President Amani Abeid Karume of Zanzibar will end his last term on 31 October 2010

© Mark Garten/UN Photo/afrol News

afrol News / SANF, 12 October - A referendum in July prepared the way for peaceful October elections in Tanzania's autonomous Zanzibar. Earlier Zanzibari elections have been marred by violence and bitter rivalry.

"With these results, there is no loser and there is no winner. Let us believe that we have all won." These were the words of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission when it announced the outcome of the referendum held on 31 July to decide whether the islands should have a unity government after the 31 October general elections.

More than two-thirds of the electorate voted for a power-sharing government, which could signal the end of political violence in the islands at election time.

A unity government will include a President from the wining party, first Vice President from the second-placed party and second Vice President from the wining party. Ministries would be allocated on a proportional basis.

Such a scenario points to a government made up of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which currently governs the islands and the main opposition, the Civic United Front (CUF) – an arrangement that many could never have predicted a few years ago.

Both parties had campaigned for a "yes" vote in the referendum.

The two parties, who have had a bitter rivalry since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1992, said the referendum outcome was "a victory for all Zanzibaris" as well as Tanzania and the whole of East and Southern Africa.

"The people have expressed their opinion that they need unity in Zanzibar," the Zanzibar CCM Secretary-General said. "I hope the next elections will be peaceful and we shall continue to work together with the opposition."

The CUF leader, Seif Sharif Hamad, said he was happy with the results and "I hope that what we have been building since November last year will benefit all Zanzibaris." Mr Hamad is contesting the October polls for the fourth time after failed attempts in 1995, 2000 and 2005.

The CCM has selected Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein as its candidate for the Zanzibar presidential polls. Mr Shein replaces President Amani Abeid Karume, whose second and final term as Zanzibar President ends later in October.

The general elections in Zanzibar are conducted on the same day as national elections for Tanzania so Zanzibaris vote twice, once for the national President and parliament, and once for their own local President and parliament, which is more like local government.

The Zanzibar archipelago, comprising the two main islands of Unguja and Pemba, retains its own governance structure and electoral system in addition to the Tanzanian union structures.

Zanzibar and Tanganyika, as the mainland was then known, entered into a union agreement in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania, whose main objective is to build a unified society based on freedom, human rights and peaceful existence.

Tanzania's central government in September dismissed claims raised by legal experts that the amendments to the electoral law in Zanzibar would affect the union.

The country's deputy Attorney-General George Masaju said the changes were meant to accommodate the proposed unity government and not undermine the union.

"I do not see any problem related to the amendment anywhere in the Zanzibar constitution. The amendments seek to accommodate the structure of the coalition government and emphasise critical issues related to the union," he said.

Zanzibar's ruling CCM has also said despite the changes, the "union is still so strong that nothing could threaten it."

By staff writers

© afrol News / SANF

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington. Read more

Central African Republic

Central African Republic falling apart afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians. Read more

Kenya

Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts. Read more

Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa. Read more

Egypt Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old. Read more