Zanzibar’s Minister for Water, Energy, and Minerals, Nadir Alwardy, has said he is ready to resign if he fails to deliver results for citizens, a move that has been praised across Tanzania’s political discourse.
Alwardy made the comments on May 29 while presenting his ministry’s budget before the Zanzibar House of Representatives, where he acknowledged the growing frustrations surrounding water and electricity challenges across the islands.
The minister said leadership should be about serving citizens rather than protecting political positions or titles.
“I am not a minister who loves positions,” Alwardy told lawmakers during the session.
“If I fail in this job, I will resign. I cannot continue staying in this ministry if I cannot serve the people.”
He added that he accepted his appointment with seriousness and understood the weight of expectations placed on his office.
“I stand here to represent citizens and to respect my party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi,” he said.
“So I ask all honorable representatives to trust me because I am going to work and solve these challenges. I did not come here to entertain people.”
Alwardy also described the Ministry of Water, Energy, and Minerals as one of the most difficult institutions in government, arguing that meaningful results cannot appear within only a few months.
“It has only been six months since I was given this ministry,” he said.
“This is a very heavy ministry, and within six months, you cannot immediately see its results.”
Despite the challenges, the minister promised that his office would continue working to address long-standing complaints involving water shortages and electricity reliability in Zanzibar.
His remarks quickly attracted attention online, with many Tanzanians describing the statement as unusual in a political environment where leaders are often accused of clinging to power despite public criticism or poor performance.
Some commentators praised Alwardy for publicly linking his position to accountability and service delivery rather than political survival.
Others argued that the real test would depend on whether citizens eventually see improvements in water access and energy infrastructure across Zanzibar in the coming months.
Water shortages and electricity interruptions remain among the most sensitive public concerns in Zanzibar, especially during periods of high tourism activity and rapid urban growth.
The ministry’s budget presentation came as authorities continue facing pressure to modernize aging infrastructure while responding to increasing demand for reliable utilities across the islands.
