Unlocking land lease investment potential in Zanzibar: challenges and opportunities

Habsa Hassan Haji and C. Lucian

Journal of Property Research, 2025, vol. 42, issue 3, 278-293

Abstract: Land is a critical resource for real estate investments globally, and in Zanzibar, accessing land leases poses significant challenges for potential investors. This study investigates the land lease process in Zanzibar, focusing on the obstacles and opportunities encountered by investors. Utilising a qualitative methodology, 14 informants were engaged through structured interviews, including government officials and real estate speculators. Thematic analysis of the data revealed key challenges: bureaucratic hurdles, weaknesses in the legal framework, inconsistent coordination among authorities, lack of transparency, and operational inefficiencies. These challenges hinder investment potential and deter both local and international investors. To address these issues, the study recommends implementing anti-corruption measures, legal reforms to simplify and clarify land lease processes, establishing a ‘One Stop Centre’ for investments, and improving administrative efficiency. By enhancing the transparency and efficiency of the land leasing system, Zanzibar can create a more conducive environment for investment. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and researchers aiming to improve the investment climate in Zanzibar, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic development in the region. The study emphasises the importance of targeted reforms to unlock the land lease investment potential and foster growth in various sectors.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/09599916.2025.2475833 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:jpropr:v:42:y:2025:i:3:p:278-293

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/RJPR20

DOI: 10.1080/09599916.2025.2475833

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Property Research is currently edited by Bryan MacGregor

More articles in Journal of Property Research from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().