebrates 62 years since the 1964 Revolution, such voices are becoming increasingly common, both in urban centres and rural communities.

From upgraded village roads to the islands first-ever flyover, improved infrastructure is reshaping how people move, trade, access services and experience daily life. For many Zanzibaris, roads are no longer just strips of tarmac.

They are pathways to opportunity. Roads as the backbone of development.

Roads are widely regarded as t...