THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved about 33.4bn/- (21 million US dollars) to finance the implementation of the Zanzibar Urban Water and Sanitation Project.

According to a statement issued by the bank in Dar es Salaam, the government will contribute 10 per cent of the project costs. The project will be implemented from 2013 in the Unguja municipality which is Zanzibar's administrative centre and the hub of its economic, cultural and tourist activities.

It is scheduled to be completed after four years and upon completion will lead to improvements in the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in the municipality and contribute to the country's socio-economic development. The project is also expected to improve the standards of living of the population by ensuring equitable and sustainable provision of reliable water and sanitation services.