Mr Evaristus Mushi, Zanzibar Parish Priest said the catholic church, named St Joseph cathedral, was now dilapidated and requires major renovation of mainly the two towers, walls, and paints affected by salty moisture from the nearby ocean.

The renovation work estimated to cost more than Tanzania shillings 42million, has already started by contribution from church parishioners who fundraised about TZS 40million. ‘The Catholic Church depends mainly on contribution from its members and visitors who come to see the historical church,’ said Mr Mushi.

He said beside the catholic church, the Anglican Church was another big church in islands. It was built on former slave site, and compared to the catholic, the Anglican is more wealthy because it attracts many better because the contribution from tourists who visit the Mkunazini slave site and donate funds. this was the first catholic church in east and central Africa

Zanzibar is an Island off of Tanzania . More than 95 percent of the Islands ' population are Muslim, the remaining are a combination of Hindu and Christians. Although in some areas non Muslim houses of worship are strictly regulated on the Island , the number of churches have been increasing, an indication of religious tolerance in the islands since the 1867 when the first church was opened in the island.

Zanzibar have a long history of religious tolerance, where during the sultanate, the Anglican Church was permitted to build a church. Catholic and Anglican Church are the two main churches in the islands, but there are also small churches practising their religion freely.

The Anglican church is the first church to be build in Zanzibar once after abolitions of slaves trade 1873 and the church was build on the market side is where there was a small hurts for slaves and in the church there is a wooden cross made from the tree under which Dr. DAVID LIVINGSTONE died at Chitambo in Zambia.

Zanzibar has an approximate of 10, 000 Christians, including about 3000 Catholics. Most Christians are at areas or villages of Kitope, Machui, Mbweni, and Mpendae, on Unguja Island, and in Chakechake, and Wete, in Pemba Island. There other emerging small churches with small followers. But Mr Mushi says that most followers are immigrants (employees of union institutions working in Zanzibar , and in tourists sector, ‘therefore the number of worshipers is unstable’.

Dilapidated towers are being renovated along line with the repair of walls including painting started July this year by a contractor from Bagamoyo. Salty humidity from the ocean affects the paint inside, and the walls inside the church which ‘is able to accommodate about 800 worshipers at a time.’


Most parishioners St Joseph Church in the heart of the Zanzibar stone town were not really aware of the dilapidated state of the building, although they were seeing the effects of the humidity from the sea had taken on many parts of the building.

‘Something had to be done,’ said a worshiper Ms Jane John, adding repairs are being carried out now by a construction company from Bagamoyo, Coastal town in the Tanzania mainland after a complete survey was undertaken. The church setup a motion for major repairs and refurbishment of the church. Early this year the Catholic Church launched an appeal for funds, and fortunately July this year was target date, this being almost 142nd anniversary of the opening of the church.