Press Release
U.S. Mission Launches Virtual Presence Post for Zanzibar
June 22, 2009
The U.S. Mission has launched http://zanzibar-tanzania.usvpp.gov/, the first Virtual Presence Post for Zanzibar (VPP), an interactive website that focuses exclusively on Zanzibar and highlights the historical relationship between the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania's isles of Zanzibar. Zanzibar VPP provides news, events and services of the U.S. Mission through the internet to Zanzibar citizens. The VPP has links to the U.S. Mission, other U.S. Government agencies and many other related reports.
While there has not been a formal diplomatic presence on Zanzibar since the closure of the U.S. Consulate in 1979, the United States has maintained close contacts with the nearly 1 million Zanzibaris on Unguja and Pemba. Two American Corners (one located at the State University of Zanzibar in Unguja and the second recently opened at the Chake Chake Library on Pemba) are part of the American people’s efforts to reach out to the Zanzibaris.
The U.S. government has 60 VPPs working in different countries, including China, Somalia, Seychelles and Mexico. The Zanzibar VPP can be found at: http://zanzibar-tanzania.usvpp.gov/.