Zakat Institution. An Alternative for Poverty Alleviation in Zanzibar

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to explore the successful level of poverty alleviation strategies in Zanzibar and point out how zakat institution could be an effective alternative to eradicate poverty in this Muslims island. The study relies solely on existing secondary documents and review of the literature as the main sources of data and information. The finding from this study indicated the non-convincing level of poverty reduction, although some strategies and initiatives by both government and non-government organizations as the poverty incident is still very high with the alarming situation in the rural areas indicating needs for immediate actions. Following the nature of the island population, the study recommends for the strengthening zakat institution to capture for the needs of the very poor part of the community. More importantly, the study recommends for more studies in this area to include the role of society as a whole in strengthening zakat institution, corporate image and awareness level which are crucial aspects of developing zakat institution in Zanzibar

Keywords: Zakat, poverty alleviation strategies, Zanzibar