2005 News

Kikwete vows to restore harmony

30/12/2005
News24 (SA)

Dodoma - Tanzania's new President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday vowed to restore harmony to the volatile Zanzibar archipelago, extending an olive branch to his political foes on the islands, where violence had flared amid opposition charges of election fraud and repression.

In his first address to parliament since being sworn in after a decisive victory in December 14 polls, Kikwete said he was deeply troubled by the situation in semi-autonomous Zanzibar, which was wracked by violence during October local elections and again in this month's national vote.

He said: "I have been extremely concerned by political developments in Zanzibar, in which two islets of Unguja and Pemba are deeply divided and people are evidently hostile to each other."

Political divisions

Kikwete said: "I will make sure we engage in a dialogue so that we do away with political divisions and rivalry in Zanzibar."

Kikwete said he would seek a new truce between the warring supporters of his ruling Revolutionary Party (CCM) and the main opposition group, the Civic United Front (CUF), who had been battling on Zanzibar for years amid complaints about the islands' status in the United Republic of Tanzania.

He said: "In this, I will go beyond the Mwafaka Accord", referring to a largely ignored deal the two parties signed in 2001 after an explosion of deadly violence following elections in 2000 that claimed at least 30 lives.

Although this year's clashes had not produced similar fatalities, at least one person was killed and nearly 200 people were wounded in violence surrounding the October elections and at least 20 were injured in poll-related unrest this month that had sent hundreds of villagers fleeing their homes.

1964 union agreement

CUF supporters on Zanzibar insisted the CCM cheated their way to narrow victories in both elections and had threatened mass protests unless their charges of fraud were dealt with.

The complaints had heightened tensions on the overwhelmingly Muslim islands - where some wanted greater autonomy than they were given in the 1964 union agreement with what was called Tanganyika - many others complained of marginalisation and domination by the mainland.

Kikwete, who succeeded Benjamin Mkapa as president of the union, pledged his support in ensuring that Zanzibaris, whose idyllic palm-fringed beaches were a leading tourism draw for the country, get the support from the national government.

Kikwete said: "My government will increase its contributions to the Zanzibar government to enable it to execute its operational and development goals."

Zanzibar's cultural wonder collapsing

Weather, neglect taking toll on Stone Town, ancient trading center

December 29, 2005
By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS
AP

Salim Mbarak sits near a collapsed site in Stone Town, once lined with Arab palaces, colonial offices and slave chambers. Bit by bit, Zanzibar's fabled Stone Town is crumbling. Every year, a few more buildings collapse, leaving yawning gaps in the narrow, winding alleys lined with Arab palaces, Persian baths, British colonial offices, Indian shops and one-time slave chambers.

Relentless sun, rain, wind and neglect have taken a toll on one of the world's cultural treasures – the former capital of a trading empire stretching from Africa to the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the United States.

About 85 percent of the more than 1,000 buildings show signs of structural decline, says Abdu Sheriff, a historian and former curator of national museums. Conservationists estimate at least 200 have fallen in recent decades, including three so far this year.

Salim Mbarak moved to Stone Town from Yemen 54 years ago when the ancient heart of Zanzibar town was a prosperous commercial center. His fortunes faded with the neighborhood.

He now makes a paltry living selling bread in the street and pays the government $6 a month for a room off a courtyard crowded with drying laundry and water drums.

There are holes in his walls, wooden window frames and shutters have rotted away, and a sudden shower sends water streaming through the tin roof. Earlier this year, the house next door collapsed, leaving rubble piled two stories high.

"Before the revolution, these buildings were properly maintained," Mr. Mbarak, 65, says as the Muslim call to prayer mixes with church bells. "Now, they don't repair anything – but they increase the rent every year."

Zanzibar, a semiautonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, was once the center of a vast empire of Swahili city states stretching from Somalia to Mozambique.

Through the centuries, the islands were colonized by the Portuguese, Omani Arabs made their capital here, and the British established a protectorate. They built fortunes on the slave trade and spices, making Zanzibar the leading exporter of cloves during the 19th century.

Stone Town remains Zanzibar's commercial and cultural center, the seat of government, its main port and a major tourist attraction drawing more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Its varied cultural heritage is preserved in coral stone walls and imposing wooden doors, whose intricate carvings reveal their owner's religion, wealth and status. It has been home to Arab sultans, Indian and Chinese merchants, European explorers and the late rock star Freddie Mercury.

"It is a living manifestation of cultural fusion and harmonization," says Mwalim Ali Mwalim, head of the Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority set up to rescue the district.

Without maintenance, the buildings fall apart, he says. Mangrove poles used to support ceilings collapse if they are not replaced about every 15 years. When water seeps into the mud and lime used to plaster walls, trees start to grow out of them.

Stone Town's decline began under British rule, when the slave trade was banned and Zanzibar started to lose its political and economic importance.

Independence from Britain in 1963 brought a bloody revolution by African residents against the Omani sultanate seen as exploiter over more than 300 years. Thousands of Arabs and others fled, taking with them much of the wealth and skills that had built Stone Town.

The new socialist regime took over abandoned buildings, leasing out rooms to rural migrants too poor to maintain them. The government showed little interest in preserving the old buildings, preferring to build large concrete apartment blocks for the swelling population.

Meanwhile, Stone Town's economic fortunes plummeted with the decline in world prices for cloves and other exports. By the late 1970s, buildings were collapsing, causing numerous casualties.

Fatima Khamis Rashid, 36, moved to the neighborhood with her husband 15 years ago from Zanzibar's impoverished second island, Pemba.

The couple and their eight children squeeze into two rooms above a curio shop. Their faucet has long stopped delivering water, the wooden ceiling beams are cracking and pieces of plaster tumble to the floor – narrowly missing the children.

"Any time the ceiling can fall down on top of us," says Ms. Rashid, wrapped in a blue veil in her dim kitchen.

Stone Town's fortunes have rebounded some since the late 1980s, a period of racial reconciliation and economic liberalization that revived the neighborhood's commercial activity. The government also began to see the district's tourism potential.

With the help of the U.N., the development authority was formed and a conservation plan drawn up leading to the proclamation of Stone Town as a World Heritage Site in 2000. But Mr. Mwalim says the body lacks the political clout and funding to turn its plans into reality.

Government pays the authority's salaries and operating costs, but its annual conservation budget is less than $20,000.

The authority relies on donors such as the Agha Khan Trust for Culture to fund key restorations.

Opposition cuts strike threat

The Australian
From correspondents in Dar Es Salaam
December 29, 2005

TANZANIA'S main opposition party backed away on Wednesday from threats of mass action to protest the results of elections it says were rigged.

The Civic United Front (CUF) has accused the authorities of irregularities both in Tanzania's nationwide election on Dec. 14, which it lost resoundingly, and in separate polls on the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar in late October.

The government has denied the accusations and international election observers mostly endorsed the polls.

During campaigning ahead of Zanzibar's presidential election CUF called for mass protests in case of fraud.

But CUF leaders said overnight that it was not an appropriate time for such action now and that the party would seek other ways to fight what it calls election injustices.

"We do not think it is now an opportune moment to call for nationwide strikes. We have to explore other avenues," said CUF chairman Ibrahim Lipumba, without elaborating.

Mr Lipumba was speaking as the party released a 52-page report detailing what it says were discrepancies and irregularities in the country's electoral system.

Former Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete was sworn in as Tanzanian president last week, after his ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party clearly won the nationwide poll and extended its four-decade grip on power.

The government and electoral board denied any foul play in the vote, which saw Mr Kikwete take 80.2 per cent of the vote.

Official results in the Oct. 30 Zanzibar poll gave CCM 53.2 per cent of the vote against 46.1 per cent for CUF, but Mr Lipumba said they did not reflect the will of the people.

"What happened in Zanzibar was nothing but electoral theft and fraud ... ," he said.

CUF said the electoral commission had issued different election results to donors and political parties and called for an inquiry. It also said the number of voters had exceeded the maximum of 350 per ballot box at different polling stations.

"We were also denied a total of 116 results forms from different polling stations in 11 rural constituencies," Mr Lipumba said, adding this made it impossible for the party to correctly tally the results.

Zanzibar sets tourism record

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, December 28 –
Africast Global Media

Tanzania's semi-autonomous territory of Zanzibar recorded the largest number of tourists in its history in 2005, despite fears that widely publicised election violence would scare people away from the Indian Ocean islands' shores, said officials on Tuesday.

They said Zanzibar recorded 113 237 tourist arrivals between January and November, well more than the 100 000 target that authorities had set earlier this year, but revised amid widespread violence that erupted before and during polls in October and December.

Ali Halil Mirza, the director for marketing and promotion at the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, said: "This is the first time we have had more than 100 000 visitors since we started promoting tourism in Zanzibar."

Since the 113 237 figure didn't include December arrivals, Mirza said the final numbers for 2005 would be even better than the commission hoped for even after a decline in visitors around the politically volatile islands' October 30 local elections and November 14 national polls.

Numerous countries advised their citizens to avoid Zanzibar during the voting, which pitted the ruling Revolutionary Party (CCM) against the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

At least one person was killed and scores of people injured across the islands in election-related clashes between supporters of the rival parties and police.

According to official results that were disputed by the CUF, the CCM won narrow victories in both polls.

But, Vuai Mohamed, the executive secretary of the tourism commission, said the violence had "no serious impact on the tourism industry" despite some cancellations.

He said: "We recorded few tourists in October, but they started to flock in after the election and, fortunately, most of the places where the violence was reported were not tourism areas."

Officials said that tourist arrivals for 2005 were set to far outpace those of the previous four years, noting that visitors totalled 76 329 in 2001, 87 511 in 2002, 68 365 in 2003 and 92 161 in 2004.

The sector directly or indirectly employed nearly 45 000 of Zanzibar's some one million people and was hoped to surpass agriculture, currently 35% of gross domestic product, as its leading revenue earner by 2015.

Zanzibar import earnings pick up after campaigns

December 26, 2005
By WILFRED EDWIN
Special correspondent

Zanzibar's imports have improved significantly after they dropped by $3.6 million in September, at the height of the presidential election campaigns.

During the campaign period, imports into the Isles had declined to $6.2 million from $9.81 million recorded in August, creating a slowdown on the inflow of all categories of imports except transport equipment and industrial materials.

"The crash is associated with preparations for the November general election, says the October report of the Bank of Tanzania.

But the November monthly report says the Isles' imports bill for October had risen to $8.09 million compared with $6.81 million of the preceding month.

This was attributed to performance in consumer goods imports that rose sharply during the month to $3.36 million from $1.55 million, due to high demand for food, clothing and footwear materials for Ramadhan festivities.

Intermediate goods imports also increased due to rising of oil prices and imports of industrial raw materials to cater for confectionary and soft drinks manufacturing. However, for the year-end October 2005, imports fell by 15.5 per cent to $75.85 million from $89.80 million, largely on account of a decrease in imports of intermediate and consumer goods.

However, for the year ending September 2005, the import bill rose 14.2 per cent to $79.7 million from $69.8 million due to a rise in imports of building and construction materials to cater for development projects and industrial inputs especially soft drinks manufacture.

The Zanzibar net services account balance during October improved to a surplus of $0.6 million from a deficit of $0.35 million recorded in September, largely due to recovery in services inflows compared with slowdown in outflows.

Services receipts rose by 13.8 per cent to $6.73 million from $5.91 million, while payments declined by 2.2 per cent to $6.1 million.

During the year ended October 2005, the account recorded a surplus of $19.12 million up from $13.28 million registered in the previous corresponding period.........

Tanzania should amend its Union constitution

December 26, 2005
By KARL LYIMO
The EastAfrican

Voices that were calling for a new Constitution for the United Republic of Tanzania have finally been amplified through a totally unexpected quarter. This is no other than a former president of Zanzibar, Salmin Amour.

Speaking to the BBC in Dar es Salaam on December 17, Dr Salmin called for an immediate review and amendment of both the Union and the Zanzibar constitutions. The objective, he said, was to bring both documents up-to-date by fitting them into the context of the affairs of the nation-state that is Tanzania.

Asked why the sudden change in position – a position that he never took or articulated as president of Zanzibar (1990-2000) – Dr Salmin said his perspectives were severely limited by his official positions in the party and the government. He was also one of the two vice-chairmen of the all-powerful ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

Now that he is watching the political game, as it were, from the public gallery, his vision has broadened. And (he might have added), he has nothing to lose now by removing his toe from the party and CCM government's line.

It has been a rigid stand of CCM and its governments that the two constitutions as they are today adequately meet the needs and aspirations of the United Republic and its people.

However, with Dr Salmin now siding with those who have been calling for fresh constitution-making over the years – but in vain – who can be against the move now?

The Union constitution was put together in 1977 after more than a decade of interim constitutions. That was during a period when Tanzania was still groping about for an identity as a nation-state, and a socio-economic ideology for its down-trodden masses.

In the event, the ideology – socialism, self-reliance and Ujamaa based on the Kibbutzim system of Israel – went down the drain.

THIS HAPPENED with indecent haste, and as soon as its premier proponent, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, had switched his gaze from state and party affairs to the sunset of retirement.

The nation-state survived, however, held together not by politicians but by the people themselves. Tanzanians are by nature peace-loving and averse to controversy and blood shedding.

The Union constitution, which is among the longest in the world (152 Articles compared with seven original Articles for the US Constitution) has been amended 14 times since it was promulgated in 1977. This is an average of one amendment every 1.92 years.

By comparison, the US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it was declared effective on March 4, 1789. This works out at one Amendment every 7.51 years. Incidentally, an Amendment that was proposed by the US Congress on September 25, 1789 was ratified only on May 7, 1992!

IN ANY case, the Amendments to the Tanzania constitution are seen by analysts as being more cosmetic and opportunistic than substantial. That is why, observers argue, Tanzania is still in a quandary from the economic and political viewpoints.

For instance, the constitution still describes the country as socialist-oriented at a time when the government has embraced unbridled free market principles and practices.

There are many more such clashing anomalies that must need to be ironed out sooner than later for the good of the country and its hapless people.

For instance, the Constitution bars people who are not members of an approved political party from seeking elective office. It also bans questioning a presidential election once a candidate has been declared "winner" by the National Electoral Commission.

The Constitution also makes it possible for a presidential candidate to be declared winner even when the combined votes cast for other candidates far exceed those of the "winner" These are only a few of the gaping holes in the Union constitution which give democracy a bad name. Hence my full support for Dr Salmin’s call.

Karl Lyimo is a freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam

Pemba Muslim clerics counsel Washington

2005-12-26 09:27:13
By Bilal Abdul-Aziz, Pemba
Guardian

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Dr Jenday Frazer

Muslim clerics in Pemba have urged the US government to give Muslims around the world the chance to explain what Islam can offer to development and freedom in the world.

The clerics issued the advice at a roundtable discussion with Dr Jenday Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, held at Makonyo, Pemba, over the weekend.

The discussions centred on a wide range of issues, including the war on HIV/Aids and malaria and relations between Muslims and people of other faiths.

’’Islam, as a religion, is a complete way of life. Essentially, it has everything that all creatures need for guidance. We therefore urge the US administration to let the religion offer its best,’’ Sheikh Jamal Mohamed said.

He said the Muslim world should be empowered and given the opportunity to air its views and contribute to the world’s development and prosperity.

’’By sticking to the fundamentals of their religion, sometimes Muslims are branded ’terrorists’ by America and other Western countries, which do not bother to listen to them,’’ Sheikh Mohamed said.

Another cleric, Sheikh Abdulrahman Abdallah, said all religions basically aimed at improving the spiritual lives of their respective believers, thus promoting the welfare of the entire community.

’’If a certain religion teaches its followers to shun drugs and other immoral practices, for instance, at the end of the day, it is the entire community that benefits,’’ he said.

Sheikh Abdallah urged Washington to channel aid to communities in Pemba through mosques, which, he added, were being widely used as centres of all social activities.

Sheikh Nassor Mohamed Ibrahim echoed the suggestion, saying a special office for distributing foreign aid should be established in Pemba.

Sheikh Said Seif Said challenged the Bush administration in Washington to take the lead in ending the enmity between Muslims and people of other faiths.

’’In the aftermath of 9/11, relations between Muslims and people of other faiths have been virtually destroyed. We want your government to make deliberate efforts to heal the wounds,’’ the cleric said.

Dr Frazer said in response that the US government was aware that Islam was one of the most peaceful religions in the world and warned against the religion being hijacked by ’’terrorist organisations’’.

’’This is true with all religions?that extremists can sometimes use religions for a wrong cause,’’ she said, adding that antagonisms in the world were essentially created by people, not religions.

Citing an example, she said even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was not in conflict with other faiths, and he lived in peace with other people and all other religions.

She assured the clerics that the Washington administration was ready to discuss the best ways of doing away with ’’terrorist elements’’ in religion and in other areas around the world.

The Mufti’s office in Zanzibar, which was represented at the discussions by Sheikh Ali Abdullah Amani organised the talks, which were the first of their kind to have taken place in Zanzibar.

Later, Dr Frazer, who was the first high level US government official to visit Pemba, opened the Pemba Museum in Chake Chake. The US government funded the renovation of the museum.

Dr Frazer was on an official trip to Tanzania and she visited Pemba after attending the inauguration of President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam last week.

Bishop rekindles condom debate

2005-12-26
By Privatus Lipili and Mariam Samiji, Dodoma
Guardian

As Christians celebrated Christmas yesterday, debate on condoms resurfaced when a bishop criticised those opposing their use in the war on HIV/Aids.

Bishop Godfrey Mdimi Mhogolo of the Central Tanganyika Diocese of the Anglican Church made the remarks at a Christmas Mass in Dodoma.

He described religious institutions that opposed condom use as stumbling block in the struggle against HIV/Aids which had been declared a national disaster.

Bishop Mhogolo said the situation was so serious that the government was chanelling a ’’huge’’ chunk of resources to the health sector, leaving other important areas ”grossly under-funded”.

’’Religious institutions in countries that have managed to slow down the spread of HIV/Aids do not directly oppose the use of condoms.

It is in countries where religious institutions openly campaign against condom use that the death rates are highest. In such countries, youths are dying in staggering numbers,’’

He urged the fourth phase government to end the debate on condom use, saying it was absurd to debate on whether or not condoms were useful while Tanzanians were being wiped out by Aids.

’’The government must do something to make sure that the tug-of-war comes to an end as soon as possible for the benefit of all Tanzanians,’’ Bishop Mhogolo said.
The outspoken bishop also called for the size of the government to be reduced as a way of cutting costs and making more funds available for other sectors.

’’The government is currently bloated?it is huge and should be reduced to save money which should then be used to reduce poverty in the country.

The government is not engaged in production and yet it has more employees than parastatal firms and private companies.’’

Bishop Mhogolo also spoke out against unnecessary bureaucracy, saying it was holding back Tanzanians in their efforts to haul themselves out of poverty.

He charged that regulations governing business in Tanzania were benefiting foreigners more than Tanzanians, thus impeding the war on poverty.

Meanwhile, Bishop Phillip Baji of the Tanga Diocese of the Anglican Church urged Christians to maintain peace and harmony, saying this was a fitting gift for Jesus Christ as Christians marked his birth, reports Dege Masoli of PST from Korogwe.

He said God sent Jesus to the world to save people from their sins and spread the true spirit of love and peace, adding that the only way Christians could show their respect to Jesus was by emulating his deeds.

’’As true followers of Jesus, we have to emulate him?do the things that he did,’’ Bishop Baji said.

He criticised Christians who had been instigating conflict, misunderstandings and other misdeeds in the festive season, contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

’’This is a big day for us Christians?it reminds us of what our Lord Jesus stands for. We have to respect him and act according to his instructions,’’ he said.

Elsewhere, the Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Zanzibar, Douglas Toto, urged opposition leaders in the Isles to end their bitterness in the wake of the October 30 elections and work with the elected government.

The clergyman said the leaders should urge their supporters to stop wasting time by complaining endlessly and instead give the government in power a helping hand.

Archbishop Toto made the remarks during a Christmas Eve Mass held at the Mkunazini Cathedral in Zanzibar.

He said to keep ’’grumbling’’ about the Zanzibar elections and the Union poll held on December 14 would not help Tanzanians in any way in their fight against poverty.

’’The elections have ended. Let us all join hands and work together to build our country collectively in peace and in tranquility.’’

On HIV/Aids, Archbishop Toto said the society should help all those affected by the scourge.

’’The Church commends all of you who have contributed towards the assistance of Aids orphans because this is the only way we can ensure that they will lead happy lives in the future,’’.

Christmas masses were held under tight security at various churches, including Minara Miwili, Mtaa wa Shangani, Mkunazini and Mpendae. This reporter saw dozens of police officers guarding the churches during mass.

Zanzibaris seek to have Union declared illegal

2005-12-24 08:16:12
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Ten Zanzibaris said on Thursday that they would ask the Zanzibar High Court to declare the Union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika null and void.

They said they would file a fresh case after the court ruled on Wednesday that Zanzibar did not have an official document on the agreement, which led to the establishment of the union on April 26, 1964.

The ten are Rashid Salum Adiy, Rashid Ahmed Rashid, Rashid Yussuf Mchenga, Haji Sheha Hamad, Abdallah Hassan Mrisho, Mbarouk Sheha Simai, Khamis Ismail Makame, Ali Simai Mwadini, Abdallah Muhsin Abeid and Ali Omar Omar.

They said they would ask the Zanzibar High Court to declare that Zanzibar was not part of the Union, because there was no such agreement.

’We are filing a case at the High Court to quash this illegal marriage and seek a declaration to the effect that Union laws being applied in Zanzibar are illegal. We need a union, but we have to start afresh and form a union that will be in line with our current needs and aspirations,’ Adiy told reporters in Zanzibar.

In June, this year, the ten filed an application at the High Court, seeking to force the Zanzibar Attorney General to produce the original Articles of the Union. They said the public had the right to know what the original Union document stated.

But Attorney General Idd Pandu Hassan admitted in his counter-affidavit that his office was not in possession of the Articles.

On Wednesday, High Court Judge Mbarouk Salim Mbarouk said since the Attorney General had made it clear that his office did not have the original Union document, the court could not force him to produce the document.

The court also said the Zanzibar Constitution was silent on the existence of the Articles.

Newly elected Union President Jakaya Kikwete said when campaigning ahead of last week’s general election that he would try to find solutions to problems dogging the Union.

CUF Maintains Political Dominance in Pemba

CUF Maintains Political Dominance in Pemba

December 20, 2005
Mike Mande,
the Eastafrican Nairobi

Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has conceded defeat on Pemba Island.

In a repeat of the October 30 poll result, the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) established its political dominance in one of the major Islands forming the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar. CUF took all 18 parliamentary seats in Pemba and one crucial seat in Unguja Stone Town Constituency, but did not get a single seat on the mainland.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jakaya Kikwete is the new president of Tanzania after getting about 80 per cent of the votes counted at the time of going to press. All elected MPs will be sworn in on Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.

CUF's Director of Elections Hamad Rashid Mohamed told The EastAfrican last week that CUF did not win any parliamentary seat on the mainland, which he said was a "blow to his party." In the 2000 polls, CUF had won two seats in Kigamboni and Bukoba Urban Constituencies. In the October 30 presidential election, CCM candidate Amani Abeid Karume got 239,832 votes, which was 53 per cent against Seif Shariff Hamad of CUF who got 207,773 votes (46 per cent).

By Saturday night, provisional results showed that CCM had won 135 parliamentary seats out of the 232 seats being contested and was still leading in many of the constituencies where the results were yet to be released.

In this year's election, a total of 15,958,801 voters registered both on the Mainland and the Isles, which is the biggest number ever recorded since the country went multiparty in 1995.

In the 1995 election, there were four presidential aspirants: Benjamin Mkapa (CCM), Augustine Mrema (NCCR-Mageuzi), Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF) and John Cheyo (UDP). CCM took 186 seats, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, Chadema two, CUF 24 and UDP three. Other parties which took part in the election did not get any seats.

In the October 2000 election, there were 8,172,284 voters and four presidential candidates. CCM fielded Benjamin Mkapa who got 5,863,201 votes (71.74 per cent), Ibrahim Lipumba of CUF got 1,329,077 (16.26 per cent), Augustine Mrema of TLP got 637,115 votes (7.80 per cent ) and John Cheyo of UDP got 342,891 votes (4.20 per cent). Voter turn out was 84.4 per cent.

In the parliamentary poll, CCM got 244 seats, CUF 15, Chadema four, TLP three and UDP two. As of last week, TLP and UDP had won one seat each, while Chadema had five seats.

In this year's election, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) approved 10 candidates to contest. These included Mr Kikwete (CCM), Henry Kyara of Sauti ya Umma (SAU), Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF), Dr Emmanuel Makaidi (NLD), Freeman Mbowe (Chadema), Augustine Mrema (TLP) and Rev Christopher Mtikila of DP. Others were Dr Sengondo Mvungi (NCCR-Mageuzi), Anna Senkoro (PPT-Maendeleo) and Professor Leonard Shayo of Demokrasia Makini (Makini).

Dozens Reportedly Displaced in Post Election Violence in Zanzibar

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
December 16, 2005
Stone Town, Zanzibar

At least 60 people from the town of Tumbatu, off the northwest coast of Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar, have taken refuge in nearby Nungwi following election violence between supporters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), the police and witnesses said on Friday.

"We are aware of the situation in Tumbatu, and according to the area police commander, a number of police officers have been sent there. We are still awaiting more accurate information," Ramadhani Kinyogo, director of criminal investigation, said.

"We quickly reported this incident to the police, but instead of helping us, some of our colleagues have been arrested and no one from CCM has been arrested so far," Mshihiri Vuai Hajji, a CUF supporter, said. "This is unfair, and we have written a letter to the inspector general of police to help us or allow us defend our selves."

Hajji said a number of people had been injured and many others had fled the villages of Kichangani and Gomani on Tumbatu Island to nearby villages and the island of Unguja, to escape harassment from allegedly CCM supporters.

Witness said the situation in Tumbatu had been tense since Wednesday's polls ended, as CUF supporters accused those of the CCM of attacking them and destroying property, including a mosque.

However, the CCM publicity secretary, Vuai Ali Vuai, denied these claims. "I believe CCM supporters have not reached the stage of sabotaging people's property and destroying a holy place like a mosque," he said.

Vuai said unidentified people had destroyed a CCM branch office with property worth nine million Tanzania shillings (US $7,700) during the island's 30 October elections, "but we did not point a blaming finger to the opposition, we only reported to the police".

CUF Deputy Information Officer Salum Bimani, for his part, accused the police of disregarding complains lodged by his party.

"The police are not doing justice; in most cases they neglect the opposition's problems," he said. "There is a big problem in Tumbatu, many people have been forced to leave because of beatings and threats, and also houses have been damaged."

Supporters of the two rival parties have repeatedly engaged in violent confrontations over political issues, leaving several people injured and some property destroyed.

The Zanzibar North regional police commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kheir Khamis, could not immediately be reached for comment.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]

Zanzibar voters injured

2005-12-15 08:50:52
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

At least one person was stabbed with a knife, a soldier injured and scores of people arrested, including CUF parliamentary candidate Zubeir Mussa, as Zanzibar security officers fired live bullets in the air to scare off a crowd that was protesting against alleged bogus voters in yesterday’s elections on the Isles, eyewitness and the police said.

Generally, Zanzibar recorded fewer incidents of violence in the Union general election compared with October 30 polls that marred with bloodshed and violence.

Zanzibaris went to the polls again yesterday, but this time round they were taking part in Union polls.

However, the opposition raised a number of complaints in the conduct of the elections, while the ruling CCM agents said, ’’The elections were fine. However, opposition parties are looking for excuses after sensing defeat.’’

In Zanzibar Town, one person who claimed he wanted to stop bogus voters from being allowed into polling stations was stabbed in the stomach by unknown assailants, while another, identified as a soldier, was injured by an unknown people at Darajani polling station.

Both victims were rushed to Al-Rahma Hospital for treatment and their condition was described as stable.

In Bumbwini constituency (about 35km north of Zanzibar), there were reports that local residents had protested against ferrying ineligible people to vote in the area.

In some areas in Unguja, there were allegations of security forces collaborating with Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the government to rig the polls.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police for Zanzibar North Region, Kheir Khamis, confirmed that there was confrontation between the security forces and civilians from Tuesday night.

’’But apart from firing into air and some people sustaining minor injuries, there were no serious casualties,’’ he said.

His Urban-West counterpart George Kizuguto said: ’’I have just received the reports. I have to clarify and study the reasons of arrests and the spotted violence incidents.’’

However, he said, the voting was going on well in other parts of the region.

Other complains from polling stations in Zanzibar Stone Town include the denial for party agents to verify voter’s cards.

CUF vice presidential candidate Juma Duni Hajji told the Press: ’’This is not an election, but confusion. Many voters were inexplicably arrested by the police.

There is also a high presence of bogus voters with fake voter’s cards who are being protected by the police.’’

’’We thought the Union elections would improve things, but it has proved to be a total mess. There was a lot of rigging under the very noses of security forces,’’ Duni said.

Many parts of Zanzibar have been quiet since the voting exercise started at 7.00am in the morning yesterday with security forces, which included the police and Zanzibar People’s Defence Forces patrolling the streets.

Some roads to the city centre were closed for hours disrupting normal movement in town.?Unlike the October 30 Zanzibar elections, only a few international observers, mainly from African countries monitored the polls on the Isles.

According a NEC official in Zanzibar, the counting of the votes was expected to start immediately after the voting exercise that ended at 4.00pm.

Meanwhile, it was reported that police opened fire and detained dozens of voters in Bumbwini constituency about 35km north of Stone Town when opposition supporters attempted to block people they suspected were bogus voters.

’’Many illegal voters were brought in early in the morning, but when we protested, the police fired in the air,’’ said a witness who said he was a CUF supporter.

Several CUF supporters were also arrested during the incident, he said.

Zanzibar Assistant Police Commissioner Kheir Khamis confirmed both incidents and said investigations were underway.

Election violence erupts on Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago

Wednesday December 14
Sapa-AFP.

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania – At least one person was wounded and dozens arrested Wednesday as police battled opposition supporters on Tanzania’s volatile Zanzibar archipelago during the country’s national elections.
One man was stabbed and security forces fired live rounds over the heads of demonstrators in melees that erupted in at least two areas of the main island in the semi-autonomous territory, witnesses and officials said.
Police opened fire and detained dozens in Bumbwini constituency -- about 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of Stone Town, the historic centre of Zanzibar city -- when opposition supporters attempted to block people they claimed were bogus voters from casting ballots, they said.
“Many illegal voters were brought in early in the morning, but when we protested, the police fired in the air,” said a witness named Omar who identified himself as a supporter of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).
In Stone Town itself, one person was stabbed in the stomach by supporters of the ruling Revolutionary Party (CCM) during a similar opposition protest over alleged bogus voters and polling irregularities, witnesses and medics said.
Several CUF supporters were also arrested in that incident, they said.
Zanzibar’s assistant police commissioner Kheir Khamis confirmed both incidents and said investigations were under way.
“I have just received the reports,” he said, adding that there had been no other incidents of violence on the islands that were wracked by similar clashes when Zanzibaris elected local officials six weeks ago.
The CUF maintains the CCM stole the Zanzibari elections through ballot fraud and has claimed the ruling party is using the same method to rig Wednesday’s elections for the presidency and parliament of the Union of Tanzania.
The union was created in 1964 between mainland Tanganyika, as it was known then, and Zanzibar, which has been an opposition stronghold for years and the site of deadly political violence in the past.
While the CCM narrowly won Zanzibar’s October 30 polls, it is widely expected to cruise to victory in the national elections due to its large backing on the mainland.

Zanzibar hit by week-long fuel shortage

Xinhua
December 13, 2005

Zanzibar has been hit by a week-long fuel shortage that was caused by the no-show of oil tankers to import and distribute the fuel to local gas stations.

GAPCO Manager Fakurdin Tayabal on Monday attributed the fuel shortage to the fact that one local petrochemical company, Zanzibar Petroleum Company, did not receive supplies in time as expected.

"GAPCO received some fuel but the demand was too high," said the manager, "it took only a few days before its fuel ran out and thus the shortage emerged."

Tayabal said that an oil tanker is expected to arrive from Mombasa of Kenya next Wednesday to alleviate the current fuel shortage. Zanzibar totally depends on imports for petrochemical products.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar experienced another fuel shortage in October this year, when local authorities had to hike up by 5 percent the retail prices of fuel to help available fuel last longer.

Local fuel dealers therefore speculated that retail prices of petroleum products might rise again.

Tayabal, however, claimed that fuel prices in Zanzibar where a liter of petrol now fetches 1,050 shillings (0.91 US dollars) and a liter of diesel sells at 1,020 shillings (0.88 dollars) and a liter of kerosene sells at 800 shillings (0.69 dollars) are the lowest in east Africa that includes the Tanzania mainland, Kenya and Uganda.

Zanzibar thanks generous Norfolk

SUE SKINNER
Eastern Daily Press
12 December 2005 06:58

Just a fraction of most people's Christmas spending spree could make a life-changing difference to the people of Jambiani.

The village on the tropical island of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Africa, enjoys an idyllic location with turquoise seas, white beaches and swaying palm trees.

But the grim reality for the inhabitants is life at subsistence level with little in the way of basic amenities, wages at an average of £1 a week and few prospects.

The deprivation, and the cheerfulness of local people in the face of such adversity, had a profound impact on retired GP Dr Pat Preece and his wife, Janie, on a holiday there.

So much so that earlier this year they launched the Zanzibar Aid Project (ZAP), a long-term initiative to provide basic medical care, education and training opportunities for the inhabitants of Jambiani and beyond.

Further visits have helped to develop their plans and forge a deeper relationship with the community where there is a strong desire for self-improvement.

The charity, based at the Preeces' home at Sedgeford, near Hunstanton, has now appointed a local agent on the island, Pandu Ali Pandu, who will be responsible for distributing funds to the precise destination and co-ordinating efforts in the UK with the needs of the people they are to help.

ZAP has already been able to send two young men to a tourist and hospitality college in Stone Town on Zanzibar and is funding three years' training for two nurses from Jambiani who would not otherwise have had the financial means to continue studying or take their medical exams.

The project is also investigating the cost of vocational training which would enable the village to use "home-grown" tradesmen like electricians, mechanics or plumbers rather than import skills from elsewhere.

ZAP is paying the salaries of teachers who are giving local women English lessons - seen as essential if they are to improve their job prospects - while a series of English readers bought by the charity will start to address a critical need for textbooks at Jambiani's school.

One of the couple's fellow directors, Fakenham architect Martin Hall, is involved in plans for a new small hospital in the area and the project is looking into ways to support the underfunded and underequipped government clinic in Jambiani, not just with drugs and medical equipment but with volunteer staff.

There are hopes of helping young men or women keen to train as doctors and nurses, possibly with direct backing from UK medical charities.

A considerable amount of medical and educational equipment, which has been donated by local surgeries and schools, is waiting to be shipped out to Zanzibar, although the charity is keen to patronise shops and suppliers on the island as much as possible.

"A little money goes a tremendously long way and we want to spend our money out there, so it's really money that we are after - money and volunteers," said Mrs Preece.

All the directors, who also include retired headmaster Andrew Morrison, from Docking, pay their own expenses and are fulfilling their aim to get 95pc of all donations to their targets.

Donations can be sent to the Zanzibar Aid Project at The Old Buck, Church Lane, Sedgeford PE36 5NA. The charity also has a website, zanzibaraction.co.uk

Salmin’s proposal triggers outrage

2005-12-25
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Sunday Observer

Four opposition political parties in Zanzibar have expressed shock and surprise at recent remarks by the retired Zanzibar president, Salmin Amour, in favour of perpetuating leadership of a single president for an unlimited term, provided it was allegedly approved by the people.

The political parties described as unconstitutional, selfish and undemocratic, the call by the former president for abolition of term limits.

They argued that if Dr Salmin’s views were to prevail, the Sultanate would crawl back into the Isles through the backdoor.

The four parties are NCCR-Mageuzi, UPDP,TADEA and CUF.
Speaking in a separate cross-section interview with the Sunday Observer, they expressed outrage over the views, which they charged would amount to a U-turn to the dark era of oppressive Sultan rule.

TADEA’s Planning and publicity Secretary,Juma Ali Khatibu, accused the retired President of being misdirected, adding that he should cherish the positive approach of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Nyerere and his successors, who relinquished leadership gracefully and honourably.

Khatibu said it was wrong to imply that there was a critical shortage of individuals capable of replacing those who complete their maximum ten-year tenures.

The Director of the NCCR Mageuzi Foreign Affairs Directorate, Ali Omar, said if entertained, Dr. Salmin’s views would plunge Tanzania into an abyss of constitutional disputes.

Omar, who is also a lawyer, claimed that remarks by the former president echoed the attempts her made while in office, to change the constitution for the sake of entrenching his leadership.

The CUF Information and Publicity Director, Salum Bimani, said it was not possible for a democratic country to entertain such a proposal.

On his part, the UPDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Haji Othman, charged that the proposal could be indicative of a leader who runs from his own shadow, because the Union Government Vice Presidency portfolio was done away with during his tenure as president of Zanzibar.

Zanzibar intent on improving security at main airport

2005-12-10 11:04:38
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Director of Zanzibar Civil Aviation (ZCA), Malik Mohamed, has said his office is committed to the improvement of security of the Zanzibar International Airport as well as to reduce environmental pollution caused by increasing air transport in the Island.

He made the remarks at the Zanzibar Airport on Wednesday where members of his staff and secondary school students, gathered to mark the 62nd International Civil Aviation day marked globally last week.

He said the environmental pollution normally caused by sound and fuel by products from the aircrafts must be controlled, and that Zanzibar would make sure that the increase of aircraft in the Island does not endanger the environment.

’The Zanzibar government is determined to keep our environment clean, and also improve on the security at the airport. Aviation is for every body and should not be politicised,’ Malik said before raising up the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) flag to mark the day.

This year’s ICA day theme is ’The Greening Of Flight Maximising Capability Between Safe and Orderly Development Of Civil Aviation and the Quality of Environment.’

The International Civil Aviation Day (December 7) was established in 1994 by ICAO, through Assembly Resolution A29-1, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organisation, created on December 7, 1944.

The purpose of the global celebration is to generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of states, and of the role of ICAO in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (SAA) LAUNCHES ZANZIBAR ROUTE

Dec 7, 2005

South African Airways (SAA) today launched its route to Zanzibar, a dream holiday destination off the east coast of Tanzania.
SAA opened this route, along with those to Livingstone (Zambia) and Washington DC, via Accra in Ghana in July, as part of its strategic vision to form closer networks between countries on the African continent.

“Adding Zanzibar to existing holiday destinations in the Indian Ocean, such as Mauritius, gives our passengers a wider choice when deciding on a break-away island holiday,” says Onkgopotse JJ Tabane, SAA General Manager: Corporate Communications.

Zanzibar, also known as the Spice Island, is steeped in history and offers visitors beautiful sun-drenched beaches.

The new routes deliver on SAA’s promise to take Africa to the world and to bring the world to Africa.

SAA joins the Star Alliance of global airlines next year to become the only African airline in the Alliance. Member carriers of this alliance offer more than 15, 000 daily flights to 790 destinations in 138 countries.

The flights to Zanzibar will depart from Johannesburg on Tuesdays as SA186 at 08h55 to arrive at 13h45, and on Sundays at 10h00 to arrive in Zanzibar at 14h40. SA187 departs on Tuesdays and Sundays from Zanzibar at 15h40 to arrive in Johannesburg at 18h30.

Zanzibar recorded 4.3bn/- deficit last September, says BoT

2005-12-07 08:52:40
By Moris Lyimo
Guardian

The Zanzibar Government budgetary performance on a cheque-issued basis recorded an over all deficit of 4.3bn/- before grants during last September, the Bank of Tanzania reports.

In its October Monthly Economic Review the bank notes that the budget declined to 0.8bn/- after considering grants amounting to 3.5bn/-, the same as in the previous month.

The deficit was financed by non-bank borrowing through government securities and partly by foreign resources.

The review notes that the revenue outturn was 4.9bn/- last September mission the target of 5.1bn/-.
’The dismay performance was on account of low collection of VAT, excise duty (local) other taxes and non-tax revenue sources as a result of the low tourism season,’ the review notes.

Tax receipts remained dominant, accounting for 97.9 per cent of total revenue while the rest was accounted by revenue from non-tax sources.

Revenue performance by category shows that import duties amounted to 1.1bn/- being below the target of 1.3bn/- due to taxable imports. VAST and excise duty (local) collection amounted to 1.8bn/- slightly below the target of 1.9bn/-. Income tax collection amounted to 0.6bn/- in line with the monthly target.

The collection of revenue from other taxes amounted to 1.2bn/- being below the 1.6bn/- target because of seasonal decline in tourism-related activities.

Cumulatively, the total revenue collection from July to September 2005 amounted to 15.5 bn/- against the target of 16.6bn/-,’ the review notes.

Zanzibar opposition alleges police intimidation

Mon 5 Dec 2005
ZANZIBAR, Reuters

Zanzibar's government is using its police force to intimidate opposition supporters from voting in Tanzania's national elections later this month, the Civic United Front (CUF) opposition party said on Monday.

Police on the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean islands used teargas and water cannon to disperse crowds of opposition supporters after campaign rallies over the weekend.

"Teargas and water cannon amount to harassment and are aimed at intimidating our supporters," said party spokesman Ismail Jussa Ladhu, adding that the conduct of CUF's supporters had been peaceful.

The police denied allegations that they were partisan and said they acted to maintain public peace.

"We had to disperse the crowds after noting some signs of disrupting peace and stability," said George Kizuguto, a regional police commissioner.

Tanzania goes to the polls to elect MPs and a president on Dec. 14. Tanzania was created in 1964 when Zanzibar merged with mainland Tanganyika.

In separate elections held on Oct. 30 for Zanzibar's own parliament and president, the CUF lost to the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM or "Party of the Revolution"), which has ruled Zanzibar and also the rest of Tanzania for the past four decades.

"The police want to discourage as many as possible not to vote so they can discount what we've said about the Oct. 30 elections being rigged," Ladhu said.

Official results in the Zanzibar poll gave the CCM 53.2 percent of the vote and the CUF 46.1 percent, but the CUF has called for an independent probe into the electoral process, alleging fraud. Foreign observers mostly endorsed the poll although some expressed reservations about alleged fraud.

Zanzibar's election was a sham

LETTERS
Daily Nation
Publication Date: 11/18/2005

The elections in neighbouring Tanzania, especially in the Zanzibar islands have been interesting since voter registration through the campaigns to the polls. When the outcome was announced, the results were not unexpected.

Tanzania is one country that likes to portray itself as the most democratic and peaceful in this part of the world, but all that is fallacious. Early this year, in the Voice of America popular talk show Straight Talk Africa, one panellist remarked: "Many countries in Africa portray themselves as peaceful, but in fact they are like a healing wound that a slight scratch would lead to instant bleeding." Tanzania could easily fall here.

The conduct of campaigns and elections in Zanzibar was undemocratic and provocative, to say the least. Registration of voters was callous, with the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi supporters imported from the mainland to register, while the resident Civic United Front supporters were being denied the same. I recall one person going to court to fight to be allowed to register!

When the campaign period was announced, President Mkapa travelled there and warned alleged trouble-makers (read Civic supporters) of dire consequences. This was soon followed by massive movement of police and troops to the islands. The troops engaged in nothing but ensuring Civic rallies were interrupted by the Janjaweed hoodlums okayed and paid by the ruling party.

They created mayhem, intimidation and uncertainty. Come election day and the shame of Tanzania came to the fore. Election monitors have reported that in certain polling stations, CCM supporters were each issued with more than two presidential cards. Others were encouraged to vote several times. Some Civic supporters found their names deleted from the registers, soldiers and police took charge of polling booths.

The CCM supporters voted but did not dip their fingers in the ink thereby enabling them to vote again! When it came to relaying results to the Zanzibar Electoral Commission command centre, the return sheets had to go through intelligence hands for doctoring. I saw (and I am sure many others saw) the beating of Civic supporters and the face of the commission chairman Masauri Masauri as he announced the results. One could see an old man selling his conscience.

The speed with which the president was sworn in spoke volumes. These are my observations and they tally with reports by the European Union and Temco. Of course observers East African Community and African Union are not expected to criticise their brother.

The truth is, there is a fear in Tanzania that a win for the Civic United Front is a card for divorce. If it be so, why hang onto a marriage that is colourless?

M. IKWADI,
Njoro.

’Yes, votes must be counted at polling stations’

2005-10-19
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Four political parties have supported the decision by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to count votes at the polling stations.

The parties that supported ZEC are CCM, CUF, NCC-Mageuzi and UPDP.

The parties also said the decision was long overdue, but it would restore confidence in ZEC.

They also said that the decision was important in propping up multiparty democracy in the country.

CCM Zanzibar publicity and ideology secretary Vuai Ali Vuai said the decision was crucial in building democracy and good governance.

Vuai expressed confidence that CCM would win this year’s general election and so it would not go back on its pledge for ZEC to count the votes at polling stations.

CUF deputy director of publicity and policy Salum Bimani said pressure by opposition parties for transparency in ZEC’s activities was beginning to bear fruit.

Bimani said supporters of democracy must congratulate ZEC for the bold decision to level the playing field and check possible rigging.

He said there were possibilities of rigging during the transportation of ballot boxes to centralised counting halls.’Zanzibar residents must support ZEC’s, decision,’ Bimani said.

NCCR-Mageuzi deputy director of international relations Ali Omar also supported ZEC’s decision.

UPDP board of trustees chairman Haji Othman hailed the move as timely and called for its implementation.

CUF must recognise Karume’s government

November 10, 2005
Dar es Salaam
EXPRESS
By Evarist Kaguruki

The ruling party, CCM, emerged victorious in the recent Zanzibar general elections wherein Zanzibaris gave President Amani Abeid Karume another five-year term in office. Karume was declared the winner by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, amid cries of “foul play” from the main opposition Civic United Front whose presidential contender, Seif Shariff Hamad claimed he had been “robbed” of victory.
Many had predicted a very close race between the two gentlemen, bearing in mind the fact that CCM and CUF (in the Isles) have almost the same number of supporters. This prediction has been proven correct by the results of the presidential poll. While president Karume garnered 239,832 votes (53.2 per cent – for CCM this was an emphatic victory), Maalim Seif got 207,773 (46.1 per cent). These results also match the predictions of the Eastern African Universities Research Programme who, sometime ago, had said that neither CCM nor CUF could win more than 55 per cent of the total votes in Zanzibar.
Based on that scenario, ESAURP proposed that the viable solution to the political strife and instability in the archipelago lay in the formation of a government of national unity. I myself had several times in the past, in this column, argued the case for power-sharing in Zanzibar because I believe very strongly that is the only way forward. There is no alternative to a coalition government. Some say, however, that Zanzibaris could find a way to resolve their differences if there were a change in the Union structure – something not even remotely imagined by CCM, since it is anathema to their policy of a two-government Union arrangement which has existed since 1964, when Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged. CUF, and the opposition in general, prefer a three-government Union set up.
In the wake of the last election, CUF’s stand is that they do not recognize Karume’s government. This is hardly surprising because even long before the polls, they had repeatedly stated they would not recognize the results of a “rigged” election.
As I was writing, the CUF National Council had just finished their meeting with a declaration that the party would continue with its stand of not recognizing the Karume government. However, members of the House of Representatives will attend the House sessions, but will not cooperate with the government! But if these people are not going to cooperate with the government in the House, then what business do they intend to do there? How are they going to serve the people they represent? In whose interest is CUF taking such a position? And is that the stand of the ordinary party faithful? If yes (which is what I expect the leaders to say), is it not a blind one, which the ordinary CUF followers do not even understand and cannot fathom the consequences of? How does the party benefit from that posture politically?
Looking at the complaints raised by CUF about the conduct of the last polls, one gets the sense that some of the party’s grievances over certain flaws in the electoral process may be justifiable. But one cannot see how these can be addressed (in the sense of reviewing the presidential election results!) because, according to the Zanzibar Constitution, the final authority over the presidential poll is the Zanzibar Electoral Commission. No court, nor any other authority, can review, let alone overturn, the ZEC’s pronouncement of the winner of the presidency, notwithstanding the weight of the dispute against it. In that sense, the Zanzibari presidential poll is a fait accompli, and it is up to CUF to learn to come to terms with that fact.
In the meantime, however, all those who wish Zanzibar well should help in the process of revising the “Muafaka” (peace accord), so that the islands do not slide back into another crisis whose spectre looms large. But for any genuine efforts toward this end to be fruitful, CCM should be a gracious winner. They must swallow their pride and accept the fact that without CUF’s cooperation and participation in the mainstream management of the social, economic and political affairs of Zanzibar, there will be polarization and great difficulty for the government in implementing development projects, particularly in Pemba – the stronghold of the opposition. The ruling party must open its doors and show (in the spirit of the “Muafaka”) readiness and willingness to invite CUF to share power with them.
For their part, CUF must behave as a respectable opposition party and prove to the world it deserves the title of “alternative government” (or a “government-in-waiting”). The party leadership must renounce all forms of violence, bite the bullet and recognize the legitimacy of Karume’s government, and invite a dialogue with their opponents – the CCM. This, to me, is the only way leaders of both CUF and the ruling party can prove they really have the interests of the Zanzibaris at heart.

Talk of neglect, hope for change on Zanzibar isle

19 Oct 2005 01:03:55 GMT
Reuters
By Helen Nyambura

PEMBA, Zanzibar, Oct 19 (Reuters) - For all its spectacular beaches and untouched coral reefs, Pemba Island in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania lacks the exotic renown of its more popular southern neighbour, Unguja or Zanzibar Island.

Pemba has none of the enchanting 19th century "Stone Town" buildings that have long attracted backpackers and well-heeled tourists to the bigger island and it does not have the means to accommodate such visitors if they did come.

Tourist facilities on Pemba are limited to a few seedy guesthouses in the main town of Chake Chake or a couple of exclusive resorts which are too expensive for many of the tourists who turn up looking for a cheap holiday.

Many of the residents say their island -- a stronghold of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) -- has remained underdeveloped because the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) government is angered by their support for its political rivals.

The residents hope that will change after an Oct. 30 poll to elect a new Tanzanian government and new authorities for semi-autonomous Zanzibar. Analysts say the CUF, which came close to victory before, has a good chance of winning on the islands.

With a population of about 400,000, Pemba lacks a good road network or piped water. Electricity, when it is available, is erratic. Villagers say the hospitals have no drugs and the schools do not have enough teachers.

Members of the CCM reject charges of deliberate neglect.

"There is no discrimination against Pemba. Those who say that are hypocrites," said Kidawa Saleh, a CCM official on the neighbouring island of Unguja.

"If you look at the development in Pemba, it is the same as that here in Unguja. They have water and electricity. In fact, they have a higher density of schools and dispensaries than Unguja," she added.

UNEXPLOITED POTENTIAL

Some locals would disagree.

"People come to Pemba and are disappointed that it's not like Zanzibar, it's a quiet little island," said Francisca Jah, owner of the Swahili Divers scuba diving company.

But she is quick to list Pemba's redeeming features: deserted white sandy beaches and friendly inhabitants.

"It takes you an hour to get to a stunningly beautiful beach (because of the bad roads) but then you are the only one there ... and on your way back, someone invites you in for tea."

Jah's company has been operating for six years but she has yet to break even. The cost of starting a tourist business is prohibitively high, as investors have to lay down most of the necessary infrastructure themselves.

So business people shy away from the island and set up camp in Unguja -- more popular, more developed and more lucrative.

As a result, Pemba has seen little progress -- beds for visitors have only increased to 127 from 18 in 1992, giving it only a tiny slice of the tourism market which generates annual revenues averaging $736 million in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar was ruled by Omani Arabs until 1890 when it became a British protectorate. After independence from Britain in 1963, African farmers and sailors, who were underdogs during the islands' slave trading days, overthrew the Omani colonialists.

Thousands of Arabs and Indian Muslims were killed and many of the survivors took refuge in Pemba.

Historians say the new African leaders brutalised and marginalised Pemba, which was populated mainly by descendants of the deposed Arabs, and exploited its clove farmers by paying them low prices for their product.

FARMERS COMPLAIN

Pemba, around 60 km (37 miles) off Tanzania's mainland, produces about 80 percent of the Zanzibar archipelago's cloves and most of its population depends on the sweet-smelling spice.

Clove exports and tourism remain the top foreign exchange earners, but people in Pemba say the money is not benefiting the lush and hilly island.

This has stoked anger directed at the ruling CCM, especially ahead of the elections with fears running high of violence. The CUF has already accused the CCM of planning to rig the poll and campaigning has been marred by a series of brawls.

"I don't want to hear that (CCM) name mentioned. They have exploited us," Salma Madi Salum, a widowed clove farmer said. "The government says the world market is down but won't allow us to sell to anyone else, so we know they are lying to us."

Under Zanzibar law, farmers may only sell cloves to the government's Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC). Many smuggle their crop to neighbouring Kenya where prices are higher than the 3,500 shillings ($3) they get per kg from ZSTC.

"I will fight to have my party in power. They will just have to bury me if it does not win this election. I would rather be dead than live in this poverty," Salum said as she spread cloves on a mat outside her house to dry.

The CUF, which has promised to liberalise the clove industry, has said it will hold Ukraine-style street protests if it does not win the Oct. 30 vote. It says it was cheated of victory in elections in 1995 and 2000.

Hassan Mzee Makame, a father-of-two who has 50 clove trees of his own, echoes Salum's resentment.

"We are ready to pour our blood fighting for our right. What life is this?" the 35-year-old said.

Zanzibar on edge as vote endangers Tanzania image

18 Oct 2005
Reuters
By Helen Nyambura

PEMBA, Zanzibar, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people dutifully sink onto the grass in a field on Zanzibar's Pemba island at the command of their leader Seif Sharif Hamad.

It's not a mark of respect but a warm-up for protests.

"If you sit in this peaceful manner and they use the water cannons on you, the whole world will see what kind of people they are," said Hamad, head of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF). "Practise this whenever you meet."

Renowned as a relaxed tourist paradise, semi-autonomous Zanzibar is on edge, fearing violence ahead of Oct. 30 presidential and parliamentary polls across Tanzania.

The CUF fears the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party will rig the results on the Indian Ocean spice islands, where a string of violent brawls between rival supporters has already poisoned the pre-election atmosphere.

The rising tensions on the palm-fringed islands are an embarrassment to Tanzania's mainland government, which has carefully nurtured its image as one of Africa's most stable countries despite what critics call a record of brutality and electoral dirty tricks in Zanzibar.

It is not the first time the east African country's reputation has been sullied by violence on the archipelago which united with the mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to create Tanzania.

In 2001, dozens of CUF supporters were killed in clashes with police during protests over ballot-rigging. Hundreds fled to neighbouring Kenya.

This time, the CCM party, which has ruled the twin islands of Pemba and Unguja since January 1964, is expected to win easily at national level but might be unseated in Zanzibar.

CUF supporters fear the ruling party will use fraud -- or worse -- to secure their place in Zanzibar, which is the opposition party's power base. It says the electoral register is flawed and says ruling party youths are being trained to intimidate CUF supporters -- charges the ruling party deny.

"All indications are that the ruling party on the island is panicking and is not prepared to lose power," Ahmed Rajab, editor of the U.K.-based Africa Analysis magazine said.

"Unfortunately, I see bloodshed in Zanzibar."

"THEY HAVE ARMED EVERYONE"

Zanzibar's President Amani Abeid Karume last month threatened to dust off weapons used in the 1964 revolution that brought the CCM to power to ensure his party wins. The statement infuriated opponents but has not been retracted.

"They are already using those weapons," said Ahmed Said Khalid, an opposition supporter, citing a recent clash between police and CUF followers that left five with gunshot wounds.

"They have armed everyone, including firemen and prison guards, with guns."

Already, scores have been injured in street brawls between rival supporters armed with stones, machetes and iron bars in Zanzibar, which lies off the coast of Tanzania.

Pemba and Unguja gained independence from the British in December 1963, only to face a bloody revolt when the African majority wrested power from a mainly Arab government.

The new leader, incumbent Karume's father, joined up with the mainland in 1964. The isles kept their own legislative body and president, which analysts say prevents Tanzania from reining in strong-willed leaders in the archipelago.

The CUF accuses the CCM of rigging both 1995 and 2000 ballots which observers said were conducted fraudulently.

One western diplomat, who did not want to be named, said there was palpable strain between the two CCM branches, with the mainland one insisting on free elections and showing its willingness to work with an opposition government on the isles.

The CUF has promised Ukraine-style street demonstrations if CCM gets into power unfairly. Many on the islands say they are afraid security forces, which have recently been reinforced from the mainland, will clamp down hard on them.

INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE

Analysts say politics boils down to age-old racial tensions on the islands, where Arabic and African traditions mingle.

The international community is putting pressure on Tanzania to ensure that the bloodshed of 2001 is not repeated in Zanzibar, which historically traded gold, spices and slaves and is now home to 1 million people.

Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa recently said those riots were a blot on his leadership. He steps down after the poll and Foreign Affairs Minister Jakaya Kikwete is expected to win the union presidency overwhelmingly.

"If Mkapa has the will, he can allow a smooth transition through fair elections," political analyst Mohamed Saleh said.

Rajab of Africa Analysis said bloodshed in Zanzibar would tarnish the image of Mkapa, a member of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Commission for Africa which made recommendations for the continent before July's Group of Eight summit.

He likened the Zanzibar situation to that in Ethiopia after May elections when 36 people were killed by police during protests against ballot fraud. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is also a member of the Commission for Africa.

"It shows what manner of company Blair keeps in Africa," Rajab said. "(Violence in Zanzibar) will embarrass the likes of Blair."

US press for free, fair polls

AP
10/18/05

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, October 18 -- United States assistant secretary of state for African affairs Jendayi Frazer arrived on Tuesday in Zanzibar, where the run-up to October 30 polls has seen violence between ruling and opposition party supporters.

Frazer's main purpose "is to reiterate the US position for free and fair elections" in semi-autonomous Zanzibar, said US embassy spokesperson John Haynes.

Frazer was expected to meet Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume, opposition leaders and hold talks with civic organisations before flying to Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, for talks with Tanzania's President Benjamin Mkapa, Haynes said.

More than a dozen people have been killed and at least 48 have been injured in politically motivated violence in the last eight months, with dozens of homes and offices set on fire.

Zanzibar Finally Contracts Firm to Print Ballott Papers

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
October 16, 2005
Ernest Mpinganjira
Nairobi

After keeping the nation guessing over the identity of the firm that would print ballot papers for the October 10 elections, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Thursday announced that it had contracted South Africa's Universal Printers Group for the task.

Fears were rife that the government would postpone the elections as the isles were yet to order election materials, two weeks before the polls.

The firm was also awarded a tender to print election materials for the Union after Waymark Infotech, also of South Africa, fell out of favour with both the Union and Zanzibar governments.

Details to show how Universal Group secured the contract were unavailable.

It emerged that the National Electoral Commission, which is in charge of Union elections, had been holding the information from journalists after chairman, Rajabu Kiravu, told the BBC Swahili Service on Thursday morning that the material would be delivered and distributed to polling stations next week.

ZEC announced early last week that it was yet to settle on an organisation to print ballot papers, after the government quashed the electoral body's contract with Waymark Infotech, claiming the tender was fraudulent.

Traditionally, Zanzibar polls are held two months before or a month after the Union polls.

But for the first time since Tanzania adopted political pluralism, the Isles and Union polls are scheduled for October 30.

Opinion is divided over whether the isles' polls should go on as scheduled or be suspended until after the Union's general election.

An opinion poll conducted by Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (Redet) under the aegis of the University of Dar-es-Salaam's department of political and public administration showed that the outcome in Zanzibar would have been close to call between the opposition and the ruling CCM had the polls been held two weeks ago. Leading contenders for the presidential seat, CCM's President Amani Abeid Karume and Civic United Front's Seif Shariff Hamad are separated by just three points.

Karume polled 45 per cent of the vote while Hamad followed closely with 42 per cent.

Ten per cent of the people polled declined to make their stand known, although they said they had made up their minds on who to vote for.

Although Redet is perceived as a CCM propaganda tool, its conclusion that the 10 per cent "swing votes" would determine who goes to Zanzibar's State House has heightened panic on the Islands and calls for deferral of the election have risen a decibel higher since the results were published last week.

Five of the seven parties that will field presidential candidates in Zanzibar also want the elections rescheduled, citing growing tension and violence between the two leading political parties, in addition to ZEC's unpreparedness to conduct free and fair elections.

Jahazi Asilia (Safina), Sauti ya Umma (SAU), NCCR-Mageuzi, National League for Democracy (NLD) and Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) have secured a combined vote of less than one per cent.

But an assessment of Zanzibar's politics after the opinion poll gives CUF a head start over CCM.

Analysts think the 10 per cent "shy" voters support CUF, but feared government reprisals if they made their opinion known, given the poisoned political atmosphere.

There is a high possibility that the ruling party will postpone elections, should it be unsure of retaining power.

The decision to annul the Waymark Infotech contract was being seen as a sign that Karume's government would relish calling off the polls.

In the Redet poll, CCM Union presidential candidate Jakaya Kikwete was leading with 75 per cent against Prof Lipumba's 13 per cent.

There was speculation that given expectations that Kikwete would win the poll, the postponement of Zanzibar elections would give CCM an opportunity to regroup and strategise to lock out the opposition.

The government's continued interference in ZEC operations also fuelled fears that the poll would be postponed to give the commission time to put its house in order.

The government's arm-twisting of ZEC has created an impasse and polls officials are divided over whether to put their credibility on the line and go by the State's whims or risk their jobs by defying the directive.

Some ZEC officials have openly opposed the directive, arguing the firms favoured by the government lack previous experience in preparing election materials.

In addition, the commission had already paid Waymark Infotech half of the money for printing.

The opposition had claimed that even if the ZEC found an alternative to Waymark Infotech, the remaining time is hardly sufficient to organise free and fair elections.

A schedule prepared by ZEC shows that had the government not annulled the contract with Waymark Infotech, all election materials would have been in the country this week.

As expected, reaction to the delay was sharp and swift, with one of Tanzania's leading development partners saying early last week that, the government risked isolation if the October 30 polls are not democratic.

Zanzibaris start getting IDs

2005-10-15 09:12:30
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The controversial national identity cards for Zanzibar citizens are ready and being issued. Zanzibaris who applied for the cards in June started receiving the IDs this week.

A two-day on-the-spot check at the stations where they are being issued revealed a low turn out.

According to the director of the IDs project, Mohamed Ame, the issuance has so far been without a hitch.

He said that all adult Zanzibaris would be issued with IDs. The move, he said, was to cushion local jobs from being taken up by foreigners.

’’My office is permanent and it will remain open to serve Zanzibaris even after the elections,’’ Ame said.

The registration of Zanzibaris for the IDs was done last June after the House of Representatives passed a law requiring locals to have identity cards.

Under the law, all adult Zanzibaris would get preferential treatment in matters relating to employment, especially in the private sector.

The law says that in the event of jobs falling vacant they can only be given to foreigners where there is no qualified Zanzibari.
Ame said the IDs would also help in stemming the rising crime wave.

The cards would also hedge the holders against unnecessary political disputes arising from registration of voters or when voting.

Curtain comes down on Muafaka team

2005-10-14 09:17:08
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Joint Presidential Commission (JPC) that has been overseeing the implementation of the Zanzibar 2001 political Accord (Muafaka) between CCM and CUF has officially ended its activities.

Zanzibar Chief Secretary Ramadhani Muombwa told The Guardian yesterday that the commission ended its work on September 3.

’’I hope that every thing went well. However, I do not know whether the JPC report has already been handed to the president,’’ he said.

The report, including JPC activities were officially presented to the Zanzibar president last Friday in the afternoon.

However, staff at JPC secretariat complained that they had not been paid their September salaries.

The co-chairmen of the Muafaka were Ramadhani Mapuri (CCM) and Abubakar Khamis Bakari (CUF).

Other members of the commission were CCM’s Asha Abdallah, Ali Juma Shamhuna and Dr Harrison Mwakyembe. CUF had Ismail Jussa, Fatma Fereji and Nassor Khamis on the commission.

JPC staff appealed to the government to pay them their September salaries as they have been working even after the expiry of the September 3, deadline.?

Tanzanian opposition accused of faking clash

www.chinaview.cn 2005-10-12

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Zanzibar government has formally accused the Civic United Front (CUF) of faking a clash with the local law enforcement department to woo foreign sympathy.

A four-page government statement said that supporters of the country's biggest opposition party had intentionally defied police orders to disperse so as to show to western visitors that it was not well in Zanzibar as it is preparing for the general elections.

Prior to the visit by Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen toZanzibar, CUF supporters clashed with Zanzibar's anti-riot Field Force Unit.

"They (opposition leaders, members and supporters) routinely stage-manage acts of lawlessness whenever the tourist season approaches or western leaders come to visit Tanzania," said the statement.

"Their aim is obvious. It is to win sympathy of (western) nations."

The statement, signed by Zanzibar Information Service Director Ally Mwinyikai, described such acts as defaming Tanzania and degrading Tanzanians.

The statement also blamed the opposition move to exaggerate thenumber of people who had been injured during the clash with police.

Only Rajab Mohammed and not 18 people as had been reported by some local press got injured during the clash. But an unnamed doctor in hospital released a misleading figure to the local press.

The Zanzibar government statement said that it was part of the opposition political propaganda to woo sympathy from the world.

SADC election observers to arrive in Tanzania

www.chinaview.cn 2005-10-12

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are scheduled to arrive in Tanzania next week to join their peers from the African Union, theEuropean Union, the Commonwealth and the Carter Foundation, local media reported on Wednesday.

The SADC observers will be deployed to as many places as possible in the east African country at least two weeks before the voting day slated for October 30.

The international observers will be joined by their Tanzanian counterparts from the Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee during the one-day polls that are to elect the presidents for boththe United Republic of Tanzania and for Zanzibar, for members of both the union parliament and Zanzibar House of Representatives and for local councilors throughout the country.

The observers will have freedom to move within the host country,according to the SADC protocol on politics, defense and security cooperation, to which Tanzania is a signatory state since August last year.

The SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections grant observers unrestricted access to polling stations,counting centers and voter registers.

The codes of conduct stipulate that the observers are supposed to report honestly gathered information and seek response from the relevant organization before validating any unsubstantiated allegation.

The SADC observed the 2000 Tanzanian general elections through its parliamentary forum.

This year will be the third multiparty general elections in Tanzania since 1995.

Zanzibar police boss: We didn’t use live bullets
 

2005-10-12
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanznibar police has dismissed reports that live bullets were the cause of the injuries suffered by victims of last Sunday’s violence in north of Zanzibar.

?Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Ramadhan Kinyogo told The Guardian that ’’no live bullet was fired during the commotion. The injured people were hit by rubber bullets and tear-gas, which were fired at close range.’’

’’These people were so defiant that they did not heed police orders to disperse. The rubber bullets and tear-gas were fired from close range,’’ Kinyogo said.

?He said the police took several hours trying to stop people from attending the CUF rally at Donge before resorting to using force ’’contrary to what had appeared in the local and international media.’’

?Before Kinyogo’s statement, state-owned Sauti ya Tanzania Zanzibar (STZ) radio reported in its Monday evening bulletin that only one person had been shot.

?STZ quoted the Zanzibar Information Director, Ali Mwinyikai, as saying that previous media reports were misleading.

The radio statement said that preliminary reports claiming that the injured were being treated at Al- Rahma Hospital were also falsehoods.

?Meanwhile, 24 people, including four women were arraigned in Mfenesini District Court on Monday charged with ’’conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace and assaulting one police officer.’’

All the accused denied the charges and were released on bail. The case comes up for mention on October 25 this year.

Tight Presidential Contest Develops in Zanzibar
 

2005-10-12
Angus Reid Global Scan

Voters in Zanzibar are divided over the two main presidential contenders, according to a poll by Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania. 45.8 per cent of respondents would support incumbent Amani Abeid Karume of the Revolutionary State Party (CCM), while 42 per cent would back Seif Shariff Hamad of the Civic United Front (CUF).

The presidential election in both Tanzania and Zanzibar is scheduled for Oct. 30. Tanzania was established in October 1964. Zanzibar retains internal autonomy—including a separate constitution—but both foreign relations and defence are controlled by the central government. Depending on the outcome of the Tanzanian presidential elections, Zanzibar retains rights over either the first or second vice-presidential positions.

On Sept. 27, Karume warned about "military action" in the event of election-related violence, saying, "This government has all the ways and means of repeating (the 1964 revolution) because all the facilities used in the incident are still in the armoury and the government has the key to the armoury."

Zanzibar’s CUF has criticized Karume and the ruling CCM for passing a series of decrees that hamper their ability to campaign, including one that limits the type and location of venues where political rallies can be held.

Doctor says poll violence victims out of danger
 

2005-10-11 
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Eleven people, including the five who sustained bullet wounds, are still recuperating at Al Rahman and are in stable condition.

The doctor in charge of the hospital told journalists that Sunday’s violence victims are in stable condition and out of danger.

?’They are been doing well,’ the doctor, who requested anonymity, said.

Those still in hospital are Mohamed Ishaq Yussuf, Salum Ali Juma, Aziz Yussuf, Simai Ali Simai and Said Salum Said.

The other patients are Khamis Ruwue Rajab Mohammed Khamis, Ali Mohammed Bakari, Bimkubwa Seif Raya Ali and Mayasa Ahmed.

Commenting on the incident, Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation Ramadhan Kinyogo said: ’We are still investigating how the 21 people were injured in the fracas. We have arrested 24 people in connection with the mayhem.’

?A policeman, Ukasha Mbaraka Ukasha, who was injured in the chest and mouth as he was dispersing defiant Civic United Front supporters said: ’Our appeal to people to disperse fell on deaf ears. That is why we were ordered to use tear-gas. But in the ensuing fracas, some people threw stones at me. However, the injury is minor; I didn’t lose teeth nor was I admitted to hospital,’ Ukasha said.

?As tension mounts just 19 days to the polling day, Registrar of Political Parties John Tendwa has appealed to the police to exercise restraint.

Tendwa told the police not to provoke violence in the same manner they did in Zanzibar on Sunday.

Addressing the Press in Zanzibar yesterday Tendwa told the police to stick to the law and remain impartial.

?’It is my duty to direct political parties and the police to observe the law for peaceful and fair elections,’ Tendwa said.

?He said that political parties and the police must ensure that peace is not ruined ’because building peace is not an easy job.’

Zanzibar authorities assures foreign tourists of safety

www.chinaview.cn 2005-10-11

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Zanzibar authorities on Monday assured foreign tourists of their personal safety and property security.

Issa Ahmed Othman, chairman of the Zanzibar Tourist Board, madethe promise after the United States and Britain had warned their nationals about trips to the Indian Ocean archipelago during the Zanzibar polls.

The official said that foreign tourists should not be afraid tocome to Zanzibar even though the general elections are slated for later this month.

Peace and stability should prevail in Zanzibar in spite of the fact that the general elections would be held on October 30, Othman said.

Othman refuted the claim that there was a lack of safety in Zanzibar and urged foreign tourists not to fear because the Zanzibar government had taken strong preventive measures.

Election is only a democratic process in the country and there is nothing to fear, said the official who added that the Zanzibar policy toward tourism focuses on safety and security of tourists and their belongings.

Between late August and mid-September this year, armed bandits had made away thousands of dollars worth of cash and valuables from two tourist hotels in Zanzibar.

Local police have already detained 10 suspects alleged to have been involved in the armed robbery.

Tourism has improved to become the second pillar of the Zanzibar economy, behind spice production and exports.

Tourism has accounted for 21 percent of the Zanzibar gross domestic product.

Zanzibar Police Arrest 24 After Violence
 

By ALI SULTAN
Associated Press Writer
October 10. 2005 7:51PM

Zanzibar police have arrested 24 people in connection with election violence in which police shot and injured eight opposition supporters who defied a government ban on a campaign rally, a senior police officer said Monday.

Police made the arrests Sunday and Monday and will soon charge the supporters of the main opposition party Civic United Front, said Ramadhani Kinyogo, Zanzibar's head of criminal investigations. He did not identify those arrested or say what charges they would face.

Police shot and wounded eight people Sunday who resisted orders not to gather at a campaign rally, Kinyogo said. The rally was banned because of reports of impending violence, Kinyogo said.

Opposition leaders initially said police shot and injured 19 people who tried to force their way through a roadblock to attend the rally, but Salim Bimani, a spokesman for Civic United Front, said Monday that only eight were hurt. He offered no explanation for the different numbers.

Another police officer, Khamis Kheri, said Sunday that riot police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters who attacked an officer with stones and then tried to overrun a police station.

The Oct. 30 general election is only the third multiparty election in Zanzibar's history. The last two suffered serious flaws, according to international observers.

Zanzibar united with Tanganyika in 1964 after the violent ouster of the Arab Sultan to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

The elections, which are for both the Tanzanian and Zanzibari regional presidencies and their legislatures, come as a growing number of Zanzibaris are turning toward a stricter form of Islam and possibly away from democracy - a source of concern for the secular government of Tanzania.

Zanzibar, an archipelago off the Tanzanian coast, is more than 90 percent Muslim. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has characterized the Civic United Front as an Islamic party, something opposition leaders deny.

More than a dozen people have been killed and at least 48 injured in politically motivated violence in the last eight months, with dozens of homes and offices set ablaze. Both sides have accused each other of recruiting youth militias to stage attacks.

The normally peaceful tropical islands also saw violence in the weeks around the 1995 and 2000 elections.

CUF supporters clash with police

Monday,October 10, 2005
From ALI UKI in Zanzibar

FIELD Force Unit (FFU) policemen were used to disperse defiant supporters of the opposition Civic United Front at Donge Village in Zanzibar North Region yesterday morning after cancellation of a rally, which was to be addressed by the party’s Zanzibar presidential candidate, Mr Seif Shariff Hamad.
The Zanzibar North Regional Police Commander, Mr Kheri Khamis Kheri, said police fired tear gas when some members of the crowd turned hostile and threw stones at them. Constable Ukasha with force number E 4898 was injured.
The RPC said some of the rioters were injured in the fracas and a number arrested but he could not give specific figures. This is the third incident of political violence here since the launch of campaigns for the October 30 general elections.
Doctors at Al-Rahma private hospital said at least 18 people had been admitted for treatment of wounds and broken limbs sustained in the confrontation with police and ensuing stampede.
The RPC told reporters that the scheduled CUF meeting had to be cancelled for security reasons.
However, Mr Hamad claimed that the eleventh hour cancellation of the scheduled rally was ordered by “some politicians” in Donge constituency. He did not name the politicians in question.
He said he was aware that some politicians wanted the venue for his rally shifted to Mwanakombo outside the Donge constituency.
The CUF candidate, who did not go to Donge, complained to reporters at his Mtoni residence that the police used excessive force to disperse the crowd.
Doctors named those admitted to hospital as Said Salum; Simai Ali; Ali Abeid Ali; Khamis Ruwehi; Salum Ali Juma; Mohammed Ishaq; Azizi Yussufu Khamis and Abeid Ali.
Others are Raya Abdalla; Mayasa Issa Khamis; Rajab Mohammed;
Mohammed Kombo Hamad; Masoud Ali Abdalla; Othman Saleh Othman and Haji Makame, all residents of Zanzibar town.
Last week, supporters of CUF and CCM clashed as they were returning from campaign meetings that were addressed by Mr Hamad and the incumbent president, Mr Amani Abeid Karume.

Police shoot opposition supporters in Zanzibar

Group trying to overrun police station, chief says

Sunday, October 9, 2005
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AP)

Riot police shot at least 19 opposition supporters who were trying to force their way through a roadblock to attend an election rally Sunday, opposition leaders said, adding that none of the victims were killed.

But Zanzibar's head of criminal investigations Ramadhani Kinyogo said only eight people were wounded after they resisted orders not to gather at a campaign rally because there were reports of impending violence.

Riot police used teargas to disperse a violent group of opposition supporters who were trying to overrun a police station after attacking an officer with stones, Zanzibar's Northern regional police chief Khamis Kheri said.

"People riding motorbikes, bicycles and in commuter buses suddenly tried to overrun a police station. The (paramilitary police) tried to reason with them not to carry out their plans, but they attacked an officer with a stone and he lost his teeth," Kheri said. "Police then had to act to disperse the group."

More than 48 people have been seriously injured in recent pre-election violence in the run up to the October 30 polls in this semiautonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.

More than a dozen people have died in politically motivated violence in the last eight months, with dozens of homes and offices set ablaze and other violent incidents. The normally peaceful tropical islands suffered violence in the last elections in 1995 and 2000, but usually only in the weeks around election day.

The elections are considered to be the most fiercely contested in the archipelago since Tanzania restored multiparty politics in 1992. Zanzibar united with Tanganyika in 1964 after the violent ouster of the Arab Sultan to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

October's elections are for both Tanzanian and Zanzibari regional presidencies. A vote for Tanzania's 322-member national legislature, Zanzibar's 50-member House of Representatives and local councilors in both parts of the union will also be held that day.

The main opposition Civic United Front has accused the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party of rigging the last two elections, which international observers have said were seriously flawed.

The violence started early this year and both sides have accused the other of recruiting youth militias to stage attacks.

Three shot as police, opposition clash in Zanzibar
 

09 Oct 2005
Reuters
By Helen Nyambura

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Eighteen people were injured on Sunday, including three who received gunshot wounds, when police in Tanzania's volatile Zanzibar islands clashed with opposition supporters, hospital and opposition officials said.

The violence erupted after police blocked an opposition party from campaigning before parliamentary and presidential elections set for Oct. 30. It was the latest spate of violence in the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean islands ahead of the polls.

At least two people have been killed and dozens injured in election-related attacks in Zanzibar since late last year.

"We have received 18 people with injuries from different causes including tear gas, beatings and three people have been shot," Dr. Muchi Ahmed at the Al Rahma hospital told Reuters.

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) said violence erupted when the police ordered the party to leave a public ground in Donge Constituency, 30 km (19 miles) north of Zanzibar's main Stone Town.

"We were at a rally for our presidential candidate when the police asked us to leave," Salim Bimani, CUF's spokesman told Reuters by telephone. "Many people have been injured, some are in the theatre as we speak."

Police said unrest started when CUF supporters assembled at the local police station after they had been told by police not to hold their rally. Police said they had banned the rally after local people told them they expected trouble at the gathering.

"They came menacingly in 32 vehicles and motorbikes. In short, they were attacking the police station," Ramadhani Kinyogo, deputy director of criminal investigations, said.

"We asked them to leave but instead, one CUF member threw a stone that knocked out two teeth of an officer. After that, it was necessary for the field force (police) unit to throw some tear gas canisters."

He had no word on whether protesters were hit by gunfire.

Analysts say the elections will throw a spotlight on the quality of governance in Tanzania, which tells donors it is a model of African coexistence despite what critics call a record of brutality and electoral dirty tricks in Zanzibar.

The palm-fringed islands with white sand beaches forged a union with mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to create Tanzania, while keeping its own parliament and president.

With a population of only 1 million -- a fraction of Tanzania's 35 million -- the former Omani colony remains a backward corner, despite generating income from tourism and spices that many Zanzibaris say is not used for their benefit.

Tanzania Travel Alert Announcement

Friday, October 07, 2005
infoZine

This Public Announcement provides security information about the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar and alerts Americans to the potential for disruptive demonstrations leading up to and following the October 30 Tanzanian elections. This Public Announcement expires on November 30, 2005.

Washington, D.C. - infoZine - Americans are advised to review carefully any plans to visit Zanzibar during late October and early November 2005. Tanzania will hold a general election on October 30, 2005. Previous elections generally have been peaceful on the Tanzanian mainland. But on Zanzibar (both Unguja and Pemba), violent demonstrations followed the 2000 elections and many people were killed. The demonstrations were not directed at tourists and no foreign visitors were hurt.

Tensions are already rising on Zanzibar during the run up to the October 2005 elections. Opposition party leaders have threatened to stage massive demonstrations if their conditions for a free and fair election are not met. The opposition is calling for peaceful demonstrations, but demonstrations can turn violent with little or no warning. If these demonstrations do occur, they are not expected to target foreign tourists. However, they could disrupt normal transportation and communication systems.

American citizens traveling to Zanzibar during this period are advised to maintain a high level of security vigilance at all times and to avoid political rallies and related public gatherings. Travelers are also advised to monitor the State Department's website travel.state.gov for updated information.

Americans living or traveling in Tanzania are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration web site travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Tanzania. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The international mailing address is Post Office Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; telephone [255](22) 266-8001 and fax [255](22) 266-8238. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Travelers may also contact the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania via email at consulardx@state.gov. Additional information is on the Embassy's web site at usembassy.state.gov/tanzania.

Ruling party candidate slightly ahead in Zanzibar pre-election poll

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 7
(Xinhuanet)

The latest opinion poll has predicted that the candidate for Zanzibar presidency from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is slightly ahead of his peer from the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

The poll, conducted by the Research and Education for Democracyin Tanzania (Redet), showed that Aman Abeid Karume of the CCM had got 45.8 percent of the votes from poll respondents whereas Seif Shariff Hamad of the CUF had got 42 percent of their votes.

Karume and Hamad are the two major contenders for the presidency of Zanzibar, a part of the United Republic of Tanzania yet with its own president, cabinet, parliament and jurisdiction.

The poll displayed a clear-cut geographical division of supports for these two candidates. Karume got 87.7 percent of his votes from Unguja, the main island of the Indian Ocean archipelago,while Hamad got 78.1 percent of his votes from Pemba, the second largest Zanzibar island where the CUF takes its powerbase.

Hamad got 21.9 percent of votes from Unguja whereas Karume got 12.3 percent of his votes from Pemba.

The poll was done by questioning 500 eligible voters from all the five administrative districts in Zanzibar. Of these respondents, 37.8 percent were CCM supporters and 39.8 percent rooted for the CUF.

However, there were still 11 percent of the respondents who were undecided yet as to whom to vote for.

When the Zanzibaris go to poll on October 30 this year, they will have to cast five votes in one go, namely voting for the presidents of the united republic and of Zanzibar, for members of the union parliament and of Zanzibar house of representatives and for Zanzibar local councilors.

Zanzibar: Censorship Toward NGO that Illustrates the Atmosphere of the Electoral Campaign

2005-10-06
Guardian

A non-governmental organization, HakiElimu, which advocates for the right to education, said yesterday that its activities are above-board and that it operates within the country’s laws.
It cited the Strategy of Poverty Eradication and Education Development Program, to which all NGOs must subscribe to justify its work in mobilizing and enhancing community participation in development.

They said that the two mitigate the principle of the right to education and sharing of information.

HakiElimu executive director Rakesh Rajani said his organization collects and communicates educational information from and to schools and conducts education policy analysis and advocacy.

’Independent analysis, right to access and impart information, transparency, public debate and citizen accountability of government are the bedrock of good governance and accountability, which are also the core principles of our work,’ he said.

Rajani who spoke on behalf of the board of directors of HakiElimu, said the NGO was consulting lawyers responding to the decision by the Minister of Education and Culture to slap a ban on its activities.

’Because we respect the rule of law, we are seeking legal advice. We will respond to the minister in due course,’ he said.

He said that members of the NGO, the board and staff were carefully studying the directive and a letter from the minister for education regarding the ban.

’I can’t give you the details of the letter from the minister, what I can say is that we are studying it,’ he said.

In a separate development, Feminist Activist Coalition (FemAct) has demanded immediate lifting of the ban against HakiElimu from undertaking and publishing any information or studies about Tanzanian schools.

FemAct said the ban by the Ministry of Education and Culture is against the government’s stated commitment to transparency and accountability in the education sector.

A statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday said the ban on HakiElimu contradicted the government’s upholding of accountability and transparency.

The move, it said, goes against the role and mandate of NGO’s that promote dialogue and exchange of information.
The activists, who represent 40 NGOs, demanded immediate unbanning of HakiElimu.

’We consider this an attack on all NGOs’ activities and well-meaning citizens of this country, as well as an attack on one of the 40 member-organizations of the FemAct coalition. We therefore demand immediate lifting of the ban and an apology to HakiElimu,’ the statement said in part.

In his directive issued on Tuesday, the Minister for Education and Culture, Joseph Mungai, also gave conditions for lifting the ban.

The minister wants HakiElimu to recall their advertisements on TV and radio, which he said paint the image of education system negatively.

Ramadan Mixes With Polls in Zanzibar
 

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, October 5, 2005
(IslamOnline.net & News Agencies)

The holy fasting month of Ramadan started Wednesday, October 5, coinciding with a divisive election for the first time in living memory of most of the 99-percent Muslim population of one million, semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.

The advent of the holy month saw calls for calm amid a heated and violent election campaign on the overwhelmingly Muslim island.

With fears of widespread unrest mounting before the October 30 polls, the ruling party, opposition and religious leaders urged restraint on Zanzibar, which has been wracked by deadly political violence in the past, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The narrow streets of the capital Stone Town steeped in the exotic history of the spice and slave trade and filled with Western tourists eager for idyllic beach holidays appeared quiet and unperturbed.

Ramadan Blessing

As the crescent moon marking the start of the month of prayer and fasting appeared in the northwest sky late Tuesday, crowds of faithful along the city's waterfront, erupted in praise to Allah, according to AFP.

"There it is, there it is," cried many after catching a glimpse of the lunar sliver over others' outstretched arms, hovering above Stone Town's famed, glistening outdoor grills of beef-, chicken-, octopus-, and vegetable-kebobs.

"Al-hamdullillah, keshon nafunga," they said with a combination of Arabic and Swahili phrases meaning "Thanks be to God, tomorrow (Wednesday) I will fast."

But after months of clashes between supporters of the main political rivals -- the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM-Revolutionary Party) and the opposition group, the Civic United Front (CUF) -- Zanzibar's leaders were less sanguine.

"Peace and stability must prevail this month despite the fact that we are in an election period," Zanzibari President Amani Abeid Karume said in a Ramadan address broadcast island-wide late Tuesday on state radio and television.

"We must abide by our religious teachings," he said in the 30-minute address laced with references to and quotations from the Noble Qur'an.

"We must unite to keep the peace and the only weapon to use during this time is your vote.

"If one attacks you verbally, just respond by saying: 'I'm fasting' and leave everything to Allah."

Appeal for Calm

His call for a peaceful campaign during Ramadan came after a similar appeal from the CUF's presidential candidate on Zanzibar, Seif Shariff Hamad, who has complained bitterly about alleged CCM misrule and malfeasance.

Zanzibar, part of a union with the former Tanganyika formed in 1964, will elect its own president and legislature in the polls, Tanzania's third since multi-party politics were restored in 1992.

While the CCM enjoys broad support on the mainland, Zanzibar is a CUF stronghold where its losses in previous elections have sparked cries of fraud and violence in which dozens were killed after the last polls in 2000.

In the run-up to this election, nearly 200 people have been wounded in clashes between supporters of the rival camps, which each accuse the other of violating a pact aimed at preventing a repeat of the violence five years ago.

As the two sides joust, Zanzibar's influential Muslim scholars also joined in the calls for calm, saying any sin, particularly during Ramadan will be punished.

"Muslims, I need you to remember that if you do anything that has been forbidden in the Koran {Noble Qur'an}... then you must know that your fasting will not be recognized by God," Imam Hamad Masud said in a Ramadan service Tuesday, according to AFP.

"You must love your neighbor," he told the faithful at Stone Town's historic central Ruta Mosque.

Two CUF supporters die, 10 injured in accident

2005-10-04 23:31:57
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Two CUF supporters died and 10 others were seriously injured yesterday when a mini-bus they were travelling in to attend a campaign rally was involved in an accident.

The accident occurred about five kilometres from Zanzibar Stone Town when a fire brigade engine rammed into the daladala (mini-bus).
According to the police, the CUF supporters were going to attend a campaign rally north of the island.
”I have just received the reports and I am follow up to get details before making a statement later,” Zanzibar Urban West Region Police Commander George Kizuguto said.
A doctor at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital identified the deceased as Salim Mohamed Bakar and Saleh Mkonde Salim, both in their early 40s.
The seriously injured have been admitted to Mnazi Mmoja and Al-Rahman hospitals.
CUF information and publicity deputy director Salum Bimani said: ”We decided to postpone the campaign rally to attend the funerals of the deceased.”
They were buried yesterday.
CCM yesterday sent a message of condolence to CUF for the loss of the supporters.
CCM information publicity secretary in Zanzibar Vuai Ali Vuai said his party received with sorrow the deaths of the two CUF supporters.
Two other people died last week when the motorcycle they were riding to attend a CCM campaign rally overturned.
Yesterday, the Zanzibar president Amani Abeid Karume hit out at two private newspapers for misreporting the cause of their deaths.
”Unfortunately, the newspapers exaggerate a lot about poll violence in Zanzibar. They carry screaming headlines that scare people who want to travel. Zanzibar is peaceful and those who come here can bear good witness,” Karume said.
?Karume made the remarks when he launched Tanzania Marine and Coastal Environmental Management Project (MACEMP) at Bwawani Hotel.

Karume Blamed for Poll Violence in Zanzibar
 

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
October 2, 2005
Ernest Mpinganjira
Nairobi

Fears that Zanzibar could relapse into repressive rule are gathering momentum amid calls for deferral of this month's General Election.

This has arisen pending a settlement of long standing differences between the governing Chama cha Mapinduzi and its main rival, the Civic United Front (CUF).

Fears of a return to repression follow Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume's warning last Tuesday that he would resort to military action or stage a revolution similar to that of 1964.

The uprising brought down the Arab sultanate to restore "peace and order" on the volatile isles. The 1964 bloody revolution hoisted the incumbent's father, Abeid Amani Karume, to the leadership of the Isles, which had been under Arab domination for many centuries.

It is not clear which government the president would stage a revolution against, given that he is still in power.

President Karume's Tuesday threat follows a raft of other decrees that he has issued in the run up to the polls. The opposition has claimed that the decrees have clipped its wings and exposed it to arbitrary harassment by law enforcers. One of the presidential directives that have elicited outrage at home and abroad is the banning of the opposition from holding campaign rallies at certain venues.

Opposition rallies are now restricted to Kibandamaiti public grounds in Zanzibar town.

Karume's threat to stage a revolution has heightened fears that CCM may fail to relinquish power should it lose the poll. There is also apprehension that the confusion that has dogged the electioneering is a premeditated plot to rig the October 30 polls.

The President announced mid last month when he also warned journalists against commenting on the growing unease on the Isles, that non-compliance with the order would lead to arrest and detention. CCM holds political rallies at all public venues in one of East Africa's oldest town. The presidential decree, which is being effected by the police and the provincial administration, has contributed immensely to the chaos that has engulfed the Isles in the past week.

Karume baffled many with the revolution threat made at a campaign rally in Chwaka Central District, southern Zanzibar.

"This government has all the ways and means of repeating the event (the 1964 revolution) because all the facilities used in the incident are still in the armoury and the government has the key to the armoury," he said.

Sounding desperate, as if he had long resigned himself to letting the presidency slip through his fingers, the President, who has in the recent past used extra-judicial approaches to deal with opposition parties' onslaught on CCM's grip on power, has also intimidated state-owned media into not covering his opponents.

The opposition and security forces on the Isles blame the violence on a nefarious organisation that calls itself Janjaweed Militia (borrowed from the group behind the civil strife in western Sudan's Dafur region).

The Zanzibar janjaweed spreads mayhem, as the police look on, helpless.

CUF has alleged several times that the group was trained in Pemba, one of Zanzibar's twin islands, to resist opposition on the Isles.

The opposition's fears were fanned further by the Union government's decision to mount 'Operation Dondola' early this year, ostensibly to check violence in this year's polls.

The exercise, which is being carried out jointly by the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (army) and the police, has not borne positive results yet.

Instead, despite the heavy presence of security personnel on the Isles, incidents of violence have increased and no one has been prosecuted for instigating the chaos in which at least four people have been killed and hundreds injured since May.

When Karume launched his election campaign on August 30, in Pemba, the sheer numbers of security men who put up an extravagant display, riding in armoured vehicles and heavily armed, was perceived by the electorate on the Spice Islands as meant to intimidate them into voting for the ruling party.

Pemba, an opposition stronghold, was the scene of a bloody confrontation between the police and opposition supporters after the 2000 polls widely believed to have been won by the opposition. More than 30 people died in the violence.

CCM Union presidential candidate, Jakaya Kikwete, has conceded that Zanzibar could be out of reach for the ruling party.

Kikwete told a CCM leaders' meeting on the Isles last weekend that although victory was a tall order for the ruling party, it would coax the electorate with promises that are achievable within a short time and hope that incumbency would bear it out of poll embarrassment in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous outpost of Tanzania with its own legislature, the House of Representatives.

"We promise what we are going to do and shall do what we promised," Kikwete told a Karume campaign rally in Pemba last weekend.

In a swift response to the growing restlessness in Zanzibar, foreign embassies have begun issuing travel advisories to their nationals.

But most significantly, President Karume risks international isolation after the US government expressed doubts, albeit veiled, about the elections being free and fair.

In earlier years, donors warned that their continued support of the island depended on peaceful elections.

After the 2000 poll violence, donors suspended economic aid to Zanzibar and resumed partial lending after CCM and CUF signed a treaty, which committed them to peaceful co-existence.

Last week, the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a travel advisory, warning of the volatility of Zanzibar politics. The embassy cited the almost palpable tension in Zanzibar, which has spilled over to the mainland, with growing anti-government sentiments.

The European Union, taking a cue from the US, is expected to issue a similar statement any time now.

No end to Zanzibar political violence

2005-09-28 07:26:29
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

At least six people were seriously injured in Zanzibar on Monday evening in the continued political violence, eyewitness and the police said yesterday.

However, the Zanzibar Urban West Regional Police Commander, George Kizuguto, confirmed that the actual number of those injured was three. All the injured are being treated at Al-Rahman Hospital.

’’Three people were injured, after unknown thugs pounced on them on Monday, we are still investigating the incident,’’ Kizuguto said.

Eyewitnesses said three cars with youths brandishing machetes and iron rods arrived at the Msumbiji area in the municipality, few minutes after the Muslim evening prayers, got off the cars and started beating up people, destroying two soft drinks refrigerators and two shops, before vanishing.

Eyewitnesses told The Guardian that they suspected the so called Janjaweed militias were behind the ambush, and added that the same night, the residence of the CUF deputy national chairman, Khamis Machano, was stoned by unknown people who then ran away. No casualty was reported at the residence.

Those injured during last Monday’s incident included Omar Abdallah (35), Mohamed Khalid Alawi (55), Shaame Bakari (20), Nassor Idarus Mohamed (53), Omar Khalifa Said (29), and Ibrahim Shaibu, who also lost a mobile phone.

CUF information officer Salum Bimani condemned both incidents, accusing the Janjaweed who he said, are loyal to the ruling party, CCM.

’’These people are known by the police, and even to president Mkapa, but they deliberately do not want to take any action against them because they are working for the ruling party,” Bimani said.

However, the CCM director for publicity, Vuai Ali Vuai has stated that its party does not know about the Janjaweed, and accused CUF for instigating chaos in the Isles ’’in order to win international sympathy’’.

And on last Sunday’s clashes, Kizuguto yesterday said that 48 people were injured in incidents, which took place at six places Bububu, Mtoni, Mwanakwerekwe Sokoni, Beit-Rasi and Mwanakwerekwe Meli-Nne.

Following the ongoing clashes between supporters of the two parties, some people in Zanzibar have proposed that the parties should not be scheduled to conduct campaign rallies on the same day.

However, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) Information officer, Idrissa Jecha, said the decision should be made by the political parties themselves.

On their part, some CUF supporters believe that the ongoing incidents of violence are well-orchestrated by the ruling party to disrupt the election preparations.

Zanzibar: Government Yet to Buy Ballot Papers

2005-09-27
IPP Media

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) said yesterday that preparations for the October 30 elections were on course.
ZEC Information Officer Idrissa Jecha told The Guardian yesterday that the commission had received ballot boxes and other materials, including ballot papers, would follow soon.
However, impeccable sources within ZEC told The Guardian that the government had not released money for ballot papers, adding that this could affect the timetable for having all the election materials delivered to polling centres on time.

’’We are running out of time. We are supposed to pay for the ballot papers before the end of this month so that suppliers could print and send them to us on time,’’ the source, who preferred anonymity, said.

?He said that since the Zanzibar government had committed itself to funding the elections, the delay in releasing the funds was unwarranted.

On verification of the voters’ register, the sources said that more than 4,000 ’’bogus’’ voters had been discovered by the end of last week.

?’’The verification exercise conducted by the ZEC and NEC (National Electoral Commission) IT experts has been going on well. We now want to upgrade our computers to be used in the verification of voters’ pictures. Currently we are using names and finger prints,’’ the sources said.

?According to election laws, the cheats will be liable to at least six months imprisonment or a 100,000/- fine, or both.

Meanwhile, some political parties in Zanzibar have commended evaluation of election coverage by the Tanzania Election Monitoring Project (TEMP) and said the Zanzibar state media must be reformed to report fairly.

?And as if to confirm TEMP’s findings, CUF yesterday complained that it was denied live coverage by state-owned radio STZ on Saturday when it held a campaign rally in Chake Chake, Pemba.

’’We wrote a letter to the director of STZ asking for two hours’ coverage of our rally on Saturday in Pemba, but unfortunately our request was turned down and the reasons given were not convincing.

The director replied saying that STZ had a tight schedule and could not accommodate the CUF rally,’’CUF Deputy Director of Information and Policy Salum Bimani said.

He said that the Zanzibar state media was biased, favouring mainly the ruling CCM while little or no airtime to the opposition.

?He also complained that the recording fee of 50,000/- (TVZ) and 25,000/- (STZ) for the weekly half-hour political parties programmes was too high for most opposition parties.

One dead, 20 hurt in Z’bar violence
 

2005-09-27
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

At least one person died and more than 20 others were injured when election violence flared up in Zanzibar on Sunday evening, according to police and eyewitnesses.

Sauti ya Tanzania Zanzibar (STZ) quoted the director of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital as saying that a man identified as Hassan Foum Haji died as he was being taken to Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam for specialised treatment while Mohamed Simai was admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital after his condition worsened.

In a swift move to curb the escalating violence, police said they had arrested nine people suspected of instigating the violence.

Fifteen of the injured are supporters of CUF and were admitted to Al-Rahma Hospital while at least 13 of the injured are CCM supporters. The latter were admitted to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital.

Urban West Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto visited both hospitals, but declined to comment on the incident, saying investigations were still going on.

The eyewitness said the attacks took place in three different areas in the western section of Stone Town.

”The incidents took place at Meli-Nne, Mwanakwerekwe and Daraja Bovu where the police used tear-gas to disperse people”, an eyewitness said at Daraja Bovu, which is a predominantly CUF area.

CUF Zanzibar presidential candidate Seif Shariff Hamad condemned those behind the violence and accused the ’CCM militia’ of being behind the clashes.

’Our vehicle was attacked by a group of youths calling themselves Janjaweed.

They stoned the people inside the vehicle as the anti-riot police looked on.

We appealed to the police to follow up the incident so that those who caused the violence can be charged, regardless of the party they belong to,’ Hamad told a press conference in Zanzibar yesterday.

He said that both President Benjamin Mkapa and Zanzibar president Amani Abeid Karume were aware of the existence of the camps where the ’Janjaweed’ were trained.

’These training camps must be closed down immediately for free, fair and peaceful elections and the police should go about their duties impartially,’ Hamad said.

No ruling party members were immediately available for comment, but the state radio (STZ) quoted Urban West Regional Commissioner (RC) Abdallah Mwinyi as having appealed to the police to curb the escalating violence.

Deputy Registrar of Political Parties Rajab Baraka also visited the victims of the clashes at both hospitals.

He said afterwards:’This is sad?political parties leaders must do something to stop the violence.’

Dar, Zanzibar to feature in BA film

2005-09-26 08:47:07
By Correspondent Mohamed Ugasa


British Airways (BA) has chosen Tanzania as the setting for the airline's new commercial whose shooting gets underway this week in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

BA Tanzania Country Manager Saada Juma said yesterday that
Tanzania was selected from among 83 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and added that this was the first time that the carrier was using locations in Africa for its commercials.

An eight-member film crew arrived in Dar es Salaam from London yesterday morning for the filming of the commercial to be shown as part of the airline's in-flight entertainment (IFE) and used at airports, exhibitions and other related events around the world.

The crew comprises producer Debbie Skelton, director Matt McConaghy, production manager Harnake Hunspal, production assistant Lulu Lorry and cameramen Bruce Parker and Tom Hooker.

They will team up with locally based experts Peter Jones of Tanganyika Films and translator Jombi Kivuyo.

Several prominent Tanzanians, whose names were not immediately available, will appear in the clip whose scenes will include locations in the centre of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and beaches in the two cities.

BA Marketing Manager Clive Peoples, who is supervising the work, said the market in central Zanzibar, popularly referred to as marikiti, had been voted as the best scene for the film, beating famous sites in various big cities around the world.

The filmmakers have been impressed by the vibrant scenery of the market which they hope will be highly appealing to viewers.
Juma said the commercial would go a long way in attracting tourists to Tanzania.

''We are very pleased with the decision to use locations in our commercial capital and the Island of Zanzibar for this commercial which will be viewed by millions of passengers. This will help to show our country's varied attractions of our country to potential holiday makers,'' she said.

The film would be beneficial both to the airline and the country in terms of helping them attract more passengers and tourists, respectively, Juma added.

The airline is working hand in glove with the Tanzania Tourist Board and other stakeholders to promote tourism.

The carrier also regularly organises study tours to Britain for travel agents, tour operators and journalists.

Violence erupts ahead of polls
 

26/09/2005
News24 (SA)

Zanzibar - At least 29 people were injured over the weekend when supporters of rival parties clashed in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar ahead of October elections, police and witnesses said on Monday.

Backers of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM - Revolutionary Party) and opposition Civic United Front (CUF) fought with metal bars and stones after leaving separate campaign rallies on Sunday, they said.

Sixteen CUF supporters were admitted at Al-Rahma Hospital and 13 from the CCM were admitted at Mnazi Mmoja National Hospital, they said, adding that numerous other people sustained minor injuries.

Probe into the attacks

Zanzibar assistant police commissioner George Kizuguto confirmed the incident but declined to comment further, pending a probe into the attacks that occurred as both sides prepare for the October 30 general elections.

"Those who are proved to have started the clashes will be charged," he said.

According to police and witnesses, the violence erupted when youths from the two sides left the rallies and encountered each other about 10km from Zanzibar's main city Stone Town.

But CUF spokesperson Salum Bimani said they were first attacked in the presence of riot police.

"Our vehicle was attacked by CCM youths, stoning the people inside, the anti-riot police were at the scene, but did not take any action," Bimani said.

CCM officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bitter political battle

The CUF and CCM are locked in bitter battle for political control of Zanzibar and dozens of people were injured in clashes between their supporters in March and April after the upcoming election was set and during voter registration.

Both sides have accused the other of violating a 2001 truce known as the "Muafaka Accord", which was signed in a bid to prevent a repeat of deadly violence on Zanzibar that killed nearly 40 people after Tanzania's last elections in 2000.

The CUF has twice lost to the CCM in elections, in 1995 and 2000, and has repeatedly complained that Zanzibari authorities, particularly the police and the electoral commission, are favouring the CCM by harassing opposition supporters.

Robbers strike again in Zanzibar
 

2005-09-13
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian


The wave of violent crimes in Zanzibar continued unabated on Sunday evening when gangsters robbed a wholesale shop of 34m/- and shot injuring a bystander.

The six robbers struck at around 9pm at Sahara Store on the busy Darajani Street.

A shop attendant, Mohammed Rajab, told The Guardian that the gangsters arrived in a Toyota Mark II with the registration number ZNZ 14870 and ordered them to surrender all cash at gunpoint.

As the gangsters were leaving, members of the public raised the alarm, prompting the robbers to open fire and injure the bystander, who was later identified as Omar Ali Hassan, before making a clean getaway.

Rajab said the cash stolen in the raid was the entire sales for the day.

Hassan, who was struck in the leg, told The Guardian from his bed at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital that he was shot as he was crossing the road.

’I was on my way home when I saw people fleeing in different directions.I rushed across the road to see what was happening when I was shot in the left leg,’ he said.

Some eyewitnesses said the robbers could have been arrested had police officers who were on patrol in the area not fled in terror when the gangsters struck.

There were several police officers, but some took to their heels while others dived to the ground when they heard the gunshot.

It was a shocking display of cowardice from people who are supposed to protect us, Mahmoud Abdulrahman, who runs a business next to the shop, said.

Neither Urban West Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto nor Zanzibar Crime Officer Ramadhan Kinyongo could be reached for comment yesterday.

Police sources said the two were attending a meeting at Zanzibar police headquarters at Ziwani.

The incident took place just hours after gangsters opened fire on a car carrying prominent businessman Naushad Mohammed.

The robbers ambushed Mohammed as he was heading home from the airport. No one was injured in the attack.

Z’bar trader cheats death in gun attack

2005-09-12
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian


Prominent Zanzibar businessman Naushad Mohammed escaped death yesterday when gunmen sprayed his car with bullets in Zanzibar Municipality.

Mohammed was attacked at around 11am at Kijangwani as he and his driver were heading to the businessman’s home from the airport in his Mitsubishi Pajero.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said the gangsters, who were armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and pistols, attempted to block Mohammed’s car with their Suzuki Escudo whose number plates were hidden.

However, Mohammed’s driver swerved and drove on, prompting the gunmen, dressed in police uniform, to fire several shots at the vehicle.

After realising that they had missed the occupants, the gangsters gave chase, but the Pajero was too fast for them.

Some traffic police officers who were near the scene fled while others dived for cover when shots rang out.

Police sources said Mohammed had a large sum of cash when the gunmen ambushed him.

Police recovered two spent cartridges and a live bullet at the scene and immediately launched investigations into the incident, a detective attached to Mwembemadema Police Station told The Guardian.

Urban West Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Earlier this year, another prominent Zanzibar businessman, Abdulsattar Dawood, was robbed of over 100m/- when gangsters raided his office at Mlandege.

Yesterday’s incident happened just days after armed robbers raided two tourist hotels in Zanzibar and made off with about 50m/-.

Armed bandits pound on Zanzibar tourist hotel

DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) –

Armed bandits have pounded on a Zanzibar tourist hotel again within eight days, robbing millions of Tanzanian shillings worth of cash and valuables, according to reports reaching here on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses told Zanzibar police that six unknown people armed with a rifle gun and some knives drove late on Wednesday to the Nungwi Village Hotel in northern Unguja, the main island of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

After overpowering the hotel watchmen, the bandits made away with both cash and valuables kept in the hotel safe.

Though hotel management did not know the exact amount of cash kept in the safe but it indicated that 18 million shillings (about 16,000 US dollars) worth of valuables had been robbed.

On August 31, a group of eight armed bandits robbed the Coral Reef Hotel also in northern Unguja and made away with 26,550 US dollars worth of cash and valuables from the hotel safe.

Up to now no arrest has been made in connection with the armed robberies, according to police sources.

Armed robbery is rare in Zanzibar, which won the award of the best island tourist destination in Africa and Middle East late last year as polled by the world famous tourism magazine Travel & Leisure.

The Indian Ocean archipelago is a part of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Zanzibar okays presidential bid of local party

September 08, 2005
Xinhua

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission on Wednesday scrapped an objection against one of the local political parties, thus bringing to six the total number of parties vying for Zanzibar presidency.

The Zanzibar electoral body ruled out the objection raised by the National Reconstruction Alliance against the Democratic Party after the former had failed to produce supporting documents.

So from Wednesday onwards, six parties will be vying for the Zanzibar presidency and these parties and their presidential candidates are ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi's Amani Abeid Karume, Civic United Front's Seif Sharrif Hamad, Sauti ya Umma's Mariam Ahmed, Democratic Party's Abdallah Ali Abdallah, Jahazi Asilia's Haji Omar Kitole, and National Reconstruction Alliance's Simai Abdulrahman Abdalla.

Amani Abeid Karume is the incumbent president of Zanzibar, a part of the United Republic of Tanzania though with its own president, cabinet and parliament.

It is Seif Sharrif Hamad's third try at the presidential office in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The election day is slated for October 30 this year, with the presidential campaigning already started this Monday.

When voters in Zanzibar cast their ballots on October 30, they are not only to elect Zanzibar president, Zanzibar parliamentarians and Zanzibar local government posts, they will elect president and lawmakers for the united republic as well.

Campaigning kicks off in Zanzibar

2005-09-05
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Campaigning ahead of the Zanzibar elections begins today amid controversy surrounding the verification of the permanent voters’ register.

The ruling CCM starts electioneering in Pemba where its presidential candidate, Amani Abeid Karume, will address his first campaign rally as he seeks to be re-elected for a second and final five-year term.

Pemba is the stronghold of the largest opposition party in the Isles, the Civic United Front (CUF), which is today scheduled to unveil its Zanzibar election manifesto at Bwawani Hotel in Zanzibar Municipality.

The manifesto will be unveiled by CUF candidate Seif Shariff Hamad. CUF will officially launch its campaign on Thursday.

Karume and Hamad met behind closed doors last week and pledged to ensure that peace prevails during the October 30 elections.

They said in a joint statement that all Zanzibaris had a moral obligation to ensure that the elections would be free and fair.

The two met just days after CUF reiterated that it would not recognise the outcome of the election, claiming that the voters’ register had been tampered with to give CCM an advantage in the poll.

However, controversy still surrounds verification of the register with Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) commissioners from CUF saying at the weekend that the Zanzibar government was interfering in ZEC’s affairs.

The commissioners said in an eight-page statement that ZEC was in turmoil and called for the issue to be addressed urgently.

’There are serious problems within ZEC which must be addressed as a matter of urgency otherwise the forthcoming elections will be a complete farce. We wish to make it clear that we are not party to the mess in the electoral body,’they said.

The commissioners, who were appointed following the 2001 peace agreement between CCM and CUF, said problems cropping up in the run-up to the elections appeared to have been ’carefully planned’.

’We (commissioners from CUF) need the general public to understand that we have nothing to do with the tampering of the voters’ register. Our efforts to advise the ZEC leadership to abide by the Constitution have failed,’ they said.

The commissioners accused top ZEC officials of not being firm in their decisions and criticised the Zanzibar government for allegedly interfering in ZEC affairs.

Saleh Mnemo of the ZEC Information Desk confirmed to The Guardian yesterday that the commission had not yet to complete verification of voters listed in the permanent register, but said progress was being made and the public would be informed in due course.

An impeccable source said ZEC officials had held discussions with their National Electoral Commission (NEC) counterparts.

The talks centred on the possibility of ZEC using techniques employed by NEC in verifying the 16 million voters registered by NEC.

However, there were several snags that had to be overcome, the source said.

’ZEC wants to use the methods employed by NEC in verification of the voters, but the techniques will not be of much help in Zanzibar where dozens of people may share the same first name and surname.’

Fuel shortage bites in Isles
 

2005-09-03 07:48:19
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Fuel prices in Zanzibar have doubled over the last three days amid reports of dwindling stocks in the Isles.

A survey carried out by this reporter in Zanzibar Municipality this week showed that a litre of petrol was now retailing for about 2,000/-, up from about 1,000/- a few weeks ago.

Several filling stations in the municipality have been closed for a number of days after failing to replenish their stocks of petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Most of the government workers provided with collective transport now walk to and from work after their buses were grounded for lack of fuel.

A sizeable number of people owning cars have stopped using them in favour of public transport after the price of fuel went through the roof.

The shortage of fuel has given rise to a thriving black market in which petrol and diesel are sold at sky-high prices.

Some daladala operators said they would be forced to raise fares if the price of fuel did not drop in the next few days.

’If the price doesn’t drop soon, we will be forced to increase fares if these vehicles are to remain on the road.That is the only way we can stay in business and continue serving Zanzibar residents,’ said Bakari Kombo, who plies the town centre-Bububu route.

Zanzibar’s Minister of Water, Works and Energy, Mansour Yusuf Himid, confirmed that there was an acute shortage of petroleum products in the Isles and appealed for calm, saying the government was working to find a solution.

He said his ministry was consulting with players in the sector with a view to establishing the cause of the shortage.

’The government is aware of the problem and is making a follow-up,’ Himid said.

Unconfirmed reports said a delay in the importation of petroleum products was the cause of the shortage.

Cleric says CUF using religion for political ends
 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 09/02/05
Angola Press agency

Tanzania`s opposition Civic United Front (CUF) is facing a major crisis in credibility after a respected Muslim scholar, Sheikh Magezi Shaaban, told a press conference in Dar es Salaam Thursday that the party had a religious agenda.

Sheikh Magezi said CUF had a hand in the Muslim organ, Imams` Shura, which was formed in 1997 with the express purpose of using Islam as a political tool for those seeking high offices.

In Tanzaniam Christians slightly outnumber Muslims.

The latter, however, remains a major force to reckon with, hence the unwritten rule that has seen the alternation of Christian and Muslim presidents in the reign of the Union government after it was formed in 1964 between Zanzibar and Tanganyika.

Sheikh Magezi said he was one of the founder members of the Shura, and the objective of the Shura in 1997 was to help former Tanzania Minister for Finance, Kighoma Ali Malima, use the Islamic organ in taking political power in the country.

Malima, who died of a heart attack three years after leaving the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi, had parted ways with former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

Sheikh Magezi claimed that through the Shura, the CUF has been using mosques in Tanzania for its present election campaigns in violation of the Union constitution that states clearly that Tanzania is a secular state.

This is the first time that a founder of a religious organ has directly implicated the CUF in using religion for political ends.

The opposition party, which has a strong base in Zanzibar, has all along denied that it was using Islam for political ends, but no one could specifically pin it down, especially from the Muslim community.

When contacted for comment by PANA, the CUF Chairman and a presidential candidate for the Union presidency in the forthcoming general elections, Ibrahim Lipumba, said he would issue a statement on the matter Friday.

However, he told PANA: "The timing of the so-called revelations shows that someone somewhere is using the man (Sheik Magezi)."

The CCM is sure to use this development for its own ends since it perceives the CUF as a major threat, especially in its stronghold of Zanzibar.

Gunmen grab 30m/- at Zanzibar hotel
 

2005-09-02 08:24:51
By Guardian Reporter, Zanzibar

Eight armed gangsters on Wednesday evening robbed a Zanzibar tourist hotel of millions of shillings.

The robbers made away with about 30m/- and valuables whose value could not be immediately established from Coral Reef Hotel, 45 kilometres north of Zanzibar Municipality, police sources confirmed yesterday.

’’We are investigating the incident and have launched manhunt at all possible hideouts.

We appeal to the public to help us bring the suspects to book,’’ a senior police officer said.

However, Unguja North Regional Police Commander Kheir Khamis Kheir could not be reached for comment.

Eyewitnesses said the robbers, who were in police uniform and armed with at least two sub-machine guns and a pistol, entered the hotel through the main entrance at around 7pm and told staff and guests that they were police officers on patrol.

’’’They went straight to the reception desk where they ordered the hotel security guards to lie down before tying their arms and legs with ropes.

They then entered the manager’s office and ordered her to hand over the keys to the safe at gunpoint,’’ an eyewitness said.

The robbers opened the safe and helped themselves to US$11,000 (12m/-), 8,300 euros (11m/-) and 6.5m/-.

They also took two watches and eight mobile phones from members of the hotel staff.

The gangsters made their getaway by jumping over the perimeter wall before speeding off in a Suzuki Escudo whose registration number plates were hidden.

The thugs dropped a police cap and two bullets as they were fleeing from the scene. The items were taken away by police detectives.

ANALYSIS-Power-sharing seen as key to Zanzibar peace

31 Aug 2005
Reuters

By Helen Nyambura

ZANZIBAR, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A power-sharing agreement by Zanzibar's two main political parties may be the only way to ease tension on Tanzania's Spice Islands and avert bloodshed at an election later this year, analysts say.

Bitter at defeats in two past polls it says were fraudulent, the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) has vowed to hold Ukraine-style demonstrations on the Zanzibar archipelago of 1 million people if it loses again to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in elections scheduled for Oct. 30.

Currently in semi-autonomous Zanzibar, as in Tanzania as a whole, the CUF has no representation in government after winner-takes-all polls. Analysts said that was dangerous given that each party had significant support.

Dozens of people were killed in clashes between police and CUF protesters in 2001. Most electoral observers agreed CUF won the last two polls -- narrowly in 1995 and decisively in 2000 -- and that the CCM clung to power through fraud.

Many analysts say the best way to avoid fresh post-election violence would be an agreement in advance between the opposition and the CCM for the winner to share some posts with the loser.

"No party will be able to win overwhelmingly, there will be a narrow margin," said Ahmed Rajab, editor of the Africa Analysis newsletter.

"The winning party should be magnanimous enough to give the defeated party some posts, meaningful posts at that."

Haroub Othman, political analyst at the University of Dar es Salaam, said: "There is no way in Zanzibar that one party can monopolise power. The political opinion is divided and they should share power.

"I am confident that if elections are seen to have been conducted fairly, no one will contest. Violence can only come if a party feels they have been cheated, or view the electoral commission or police as biased."

ROOTS IN SLAVE HISTORY

The CCM, which won in 2000 with 67 percent of the vote, has its roots in Zanzibar's slave history.

When African stevedores and porters in Zanzibar overthrew their Omani colonialists in 1964, they quickly cemented their power by uniting with the mainland Tanganyika and forming CCM, Swahili for the Revolution party.

The new African leaders brutalised and marginalised Pemba island, populated mainly by descendants of the deposed Arabs, sowing discontent. So when multiparty democracy was allowed in 1991, many Pemba residents moved to the newly formed CUF party.

The CUF accuses the Zanzibar Electoral Commission of being biased and says a recently compiled voters' register must be rid of multiple registrations.

The Zanzibar government infuriated the CUF with its Aug. 16 suspension of a contract to check the list with Waymark Infotech, a South African firm, saying government tendering procedures had not been followed.

CUF, which has declared willingness to share power if it wins, says the CCM party is not ready to do the same.

But President Benjamin Mkapa, leader of the union government between the mainland and the twin islands, recently said CCM and the opposition should consider a government of national unity.

"President Mkapa may be in favour but the problem is on the island. I feel that CCM Zanzibar has been the obstacle to that," said Seif Sharif Hamad, CUF's presidential candidate for the islands, which have their own parliament and president.

"They don't envisage the day they will not be in power. If they agree to power sharing, it means that no one looses completely."

Mohammed Bilal, a CCM central committee member and former chief minister in Zanzibar told Reuters there are many in his party who do not trust CUF, accusing it of wanting to break away from the union and returning the islands to Arab rule.

But he hinted the party might consider sharing power.

"Should CCM win, perhaps it should be ready to bring CUF in, there is more at stake here," Bilal said. "We would not like Zanzibar to degenerate into chaos. We need peace."

Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Tanzania
 

8/19/05

Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez traveled to Tanzania this week, where he met with volunteers and government officials to discuss Peace Corps’ progress in the African nation. Director Vasquez also attended the annual conference for Peace Corps country directors in the Africa region.

(I-Newswire) - Meeting with the seven Peace Corps volunteers that comprise the volunteer advisory council for Peace Corps/Tanzania, Director Vasquez discussed their ideas for the future of the Tanzania program. The advisory council members represent their peers and present the interests of the volunteers to the Peace Corps administration. The volunteers on the council work in a variety of Peace Corps assignments, from health and HIV/AIDS education to environmental conservation and education.

“It’s important to engage the volunteers and staff in a dialogue about the challenges and successes of the program,” Director Vasquez said.

Director Vasquez also traveled to Zanzibar, where he had meetings with government officials and visited volunteers serving at the National Teacher Resource Center.

Director Vasquez met with Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume who expressed tremendous support for the Peace Corps and complimented the work of the volunteers, stating that the people of Tanzania and the volunteers learn from each other and both benefit through the exchange of ideas and cultures.

In Zanzibar, Peace Corps volunteers Meredith Brooks and Charles Bellah hold workshops for local biology teachers and health counselors throughout the region on ways to incorporate HIV/AIDS and sexual health education in their classrooms and discussions. Both Bellah and Brooks are advocates of health education. Brooks, who plans to pursue a career in international development, served as a peer health counselor during her time at Dartmouth College. Bellah, a graduate of Michigan State University, plans to continue a career in the health field as a nurse practitioner.

Director Vasquez also met with Zanzibar's Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Haroun Ali Suleiman, who stated, "The Peace Corps volunteers in Zanzibar are very supportive of our education programs. Kiswahili is the national language of Tanzania, but English is the Kiswahili of the world. Therefore, we are ready to welcome even more Peace Corps volunteers into the English teaching program in Tanzania."

Earlier in his visit, Director Vasquez hosted the annual country directors conference, with the objective of helping staff open a dialogue on ways they can share information and better understand the unique challenges of the Africa region, including success stories in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

More than 1,800 volunteers have served in Tanzania since the Peace Corps opened its program there in 1962. Volunteers teach in secondary schools, educate local villages on environmental education, and promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention through community health programs. All volunteers are encouraged to include HIV/AIDS education into their projects. Currently, more than 180 Peace Corps volunteers serve in Tanzania. To learn more about Tanzania, please visit the Where Do Volunteers Go? section.

Since 1961, more than 178,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

Inquest on death of ‘ CUF hero’ underway
 

The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
2005-08-18

By Rose Athumani

Plans are underway to open an inquest into the death of a Mbagala Mbande Primary School pupil, Khalid Omar Mfaume, who was shot dead during civic polls in Mbagala, kiburugwa at Kwanyoka voting center in Dar es Salaam last November.

The director of Criminal investigation, Adadi Rajab, told The Citizen yesterday that ballistic tests on four guns was completed and the file had been forwarded to the Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) for further advice.

He said the DPP then directed the police force to open an inquest into the killing of Mfaume, and inquest as directed, said Rajab.

The DCI did not, however, say how long the inquest would take.

The four guns were taken to ballistics experts to determine which fired the bullet that was extracted from Mfaume’s body.

The citizen on March 7, this year reported that a single shot fir ed from a 7.65 mm caliber pistol is what took the life of Khalid Omar Mfaume during last year’s civic elections at Mbagala Kiburugwa.

It was first claimed that the boy was shot by police on duty who had carried sub-machine guns, but a ballistic report on the four firearms that were confiscated later shows that the killer bullet was fired from a pistol.

The citizen at the time had learnt that the report was ready four weeks earlier and was duly submitted to the law enforcement authorities, although nobody was willing to admit having a copy.

The Dar es Salaam Regional Police Commander’s office was sent the report but the RPC, Alfred Tibaigana , would not acknowledge its presence in his office.

Khalid Mfaume was shot when a scuffle erupted at the Kwanyoka polling station and boy grabbed the bucket containing the ballots.

It appears that it will never be known whether the CUF youth was trying to protect the ballots from the scuffle or he intended to tamper with them.

Initial reports indicated that police on duty, the only ones allowed carrying firearms at a polling station, shot him. However, CUF officials dismissed these suggestions, insisting that it was a murder using a non-authorized gun.

A few days after the incident, RPC Tibaigana told journalists that four people fired at civilians during the first civic polls in Mbagala and one of the shots killed Mfaume.

He named the four as police constable, a local militiaman, the Temeke OC-CID and Temeke District executive director Idd Nyundo.

The guns used were two SMGs and two pistols. The law prohibits anybody who is not a security personnel on duty from carrying firearms at polling stations.

In his explanation, Tibaigana said the four fired at the people in self defence after a scuffle erupted and the crowd torched a local government vehicle.

He said the four ran into a house and when they saw the crowd coming for them, they fired some shots in self defence. He insisted that they acted in self-defence, which is allowed by law.

He added that whoever fired the shot that killed Mfaume, would probably be charged with manslaughter.

Zanzibar Opposition Plans Voters' List Protests

2005-08-17
Source: Reuters

The opposition on Tanzania's Zanzibar islands said on Tuesday it would launch street protests after the government suspended a deal with a company contracted to check the list of voters before October elections.
Zanzibaris say confidence in the voters' roll is crucial for peaceful elections in the semi-autonomous archipelago, where dozens were killed in clashes in 2001 between police and opposition supporters protesting over ballot-rigging in Tanzania's last election in 2000.

The Zanzibar government on Monday suspended a contract between the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) and South Africa's Waymark Infotech for failing to follow government tendering procedures.

The opposition Civic United Front's (CUF) said it would organise street protests to demand a clean electoral roll.

"We might resort to using people's power. We will ask our members to take to the streets for as long as it will take, unless the process is left to be free and fair," said Ayoub Bakari, CUF election director.

Under an accord between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the CUF, both parties promised to cooperate in the compiling of an accurate list of voters.

The opposition accuses the government of barring many of its supporters from registering to vote in the October 30 poll and allowing youths under the minimum voting age of 18 to be listed. The ZEC denies any interference.

Waymark Infotech was contracted to identify such cases.

"The government has no power to interfere with ZEC. This proves what we have always said -- that ZEC is not independent and receives directives from CCM," said CUF spokesman Ismail Jussa.

In spite of solid income from tourism, the former Omani colony with a population of one million remains a backward corner of Tanzania.

The Zanzibar islands of Pemba and Unguja forged a union with mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to create Tanzania, while keeping their own parliament and president.

Isles polls : Law leaves much to be desired
 

2005-08-17 08:26:52
By Karegero Karegero
Guardian

Tanzania goes to polls for the general and parliamentary elections in the two months time from now.

At any rate, the holding of elections though a social matter it is in essence a legal issue of which procedural
and substantive requirements need to be observed not only in the preparation but also in the course of holding the same.

But by the look of things, an intriguing legal question haunts Zanzibar: The election takes place while the Zanzibar Election Act of 1984 is all silent on where some Zanzibar contestants for the Union Parliament or House of Representatives doubling portfolios as, say, ministers in the Union government should register themselves as voters.

The law would have stated this point blankly to remove doubts held by people.

The silence of the law becomes an issue when one considers a scenario where precisely, a Zanzibar member of the House of Representatives who doubles as, say, a minister in the Union government should register as a voter:

Should he or she register in Dar es Salaam where she has all the way long pursued the required ministerial duties or in a constituency in Zanzibar where he was previously elected or where he or she hails?

That problem aside, the crux of the matter that still leaves much to desire is when this situation is translated in the light of the requirements of yet another piece of legislation, the Zanzibar Residents Act which is also in force. For the spirit of the latter law runs counter to the provisions of the Elections Act.

Under the Zanzibar Election Act, No.11 of 1984 a person who qualifies to register as a voter must be one who has lived in Zanzibar for a consecutive three year period. That is the provision of the law.

But Zanzibar Union ministers have been living and do live in Dar es Salaam , away from Zanzibar in the course of pursuing their ministerial duties, hence they may as well be said they have not been living in Zanzibar for the entire five year or even ten years period, depending on how long one has been living in Dar es Salaam.
In the circumstances, the law leaves much to be desired.

CCM women’s wing dumps heavyweights
 

2005-08-13
By Ludger Kasumuni, Dodoma
Guardian

The General Council of CCM’s Women Wing (UWT) has purged the names of women heavyweights from its ranks after they lost in the nominations.

The losers include long-serving legislators Roda Kahatano, Benadine Ndaboine and Lydia Boma.

Other losers are district commissioners Halima Kihemba, Hawa Mchopa, Esther Malyeta and the daughter of former Prime Minister Edward Moringe Sokoine, Einoti Sokoine.

The other big names that failed to go past the nominations are the director of Twanga Pepeta Band, Asha Baraka and former CUF MP who crossed over to CCM, Zamda Bozzen.

The council also approved the names of women candidates who won Special Seats nominations on the Mainland and Zanzibar.

The winners, are: Dr Batilda Burian and Halima Mohamed Mwamuya (Arusha), Janet Kahama and Janeth Mourice Massaburi (Dar es Salaam) and Mariam Salum Mfaki and Felista Bura (Dodoma)………….

…… Aziza Suleyum Ally and Mwanne Mchemba, Dr Aisha Omar Kigoda and Mwantumu Mahiza (Tanga) and Bahati Abeid and Kidawa Saleh (Unguja-North) were among the winners.

The others are Dr Maua Daftari and Maida Hamadi Abdallah (Pemba-North), Asha Mashimba Jecha and Jina Khatib Haji (Unguja-South) and Fatma Othman Ali and Mwaka Ramadhan (West-Town region).

The other winners are Bihindi Hamad Khamis and Kidawa Seleman Khatib (Pemba-North), Mkongwe Nassor Juma and Dawa Juma Makame (Unguja-North), Samia Hassan and Mosi Kajala (Unguja-South), Zainab Mohamed and Ashura Abeid Faraji (Pemba-South) and Fatma Abdallah Tamim and Thuwaiba Kissasi.

Meanwhile, UWT Chairperson Anna Abdallah said that the names of winners would be vetted further pending approval by higher party organs.

The National Executive Committee and Central Committee are expected to meet next week to endorse them. ……

[Condensed]

The others are Lediana Mng’ong’o and Pindi Chana (Iringa), Elizabeth Batenga and Bernadetha Mushashu (Kagera),Sijapata Nkayamba and Josephine Ngenzabuke (Kigoma)and Salome Mbatia and Shally Raymond (Kilimanjaro).

The list also includes Fatma Mikidadi and Lulida Riziki Saidi(Lindi), Martha John Umbula and Dorah Herial Mushi(Manyara), Gaudensia Kabaka and Rosemary Kirigini(Mara) and Cynthia Hilda Ngoye and Florence Kyendesya(Mbeya).

Anastazia James Wambura and Mariam Kasembe (Mtwara), Esther Nyawazwa (Mwanza), Lucy Sewere Nkya and Christina Gabriel Ishengoma (Morogoro) and Zainab Vullu and Halima Kimbau Coast region) also made the list.

There are also Eliata Switi and Anna Lupembe (Rukwa), Devota Likokola and Stella Manyanya (Ruvuma), Diana Chilolo and Martha Mlata (Singida) and Joyce Namanilo and Joyce Masunga (Shinyanga).

She also said that final approval would depend on the decision of the National Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, the president of the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), Margaret Sitta, and Director General of St Mary’s International Schools Dr Getrude Pangalile Rwakatare were yesterday declared winners of Special Seats slots following nomination process that lasted the whole of Thursday night.

Announcing the results yesterday morning, assistant returning officer Zakia Meghji said that Sitta, polled 60 votes on the TUCTA category, while Dr Rwakatare romped to victory with 74 votes against
nine other candidates from Tanzania Mainland.

Out of 63 contestants for the Mainland Special Seats are long-serving legislator Sophia Simba (60), Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Shamin Parkar Khan (58) and CCM’s Secretary General for Dodoma Urban-District, Grace Benjamin Kissie (53 votes).

The others are Elizabeth Machangu (51), Domina Ngwada (50), Asha Shaban Kipangula (50), Amina Butoye Kanyogoto (46) and Mariam Abuu Mallya (39).

Meghji named the five winners from Zanzibar as Fakharia Hamis Shomari (87), Khadija Saleh Ngozi (87), Dogo Iddi Mbarouk (63), Kijakazi Ali Khamis (46) and Harusi Said Seleman (44).

Violence rocks Zanzibar again
 

2005-08-11 08:35:19
By Issa Yussuf
Guardian

Incidents of poll-related violence rocked Zanzibar again on Wednesday when three people were attacked and injured, one seriously, in Zanzibar Stone Town.

Three grass-thatched houses also survived being torched at Jang\’ombe area by unknown people in a series of incidents residents attribute to the mounting political tension on Isles ahead of the October 30 polls.

?Police confirmed the Wednesday night incidents as the two main political parties in Zanzibar ? Civic United Front (CUF) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) traded accusations, with each accusing the other of precipitating the chaos.

?Three people, who were beaten and injured seriously, were attacked in Stone Town (Mji-Mkongwe) area by unidentified armed youths.

The incident raised to over 10 the number of people who have been injured in poll-related violence in the past one week.

Yesterday’s incident was the second in less than one week. It is the latest in Mji-kongwe, which has borne the brunt of the violence.

No suspect has so far been arrested, with the police giving their stock response to enquiries by the press.

’’We are investigating the incidents, including the attempt to torch four grass-thatched houses in Jang\’ombe on Tuesday night,’’ Urban West Police Commander George Kizuguto told The Guardian yesterday.

?He added: ’’These were hooligans trying to create mayhem in the city. But we are determined to arrest them and appeal to the public to help us in tracking them down.’’

?Among the injured was Ali Hamad, a resident of Mkunazini, who was treated and discharged at Mazrui Clinic.

He said that about 15 youths armed with clubs and machetes ambushed and assaulted him. He sustained serious injuries on the head and face.?

?At least six people were injured in various parts of Zanzibar, and four houses in Tomondo were nearly set on fire by unknown assailants on Sunday.

Zanzibar hotel wins best island accommodation award

DAR ES SALAAM
August 11, 2005
Xinhua General News Service

A hotel on Zanzibar's east coast has been voted as the best island accommodation venue in the world, according to local press reports on Thursday.

English newspaper The Guardian quoted a statement issued by the Palms Zanzibar Hotel as saying that the BBC Holiday program had voted the beachside hotel as topping a list of such seaside resorts as Cuba's Sevilla, La Luna in Grenada, North Island in the Seychelles and Azores Makunfushi in the Maldives.

Situated along a pristine white beach, the Palms Zanzibar Hotel provides a luxurious get-away recluse with six private villas each covering 130 square meters with a bedroom, a living room, a full ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet, a large furnished terrace with the view of the Indian Ocean and an extra room with its own bathroom.

The hotel claims to offer all the luxurious comforts and amenities of five-star hotels.

Palms Zanzibar Hotel Chairman said in the statement that the award is a great honor that generates publicity for Zanzibar as a whole.

The world famous trade magazine Travel & Leisure late last year voted the Indian Ocean archipelago of Zanzibar as the best island tourism destination in Africa and the Middle East.

The nomination has promoted local tourism as more travelers from Europe and North America are coming to this part of the world.

Zanzibar: Six Injured in Poll Violence
 

IPP Media
8/10/05

Six people were injured in Zanzibar after unknown armed youths attacked them in political-related violence.
The incident immediately touched off accusations and counter-accusations between main political adversaries on the Isles - the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi and Civic United Front (CUF).

Police said yesterday that the incident occurred on Sunday night during which four houses were set ablaze at Kwa Ali Msha.

Mjini Magharib Police Regional Commander George Kizuguto said police were investigating the incident before giving their version.

According to the victims, their assailants were armed with machetes, clubs and iron bars.

The injured were admitted to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital and Al-Rahma.
One of the injured, Khamis Masoud Kombo, said he was attacked as he stopped to buy bread at Kwa Ali Msha.

’’I and other people in the area were caught unawares. A gang of about 15 armed youths pounced on us and started beating us.

Some people managed to escape, but I could not because I had a defective motorbike, which I could not leave behind,’’ he said from his hospital bed.

Another victim Abdul Hussein said he was attacked at his home by armed youths at night. Hussein has been admitted to Al-Rahma Hospital.

The two linked the attack to political simmering violence in Zanzibar as the incident took place in CUF stronghold.

Kizuguto said the police are taking the incident seriously and appealed to the public to help in the investigation.

Commenting on the incident, the CUF information officer Salum Bimani said: ’’The biggest problem in Zanzibar is lack of political will.

Our rivals are hatching a dirty plot as they have already mobilised youths to intimidate our supporters.’’

Nahodha, Mwinyi sail through in Zanzibar
 

2005-08-05 08:14:41
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha was among political heavyweights who romped home comfortably in yesterday’s CCM preferential poll in the Isles.

Nahodha polled 38 of the 39 votes cast to be assured of defending his Mwanakwerekwe House of Representatives seat on CCM’s ticket in the October 30 general election. One vote was spoilt.

Other big names that sailed through included Deputy Health Minister Dr Hussein Mwinyi, who is eyeing the Kwahani parliamentary seat, and Zanzibar Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini, who won the Dimani House of Representatives nomination.

Minister of State (Water, Energy and Construction) Mansour Yusuf Himid was victorious in the race to be nominated CCM’s candidate for the Kiembe Samaki House of Reps seat as was Burhani Saadat Haji who won the preferential vote in the Kikwajuni House of Reps constituency.

State Minister (Local Administration) Suleiman Othman Nyanga destroyed the opposition to bag the opportunity to defend his Jangombe House of Reps seat later this year.

However, things were not so rosy for the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr Abdulkadir Shareef, who lost to Omar Yusuf Mzee in the race to be nominated the ruling party’s flag-bearer for the Kiembe Samaki parliamentary seat.

Other top Zanzibari government officials who lost in yesterday’s vote included Deputy Minister of Health Sultan Mohamed Mugheiry (Mji Mkongwe, House of Reps), Deputy Minister of Communications Ali Omar Chengo (Mpendae, House of Reps) and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Marketing Mussa Ame Silima (Nungwi, House of Reps).

Prominent businessman Mohamed Raza was soundly defeated in the race for nomination in Mkwajuni after failing to poll a single vote.

Sitting MPs who fell by the wayside included Fatma Said Ali (Rahaleo) and Mohamed Abdul (Kwahani).

Results:
Mji Mkongwe: Parliament - Boniface (70), Salum Msabah (29); House of Reps - Simai Mohamed Said
(77), Latifa (36), Sultani Mohamed Mugheiry (26).

Kiembe Samaki: Parliament - Yusuf Mzee (18), Dr Abdulkadir Shareef (4), Maudiline Castico (3); House of Reps - Mansour Yusuf Himid (40), Mtoro Almasi (3).

Mpendae: Parliament - Issa Kassim Issa (25) Salum Hassan Turky (21), Omar Said Amir (1), Sufiani Khamis (0); House of Reps - Mahmoud Thabit Kombo (23), Ali Omar Chengo (12). Jang’ombe: Parliament Mohamed Rajab (39), Ramadhan Suleiman Nzori (26), Maulid Hamad Maulid (0); House of Reps - Suleiman Othman Nyanga (53), Mussa Zubeir (19).

Kwahani: Parliament - Dr Hussein Mwinyi (71), Suleiman Juma (14), Mohamed Moyo (1); House of Reps- Ali Suleiman Ali (93), and Mohamed Abdul (13).

Rahaleo: Parliament - Saleh Ali Faraji (50), Fatma Said Ali (28), Kombo Mshenga (35); House of Reps - Kamal Basha Pandu (73).
Nungwi: Parliament - Ame Pandu (62), Khamis Yussuf (39); House of Reps - Ame Ussi (71), Mussa Silima (0).

Mkwajuni: Parliament - Mzee Zubeir Ngwali (47), Ali Sheha (28); House of Reps - Ali Haji Ali (49), Mohamed Raza (0).

Dimani: Parliament - Hafidh Ali followed by Remidius Kissasi (nnumber of votes not given); House of Reps - Dr Mwinyihaji Makame (119), Asha Abdallah Juma (13).

Oman Air cancels flights to Zanzibar over shoddy airport

7/30/05

ZANZIBAR - Oman Air this week canceled its flights to Tanzania's offshore island of Zanzibar as a result of poor airport conditions, officials said on July 22, "because of the poor condition of our airport, mainly after developing potholes in the runway", Zanzibar communication and transport minister Adam Mwakanjuki said. The cancelation has dealt a blow to Tanzania's semi-autonomous island, "specifically at this high season when tourists are visiting Zanzibar", Mwakanjuki explained. The tourism sector contributes about 21 percent to the island's annual revenues.

Outgoing Reps call for fair, peaceful poll

2005-07-28 08:15:58
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives put aside their political differences yesterday and called for peace, stability and fairness in the run-up to and during the October general election.

The CCM and CUF representatives made the plea in their farewell remarks before the House was dissolved.

”We have worked together as a team regardless of our political affiliations. Let us maintain the spirit and make sure that the forthcoming general election is free, fair and peaceful,” CCM legislator Ali Suleiman Ali said.

Mtumwa Kheir Mbarouk (Women, CUF) said: ”Let us forgive each other if there was any problem among us. God loves those who forgive others. We worked together throughout our term and we should uphold the spirit up to and after the elections.”
She said it would be meaningless for representatives to preach peace and unity only for their actions to contradict the rhetoric.
CUF’s Muhindi Mohamed asked his colleagues to stick to what they said in their farewell messages.
”Tanzanians and the world at large are watching?its absurd for us to advocate for peace while at the same time planning to violate electoral laws,” the representative said.
Amina Salum Ali (CCM) appealed to her fellow representatives to respect and tolerate dissenting voices and maintain peace and stability before, during and after the elections.
Earlier, House Speaker Pandu Ameir Kificho commended representatives for their ”constructive debates and good relations” during their five-year term which ended yesterday.
While CCM representatives attended House sessions for about five years, their CUF counterparts staged a two-and-a-half-year boycott after the 2000 general election which saw Amani Abaid Karume elected Zanzibar President.

Karume dissolves House of Reps today

2005-07-27 09:05:54
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzaibar President Amani Abeid Karume is today expected to dissolve the Zanzibar House of Representatives to pave the way for the October 30 general election.

House Speaker Pandu Ameir Kificho told representatives yesterday that President Karume would address the House in the afternoon before dissolving it.

’Our five-year term will draw to a close tomorrow and the President will be coming to address the House before dissolving it,’ he said.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) last week released the election timetable showing that presidential aspirants were required to pick up nomination forms from August 7, through 30, while those aspiring for House of Representatives seats and councillorship will collect the papers from August 15.

ZEC will release names of candidates on September 3, and campaigns are scheduled to take off on September 5, and end on the eve of the elections on October 29.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday made a number of the amendments to regulations governing the House business.

Under the amended regulations, it is now an offence for representatives to enter the assembly chamber with mobile phones.

Reading the amendments, Minister of State in the Chief Minister’s Office, Ali Juma Shamhuna, said offending representatives would be kicked out of the House for the rest of the day in addition to forfeiting their sitting allowance for the day.

He said people, other than representatives, would also be required to comply with the order when entering the chamber.

Representatives who will be absent from the House without concrete reasons would forfeit their sitting allowance for the day they are not present, according to the revised regulations.

Shamhuna also stated that minutes of all committee meetings would remain confidential until tabled in the House.

The questions and answers session will from the next session be one and a half hours long instead of an hour.

Earlier yesterday, the House unanimously approved a Bill authorising the Treasury to release about 160.9bn/- for the government’s 2005/6 financial plan.

Rescuers end search for missing scuba divers

July 22 2005 at 11:35AM
Sapa-AP
By Ali Sultan

Zanzibar, Tanzania - Rescue teams gave up the search for four Danish scuba divers and their Canadian instructor on Friday, a week after the group failed to surface at a designated spot off the coast of the Zanzibar archipelago, officials said.

Acting regional police chief Ameir Juma Ameir said that searches by helicopter, boat and by villagers failed to find any sign of the group, which was diving July 16 off of Misali, an island famous for its sandy beaches and great diving and snorkeling in surrounding reefs.

The area where the divers disappeared has strong underwater currents that may have dragged and trapped them into submarine caves existing there, Ameir said. The currents go as far as Mombasa, an Indian Ocean port city in neighbouring Kenya, Ameir said.

"We exhausted all of our efforts at last to be able to trace the bodies of the missing divers, our exercise seems to bear no tangible results," Ameir said.

The owner of Swahili Divers, where the instructor worked, said the active search was called off following consultations with the Danish Embassy, Tanzanian authorities and in accordance with maritime law.

"The circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain a complete mystery," Farhat Jah said in a press release. "Conditions on the day were excellent, sea calm and current light, and our expert dive instructor was equipped with all of his usual safety and recognition equipment."

Misali is near Pemba, the second main island in this Indian Ocean archipelago. The operation involved volunteers, police officers and members of Zanzibar's Special Unit for the Prevention of Smuggling.

Danish divers presumed dead

20/07/2005  (SA)

Zanzibar - Hopes faded on Tuesday for rescuing four Danish divers and their Canadian instructor who went missing in Indian Ocean waters off Zanzibar this weekend as a third day of frantic searching ended without result, police said.

"It is a difficult and tiresome work," said Ameir Juma Ameir, police commander on Pemba island from where the ill-fated divers's scuba trip departed on Saturday. "We have ended the day without discovering the missing people.

"The task continues," he said after saying earlier police believed the missing divers, including a Danish mother and her two sons, may have perished.

"We cannot declare that they are dead but we are suspicious about them possibly being dead," Ameir said as air and sea search and rescue operations expanded from where the divers went missing.

Ameir and an official from Swahili Divers, the Pemba-based outfit that organised the trip, said the search had grown to include Misali island north of Pemba and portions of the nearby Tanzanian and Kenyan coasts.

The search continues

"We are continuing the search today," said the Swahili Divers official who gave her name as Helena. "We've got more boats and planes out.

"We're searching parts of the mainland Tanzanian coast and part of the southern Kenyan coast as well as the area between the islands," she said.

The five missing divers, who were among a group of 14 on a Swahili Divers outing, were reported missing on Saturday when they did not return to the dive boat after heading off in another direction from the other nine, officials said.

Search efforts, which began immediately but were called off due to darkness on Saturday, on Sunday yielded a buoyancy vest and some other dive items that appeared to have been intentionally discarded on North Pemba, the company said.

The dive centre said the Canadian dive master accompanying the four Danes was "very experienced" and the missing group's excursion away from the other nine had been planned in advance.

Police have identified the missing Danes as Dannie Schov and her two sons, Gabriel and Simon Lowestan, and Lisse Lotte. The missing Canadian dive instructor has been identified as Neil Clark.

How charcoal is shipped out via Zanzibar

2005-07-20 09:33:13
By Bilham Kimati

Those running the illegal charcoal export racket have turned to plundering forests in Tanzania Mainland because of a crackdown on deforestation in Zanzibar.

A Guardian investigation has uncovered astonishing new details of just how the illicit business works.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Zakia Meghji, told this paper that the situation cannot go unchecked and she appealed for concerted efforts to deal with it.

In an exclusive telephone interview with The Guardian, Meghji declared war against the alleged ’’easy forest accessibility’’ in the mainland and vowed to stop the unwarranted deforestation that has continued to threaten the survival of forest reserves in Tanzania.

As a follow-up to The Guardian’s story on the illegal export of charcoal to the Middle East published on July 4, this reporter went to Zanzibar to see how the shipments are made.

Only a few trusted individuals seem to have a clear picture of what is going on.

The Guardian also learnt of some secret locations where foreign vessels anchor near uninhabited islands off Kizingo beach in Zanzibar Municipality.

This reporter visited Madagani, a mini-port sometimes referred to as Forodha Papa, near the Malindi main port.

A few bags of charcoal from Bagamoyo were being offloaded while thousands others were being ferried to secret locations when he visited the area.

Labourers offloading charcoal bags said they knew that the charcoal came from Bagamoyo but added that they had no idea what its final destination was.

”Only a few bags, about ten, are taken from each of the five boats that regularly operate between Zanzibar and Bagamoyo. Where the rest of the consignment goes is a mystery to us,’’ Kazoki Mbelwa, 46, said as he dusted off charcoal soot.

This reporter went undercover, posing as a potential customer intending to buy a big fishing boat and hiring a ’’tour guide’’.

Boat makers at Kizingo talked about the growing demand for charcoal in Zanzibar. The charcoal came from the mainland which was also the source of the hardwood used to build the boats, they said.

They said it was virtually impossible to harvest hardwood in Zanzibar and added that supply from the mainland was what kept their business afloat.

’’There are forests reserves here in Zanzibar like Jozani, south of Zanzibar Municipality. Others are Ngezi and Msitu Mkuu on Pemba Island. The only problem is that they are guarded 24 hours a day, making it virtually impossible for people to cut down the trees.

We hear that things are different in the mainland where nobody stops people from felling trees,’’ remarked a smiling Haruna Salum, 45, as he sipped coconut juice in the scorching sun.

Salum also appeared well informed about efforts being made by the Zanzibar government to protect its forest reserves on more than 40 small islands.

His views were echoed by Omar Khatib who said virtually all the hardwood used in building boats in Zanzibar came from the mainland.

”The Forestry Department authorities in Zanzibar are very strict, but we still get all the raw material we need from the mainland.

We never run out of timber and charcoal because there is a constant supply from Bagamoyo. In fact, the supply is such that some of the timber and charcoal is exported,” Khatib said.

He added that forest reserves such as Mwanyanya, Kichwele, Pangeni, Kiwengwa and Ras Kiuyu in Unguja and Misali in Pemba were out of bounds to loggers and charcoal dealers.

A Forestry Department official, speaking on condition of remaining anonymous, said natural forests in Zanzibar ranged from tracts of land covered with short bushes to thick forests.

He said like many tropical forests, dense forests in Zanzibar had a bottom layer of herbaceous species, a network of climbers and upper layer of perennial species.

’’Almost all plant species in the forests are protected,’’ he said.

The person (name withheld) previously mentioned to be at the centre of the illegal charcoal export business has reportedly placed an order for four boats as he seeks to expand the shipment of charcoal from Bagamoyo.

Karume issued with Zanzibar ID

2005-07-18 10:22:42
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanznibar President Amani Abeid Karume was on Saturday issued with the first Zanzibar residential identity card.

President Karume received ID No 1 when he officially opened the headquarters of the department charged with registering eligible Zanzibaris and issuing them with the IDs.

Former Union President Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Zanzibar Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha were issued with IDs numbers 2 and 3 respectively at the function at Mazizini in Zanzibar Municipality.

Others who received the IDs included Zanzibar First Lady Shadya Karume and top government officials.

President Karume said the issuing of the IDs had nothing to do with the forthcoming elections and scoffed at rumours making the rounds in Zanzibar that those who did not have the cards would not be allowed to vote in the October 30 poll.

’’There are people going around saying that the purpose of issuing the IDs is to sideline some people from the elections. I wish to categorically state that this is not true,’’ he said.

The sole purpose of issuing the IDs was to formally identify residents of Zanzibar for security reasons and enable the government have accurate data when drawing economic plans, the president added.

The Director of the Residents Registration and IDs Department, Mohamed Ame, said 200,000 of the estimated 500,000 eligible Zanzibaris had been registered since the exercise began on June 1, this year.

The registration and issuance of the IDs would move to district headquarters in September, he added.

Ame said turnout had been high since the exercise got underway and added that no major hitches had been encountered so far.

American and Israeli experts have been contracted to manufacture the IDs being issued in the programme scheduled to end in September, about a month before Zanzibaris go to the polls to elect their president and members of the House of Representatives.

Zanzibaris are currently being registered for the IDs through their respective civic leaders (shehas).

A Bill proposing the introduction of the IDs was tabled in the House of Representatives earlier this year but it met with fierce opposition from Civic United Front (CUF) representatives who maintained that the IDs scheme was part of a wider plot by the ruling CCM to ’’rig’’ the elections.

However, the Bill still sailed through, courtesy of CCM’s massive majority in the House. President Karume subsequently signed it into law in April.

US First Lady donates books to Zanzibar teachers

DAR ES SALAAM, July 14 (Xinhuanet) –

US First Lady Laura Bush on Thursday donated 20,000 books to a local cultural center in Zanzibar, the Indian Ocean archipelago of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Madam Bush said at the donation ceremony at the Kiembesamaki Teachers Center that she was happy to provide such kind of help to improve local education facilities.

She added that the children in Africa deserve good education and that 200 million more US dollars are being planned to be added to an existing aid program worth 200 million dollars to support training of school teachers and administrators in Africa.

The US First Lady held private talks with Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume before leaving for Kigali of Rwanda to continue her African tour.

TANZANIA: One-tenth of Zanzibar's children die

13 Jul 2005
Source: IRIN

DAR ES SALAAM, 13 July (IRIN) - For every 1,000 children born in Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar and Pemba 102 of them die before they reach the age of five years, according to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"Such a rate is unacceptable," Rodney Phillips, UNICEF's country representative in Tanzania told IRIN on Wednesday.

He said the causes of death were malnutrition, malaria, poverty and ignorance; and that Zanzibar needed a "revolution" in its child health policy.

Phillips said his statistical information came from a UNICEF project that includes an ongoing survey of child mortality rates combined with information gathered from the country's 2002 census.

On the Tanzanian mainland infant mortality had fallen from 99 for every 1,000 live births in 1996 to 68 deaths in 2005, Anna Abdallah, the minister of health said on Tuesday.

She attributed the improvement to successes in immunising children against polio, hepatitis, TB, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles. UNICEF's said slightly fewer children have been immunised in Zanzibar than in the rest of the country, which may add to the increasing rate of deaths there.

Phillips said Zanzibar needed to follow the example of Mauritius, another Indian Ocean island, which shared "various common factors". There, infant mortality is 14 out of 1,000.

Mauritius's infant mortality rate continues to drop due to improving social services and its impressive economic performance, he said. The annual per capita income of the average Mauritian is US $5,000, while in Zanzibar, as in other parts of Tanzania, it is $300.

To help lower the infant mortality rate in Zanzibar, UNICEF says it has projects to improve the island's water supply, health services and schools.

Zanzibaris Adopting Stricter Form Of Islam
 

July 5, 2005
Associated Press
Writer Ali Sultan contributed to this report from Zanzibar.

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania -- Zanzibar's mosques are fuller on Fridays, more women are wearing head scarves and more Muslim men are showing calluses created by frequently touching their foreheads to the ground in prayer. A growing number of Zanzibaris are turning toward a stricter form of Islam and possibly away from democracy ahead of this fall's elections, expected to be a volatile affair.

Multiparty politics "has brought nothing but tragedy," said Abdallah Mohammed Suleiman, 42, who sells imported clothes. "The best solution (is) to uphold our religious values, that is Islamic values, or revert to single party rule.

"After all, Islam is the sole unifying factor in Zanzibar."

Fundamentalist clerics see an opportunity, offering Islamic law as an alternative to democracy, arguing that would bring discipline and moral values to political leadership.

"We clearly see a vacuum that could be filled by the Islamist system that could show people that democracy _ which they hoped would enable them to elect leaders they want, people with integrity _ has failed," said Abdallah Said Ali, secretary of Society for Islamic Awareness and Preaching in Zanzibar.

The secular government of Tanzania, formed after Zanzibar united with the former Tanganyika, clearly is worried. It has quietly tightened restrictions for foreign Muslim missionaries. Tanzanian embassies must now certify six months in advance that the missionaries are from groups that do not threaten Tanzania's security.

While Zanzibar is overwhelmingly Muslim, overall Tanzania's population of 36 million is about 44 percent Christian and 34 percent Muslim.

Residents and moderate clerics say missionaries here include Pakistanis preaching the idea that government and society should be Islamic and stressing a strict, sometimes anti-Western version of the religion associated with Saudi Arabia and known as Wahhabism. Moderate clerics also say Saudi Wahhabists have paid for Zanzibari clerics to study Islam in Saudi Arabia.

These days, it's not unusual to hear Friday sermons peppered with anti-Western and anti-Israeli rhetoric. Hard-liners argue that every Muslim has an obligation to help the people of Iraq and Palestine to fight what they describe as the illegal occupation of their homelands by foreign powers.

Still, there are no obvious signs Zanzibaris are being systematically recruited to go to Iraq to join the insurgency, as Saudis have as well as other Arabs and North Africans. Moderate clerics here say it may be happening, but so secretly it's impossible to trace.

The alleged participation of Zanzibaris in the 1998 truck bombing of the U.S. Embassy in mainland Tanzania and neighboring Kenya show sentiment here can be channeled in violent directions. It's unclear how the Zanzibaris were recruited into the al-Qaida plot that resulted in the first terror attack in the region.

"This kind of Islam is not native to Zanzibar _ it is alien" in a society whose culture is a blend of Persian, Arab, Indian, Portuguese and African influences, said Maalim Mohammed Idris Saleh, one of the most respected Zanzibari Muslim clerics and Islamic historians.

This mostly Muslim archipelago in the Indian Ocean has had two turbulent elections since single party rule ended in 1992 _ 1995 and 2000 polls marred by opposition charges that the ruling party stole the vote. All indications are that polls set for Oct. 30 will be even more violent than past voting.

As Zanzibaris become increasingly skeptical that democracy will enable them to change the government through voting, there is a real danger that "they will seek other options," said Ayoub Bakari Hamad, director of elections for Zanzibar's opposition Civic United Front.

"If there are no changes, I am absolutely convinced that there will come some crafty people who will come with a good option and people will buy into it," he said. "And CUF will no longer be relevant at that time, so it will not be listened to by anyone. (The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi) will also not be relevant."

"It will be terrorism against liberalism," he said.

Working among the poor, the clerics offering Islam as a political solution are trying to expand their base through fund-raising for the needy, said Said Ali, the official from the Society for Islamic Awareness and Preaching.

"We never existed here in the 1970s," said Khamis Bin Ali, a member of the society. "But these days, we are found in every neighborhood _ if not preaching in mosques, then we will be teaching Islam to children in" religious schools.

The trend is likely to affect the interpretation of Islam in continental Africa. Although Zanzibar is less influential now, it has a history of leading the way _ the slave trade, Islam, Christianity, colonial rule and Kiswahili, Africa's most widely spoken local language, were all introduced by these islands.

Islamists in Zanzibar can be forceful when enforcing their brand of the faith.

"These days you cannot see tourists who are half-naked walking on our streets," Said Ali said, referring to attacks on women wearing short dresses in Zanzibar.

Early this year four Islamic clerics attacked a Zanzibari man who had reportedly planned a same-sex commitment ceremony similar to a wedding. The preachers were charged with abduction, a price they said they were willing to pay to show their commitment to their faith.

"They even insulted police officers investigating the abduction," said Ameir Juma Ameir said, a regional police chief.

Zanzibar to Rehabilitate Malindi Port Again

DAR ES SALAAM, July 2
Xinhua News Agency

Zanzibar has got a European Union (EU) aid grant to rehabilitate and expand its Malindi port to improve passenger and cargo transport.

The EU grant is 43.4 billion Tanzanian shillings (39 million US dollars), according to reports reaching here on Saturday.

Gray Mgonja, Tanzanian principal secretary for the finance ministry, said after the signing ceremony of the grant offering agreement in Zanzibar that the rehabilitation and expansion are expected to complete within 18 months before December 2006.

The rehabilitation and expansion will assist the Indian Ocean archipelago to develop its transport-dependent economy steadier and faster.

Zanzibar is the world's major exporter of cloves, accounting for some 80 percent of the world's export total. The isles rely on air and sea transport for exporting and importing goods as well as people.

Julian Raphael, Zanzibar principal secretary in the ministry of finance and economic affairs, said at the signing ceremony that the rehabilitation and expansion create new hope to enhancing and promoting economy, trade and employment in Zanzibar.

This is the second attempt to rehabilitate the aging port situated on the western coast of Zanzibar's main island of Unguja.

The previous attempt proved a failure only a few years after the rehabilitated port had been handed back to use.

Ferry takers have to wait for an average of 30 minutes for their boats to dock onto or depart from the port.

The Zanzibar Harbor Authority has been losing billions of shillings to being unable to dock large cargo vessels and tankers that had to be diverted to dock at the Dar es Salaam port instead.

Zanzibar Coast Guards Seize Two Oil Tankers Over Illegal Bunkering

Radio Excerpt from report by Zanzibar radio on 1 July, 2005

Pemba: [Zanzibar anti-smuggling unit] KMKM is holding two oil tankers at the port of Kigomasha, Pemba, over illegal oil bunkering accusations and for illegally crossing into the port's waters. The two seized ships are: Victoria I, a foreign oil tanker registered in Panama, and Mashaga [phonetic], a locally registered ship.

Deputy Pemba KMKM commander, Mr Mohamed Musa Seif, told Chake Chake district commissioner, Mr Jabu Khamis Mbwana, that the two ships were captured some eight nautical miles inside Kigomasha's territorial waters in contravention of laws allowing foreign ships to cross into these waters.

Mr Seif said his unit seized these ships when they were in the process of transferring fuel from Victoria I to Mashaga. He said the two ships were seized yesterday and are now being detained at Mkoani [main sea port of Pemba] awaiting further action.

Private Media Free to Operate in Zanzibar

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Windhoek)
PRESS RELEASE
June 30, 2005

The government of Zanzibar has invited private electronic and print media to operate in the Isles in a bid to expand the coverage of economic, political and social issues.

Minister of State Ali Juma Shamuhuna told the Zanzibar House of Representatives on 27 June 2005 that the government and private media could also recruit journalists now working in the state-owned media institutions. Shamuhuna said the operation of private and state-owned media side by side would stimulate competition and enhance efficiency in the sector.

The minister reported that the government had, to date, licensed nine private electronic and four print media organs. Two private television stations - Zanzibar Cable Company and Africa Media Group - have been licensed, along with radio stations Adhana Broadcasting Station, Coconut Radio Station, STZ/BBC-Unguja, STZ/BBC Pemba, Zenj FM Station and Radio Maria. The print media licensed include "Zanzibar Wiki Hii", "Marhaba", "ZIFF" and "Fahari Zanzibar".

Tortoise thieves running amok on Zanzibar

6/29/05
Dive South Africa
www.iol.co.za

Thieves are taking advantage of lax security and the docile nature of giant Aldabra tortoises to purloin growing numbers of the protected reptiles from Zanzibar's Changu Island, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Despite efforts to stop the thefts, nearly half the estimated 200 Aldabra tortoises that troll the sun-drenched tourist stop have been picked or hoisted up and stolen over the past eight years, he said.

At least 80 of the slow-moving, placid herbivores, second in size only to the mammoth Galapagos tortoise, have been stolen between 1998 and 2004 and only eight have yet been returned, Zanzibar tourism minister Mussa Ame Silima said.

"We are working hard to prevent theft of tortoises, one of the best tourist attractions in Zanzibar on Changu Island," he told lawmakers, pledging to curb the rampant theft of the animals.

Silima said eight stolen tortoises had been recovered and returned but another 21 seized by authorities on the Tanzanian mainland had yet to be brought back due to an ongoing legal battle with the alleged owners.

His comments came in response to a question from MP Ramadhan Pandu who represents the Zanzibar South constituency in the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island's parliament and demanded to know how if the government took tortoise theft seriously.

"We want the government to be serious in protecting our tourist attractions, like those in Changu Island," he said, lamenting the decline in numbers of the tortoises which tourists often attempt to ride during beach excursions.

Silima said his office was working with private sector tourism industry to step up enforcement of laws intended to protect the tortoises from nefarious animal collectors and vowed greater patrols.

The tortoises, which can often grow to weigh more than 225kg, are a main attraction on Changu, also known as Prison Island, just off Zanzibar, that used to house slaves pending their transport to other markets.

Expert calls for cooperative drugs rehabilitation effort
 

6/26/05
Times Of Oman
By A Staff Reporter

MUSCAT — An anti-drugs volunteer from Africa has reiterated his call for joint efforts to fight drug abuse, drug addiction and the like.

In fact, Abubakr S. Khalid Al Hosni, a representative of The Omari Project, in Malindi, Kenya (a rehabilitation centre for drug abuse) also fondly hoped that Oman would consider offering assistance to set up an Oman-Zanzibar drug rehabilitation centre in Zanzibar, a subject that he has mooted to the Omani authorities, couple of years ago.

“Oman is a model country in the fight against drugs. It is hugely successful in its anti-drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking measures.

“The Royal Oman Police, the Ministry of Health in Oman and other organisations have been doing a wonderful job in controlling drug abuse and containing drug trafficking here.

“We want to repeat Oman’s success story in Zanzibar, and for that we need the help of Omani authorities concerned,” Abubakr Al Hosni told the Times of Oman, as part of the World Anti Drugs Day (international day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking) today.

“I am confident of Oman’s support to this cause. I am also sure that one day we will have Omani assistance in building an Oman-Zanzibar rehabilitation centre in Zanzibar.

“At the moment, we have a rehabilitation centre in Kenya, which is run by the Bristol drug abuse control programme. But, the problem is that since there is no centre in Zanzibar, the Kenya-based centre has to provide treatment for drug abusers from Zanzibar also.

“This poses quite a burden for the Kenya-based centre. So, ideally we should have a centre for Kenya and another one for Zanzibar. It is this idea that we want to present to the Omani authorities, once again.”

However, the good press that he has received in the Omani media has come to good stead, he noted. “Because of that several well wishers from Oman – Petroleum Development Oman and Oman Air for instance – have been in Zanzibar to confer and assist organisations dealing with drug abusers.

“Oman Air, for instance, has provided an X-ray machine (for baggage) to the Zanzibar airport authorities.

“This was indeed great news for me! And I am still encouraging these well wishers to do more, to help bring more drug awareness to our country,” he said. “Some of them have even taken the list of those rehabilitated persons and offered them jobs.”

However, Abubakr Al Hosni was of the opinion that there was marked improvement in the drug-abuse situation in Zanzibar/Kenya. “Thanks to the rehab centre in Kenya, drug abusers are obtaining relief and they are able to come back to the mainstream society.

“The happy news is that those who are reformed are now married, with children and are role models for other drug abusers who also want to be rehabilitated.”

“This is why I want the Omani authorities concerned to come and visit Kenya and Zanzibar. It will not be a boost to the historical links that Oman and Zanzibar enjoy alone, but it will also see the improved situation, how concerted efforts by the Zanzibar government and the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have helped in reducing this menace.

“I am happy to report that there has been a reduction of almost 40 per cent! This is a telling point and the statistics would stand as testimony to the Zanzibar government’s efforts and the unwavering support of the NGOs.

“Today, the government takes immediate action if drug abuse is reported. So, the dealers and the agents are moving away. Of course, the Zanzibar government is doing a great job, but timely assistance from countries like Oman, which are quite successful in containing drug abuse, should be of great help.”

Abubakr Al Hosni meanwhile noted that Dr Mahmoud Al Abri, director-general of Ibn Sina Hospital, had invited him to have a formal exchange of ideas on this subject in September. He added that he has also reciprocated this invitation to the director-general and other officials by asking them to visit Zanzibar.

Such exchanges will help not only strengthen the deeply entrenched Oman-Zanzibar relations but also help in the fight against drugs, Abubakr Al Hosni said.

He praised the ROP and said that they were quite vigilant and it was thanks to them that Oman enjoyed great security and successfully managed to rein in on drug traffickers. “I am very proud of the ROP, especially the anti-drug fighting department.

“The authorities in Kenya and Zanzibar are good, but the situation is quite different there. We cannot compare that situation with Oman, because the Sultanate is way ahead in this regard.”

Abubakr Al Hosni also appreciated the anti-drug campaign by the ROP. “I had been in Oman some years back and found the anti-drug campaign in full swing. This time, I feel that they have intensified the campaign. There are more placards and posters, all of it pointing to the fact that Oman is a top country as far as its anti-drug campaign and raising awareness on this subject is concerned.”

Tanzanian authorities allow return of sacked medical interns

Xinhuanet
2005-06-25

STONE TOWN, Zanzibar,) -- The Tanzanian government has allowed the medical interns sacked earlier this week for participating in a striking to return to work at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) without any pre-conditions.

The government's decision was announced after Tanzanian Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye had visited the hospital to evaluate theeffects caused by the sacking of the interns and a further strike by junior resident doctors of the same hospital.

The prime minister said that his government would continue to deal with problems the doctors are facing and the solution would be found as soon as possible.

Sumaye visited the national hospital where his predecessor, Rashid Mfaume Kwawa, was admitted for treatment, according to reports reaching here on Friday.

The government announced its decision to sack the medical interns who went on strike since Tuesday last week, demanding fairtreatment and due respect for their profession after a government move to reduce their allowances by 20 percent.

The Tanzanian Medical Association on Thursday called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation caused by the strike and the sacking of the MNH medical interns.

It was the first time the Muhimbili National Hospital had encountered with a strike that went as far as affecting its normalfunction, with first the interns and then the junior resident doctors going on strike in protest against the slight of their profession by the hospital administration and the government ministry of health.

Trade, tourism increase revenue in Zanzibar, says BoT

2005-06-21
By Moris Lyimo
Guardian

Revenue collection in Zanzibar Government improved during January this year following the increase of collection from trade and tourism activities, the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has said.

The collection rose by 0.8bn/- to 5.5bn/- or 14.6 per cent of the increase from 4.8bn/- because of improved and co-ordinated collection measures taken by the Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA).

Performance by revenue category shows that collection from tax sources amounted to 5.0bn/-, surpassing the monthly target of 4.5bn/- by 11.1 per cent.

Collections from import duties amounted to 1.4bn/-, exceeding the target of 1.3bn/- as a result of increase in imports.

Similarly the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the collection of local excise duty amounted to 1.4bn/-, above the monthly target of 1.3bn/- , the bank indicated.

The BoT`s February economic review, which has just been released, indicates that income tax collection amounted to 0.5bn/-, in line with the monthly target.

Revenue from other taxes amounted to 1.6bn/- or 14.3 per cent above the targeted amount of 1.4bn/- because of relative increase in trading and tourism activities.

Non-tax revenue sources amounted to 0.5bn/-, surpassing the target of 0.3bn/-. On cummulative basis ? between last February and last January ? total revenue collection amounted to 34.6bn/-, exceeding the targeted amount of 33.1bn/- by 4.5 per cent.

The review indicates that the expenditure of the Zanzibar Government during January amounted to 6. 3bn/-, being 3.2 per cent below the monthly estimates of 6.5bn/- because of insufficient resources particularly for development expenditure.

Recurrent expenditure amounted to 6.2bn/- being 98.4 per cent of total expenditure while development expenditure amounted to 0.1bn/- being 1.6 per cent of the total.

Development expenditure accounted for a mere 35.0 per cent of the monthly ceiling of 0.2bn/-, however the donor funded development expenditures are not included because of lack of reliable statistics.

The review indicates that wages and salaries continued to dominate the government expenditure, recording 3.9bn/- or 61.9 per cent of the total expenditure.

Zanzibar lifts ban on famous political writer

June 20 2005

Zanzibar, Tanzania - Authorities on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar have lifted a ban on a well-known political columnist who was barred from writing earlier this month, officials said Monday.

The ban on Jabir Idrissa was lifted after the columnist applied for and received press accreditation from the island's information ministry, they said.

"The government has lifted ban on the journalist after he registered and acquired an identity card as required by the law," the ministry's director of information, Ali Mwinyikai, said.

"The government had no problems with the journalist on the political and critical analyses he makes," he said. "He is now permitted to write in accordance with the law."

'He is now permitted to write in accordance with the law'
On June 9, the government banned Idrissa from writing in the island, which is scheduled to go to polls on October 30, because he was allegedly working without permission, but press watchdogs said the ban was politically motivated.

Iddrisa had been working in the island with a press card issued by Tanzania's federal government but did not have Zanzibari accreditation.

Last week, Paris-based Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) slammed the move, saying it was a ploy to spread "a climate of intimidation and censorship" ahead of elections on the island which is prone to political violence.

But Mwinyikai denied a political motive and said a 1988 law enacted in Zanzibar obliged all journalists working on the island to first obtain accreditation from the information ministry.

The Zanzibar-based Idrissa is a well-known political columnist who has been writing reports accusing the island's government of human rights abuses and bad governance for the Dar es Salaam-based weekly paper, Rai.

In November 2003, Zanzibar's government banned another weekly, Dira, after it published articles the authorities said were aimed at inciting people to rise up against the state and at fanning disunity among Zanzibaris.

Idrissa's banning came amid heightened tensions on the island ahead of the polls with supporters of rival parties battling each other in clashes that began in March despite a truce agreed after nearly 40 people were killed in the run-up to elections in 2000.

Unemployment stalking Zanzibar

2005-06-19
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Sunday Observer

Although Zanzibar is recording impressive economic progress, unemployment remains a major problem, the Isles? Minister of State in the President?s Office (Finance and Economic Affairs) Dr. Mwinyi Hajji Makame, has said.

Unveiling the 2005/06 fiscal budget in the Zanzibar House of Representatives Dr. Makame said: 'The government is still faced with the problem of solving unemployment, mainly amongst the youths.'

He did not give statistics, but said that the number of youths without employment has been increasing annually.

However, he said: 'The government has mapped out plans to boost private sectors, to both attract investors and create jobs.'

The minister said Zanzibar had done poorly in foreign export, as it only exports seaweed and cloves, pointing out that 'wooing more investors will supplement the gap.'

The average annual export of cloves is 5000 tons, and 10,000 tons of seaweed, which Dr Makame said was impressive.

Zanzibar exports its crops mainly to Singapore and United Arab Emirates (UAE) up to about 83.9 per cent, while its main imports from UAE and Kenya are about 35.6 per cent.

The Isles foreign export had dropped by 2.1 per cent (88.6m/-) in 2000 to 86.7 per cent in last year.

The minister also announced that there was a drop in commodity importation from abroad by 10 per cent between the years 2000 and 2004.

The agricultural sector has also not been contributing much to the national income, and that the government had set a number of plans to improve it, through improving irrigation farming and other means, the minister said.

Other plans include expansion of electricity supply, improving infrastructure and constructing administrative offices.

The government has also mapped out plans to improve the fishing industry by, among other measures, delivering modern equipment to to fishermen, including boats and nets.

'There was an increase in fish by 22 per cent from 17,922 tons in 2000 to 21,871 tons in 2004,' said Dr. Makame.

Zanzibar: Early marriages still high

2005-06-17
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Early marriages are still a major problem in Zanzibar, the government said yesterday.

In her report to the House of Representatives on the implementation of children rights, the Labour, Youth, Children and Women Development Minister, Samia Suluhu Hassan, said that many children still live in difficult environment.

She said although there has been a decrease in child abuse in Zanzibar in the past two years, early marriage remains a major social problem.

She said:`As we mark the African Child Day today, we have to find out how much we have achieved in improving children?s rights in Africa.

In Zanzibar, we have been doing well, but let us educate the society to do away with early marriages specifically to school children.`

Hassan said during the 2001/2 there were 49 cases of early marriages recorded, compared to 44 in 2004/5.

`This shows that there is little improvement and we need to work hard to solve the problem.`

She also said early pregnancies had decreased from 59 recorded in 2001/2 to 26 cases recorded in 2004/5.

The minister also told the House that the ministry was working hard to see that problems of child labour, malnutrition and lack of safe water for Zanzibar children are solved.

She said while the government with the support of local and international donors had done a lot in solving the safe water problem, malnutrition and child labour are still a problem mainly in Pemba.

The minister said that in fighting child labour, her ministry had withdrawn 311 children from child labour and taken them back to school.

Hassan called on the people of Zanzibar to work had in solving the problems that undermine the development and freedom of children through providing the children with education, health and help to HIV/Aids orphans.

She said UNICEF had launched a programme to rehabilitate children living in very difficult environment, and that since 2001, about 1,130 children had been registered as living in poor social environments in Urban-West Region and 2,292 children were recorded in Micheweni in Pemba.

International organisations helping Zanzibar to improve the rights of the children are: UNICEF, UNDP, FINNIDA, JICA, WHO, ILO, SIDA, DFID.

While local organisations include TASAF, TBL, ECO-TEC and ZAYADESA.

They support various activities that create a better social environment for children.

Z'bar poll also set for Oct 30

2005-06-11 
By Issa Yusuf, Zanzibar
GUARDIAN

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has finally set the date for the Isles? general election.

The polls will be held simultaneously with the Union polls on October 30, according to a press statement issued by ZEC in Zanzibar yesterday.

?We took long to reach the decision because of the contradictions in the Zanzibar Constitution about when the incumbent president?s term expires,? ZEC director Khamis Ali Ame said in a press statement.

He added: ?After consulting with the Zanzibar Attorney General, who advised that we should consider the past election dates, ZEC decided that Isles? polls for presidential, civic and House of Representatives seats be held simultaneously with the Union government polls.?

The five-page statement said the decision to have elections on the same date as the Union polls is intended to minimise operational costs, time and voter anxiety.

Zanazibar, which merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania, conducts its own Zanzibar elections for president, councillors and representatives.

Zanzibaris also take part in the Union presidential election to choose Union President and members of parliament who represent Zanzibar in the Union parliament.
However, there are fears that ZEC may have violated the Constitution.

According to the Zanzibar Constitution, Isles? elections should be held at least 60 days before the incumbent president?s term expires, but not later than 30 days past the date he was sworn in.

In this context, the polls are supposed to be held between September 8 and December 8, 2005
The Constitution also states that the president?s term in office is five years.

President Amani Karume was sworn in office on November 8, 2000, which means that his five-year term expires on November 8, 2005.

CUF chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba had threatened to go to court if ZEC did not announce the election in time in accordance with the Constitution.

The nomination date for aspirants was set for September 3, while campaigns start on September 5, 2005.

According to impeccable sources, ZEC members from CUF voted against the October 30 date saying holding the general election on this date would increase chances of the polls being ?rigged?. Out of the seven ZEC commissioners, two are from CUF.

According to an election timetable drawn by the House of Representatives? speaker, President Amani Karume is expected to dissolve the House on July 21, to pave the way for the polls.

Stem ‘illegal’ clove imports: Traders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2005

MUMBAI: From flavouring meats and curries to being used for their curative properties and in finished products like toothpastes, cloves are in much demand the world over. However, back home, the local industry is sitting on a problem that has volcanic proportions.

Large quantities of cloves from Pakistan and Bangladesh have sneaked their way into various markets via different Indian ports. This ‘illegal’ arrival has severely hit growers, traders and importers as well and may push the local industry into a crisis if not checked, says the All-India Spices Importers Exporters & Distributors Association (AISIEDA). On the global front too, clove’s not doing well. World production of clove is expected to be lower this time, with the main grower — Indonesia —heading for a crop shortage and output pegged at 55% lesser than last year. There is also shortage of ready stock in Sri Lanka and Madagascar.

Taking advantage of these developments, a section of local clove importers are allegedly misusing import regulations, says Sunil Chhabria, chairman, export-import cell, Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM).

These commodities have come mainly from Bangladesh and Pakistan. “A section of unscrupulous traders are taking advantage of the Saarc treaty, whereby goods imported from Saarc nations draw only 10% of the otherwise regular duty (35% on cloves) provided that commodities are grown in those countries,” Ratan Lal, president of the AISIEDA, said.

Ironically, no cloves are grown in Bangladesh or Pakistan. “These smugglers are taking advantage of value addition to cloves from Madagascar, Indonesia, Dubai and Singapore,” Mr Lal told ET. “By obtaining such documents, they qualify for the payment of import duty only to the extent of 10% instead of the regular duty of 35%. They pay only 3.5% duty instead of the regular duty of 35%. The government is losing out on 31.5% duty on each consignment.

Not only is the government being deprived of huge amount of revenue, traders paying the 35% duty are also faced with losses since the profit margin on their investment is not more than 2%. The cascading effect of these smuggled arrivals is being reflected in crashing prices in local markets.

In sharp contrast, prices are ruling high internationally in anticipation of the crop shortage. The current ruling price for Indonesian/Madagascar/Zanzibar cloves is between $3,000 and $3,500 per metric tonne, while the Sri Lankan cloves are quoting at $4,000 per metric tonne. However, in India, prices have gone down to Rs 185-200 per kg from Rs 290-350 per kg a month earlier.

Traders have approached the finance ministry to advise the commerce ministry to get the DGFT’s office to issue a notification so that no cloves are permitted to be imported from Bangladesh or Pakistan.

The Saarc Preferential Trade Agreement (Sapta) clearly states that only producing and processing countries can take advantage of this facility. The modus operandi involves imports of cloves into Bangladesh and Pakistan mainly from Singapore and Dubai by parties situated at the export promotion zone in Bangladesh for the sole purpose of re-export of the cargo to India by declaring these cargo to be of Bangladeshi/Pakistani origin.

TANZANIA: Zanzibar government bars critical journalist from working

The Committee to Protect Journalists
New York, June 10, 2005

Authorities on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar have banned political columnist Jabir Idrissa from writing, saying he was working without permission. Idrissa told the Committee to Protect Journalists that he believes he was banned for criticizing the Zanzibar government.

The Zanzibar-based Idrissa is a well-known political columnist for the weekly, Swahili language newspaper Rai. The newspaper is based on the Tanzanian mainland, but sells on Zanzibar. Idrissa told CPJ he had been writing the column for about a year and that it had criticized the Zanzibar government for human rights abuses and bad governance.

In a statement yesterday, Zanzibar's information ministry said that Idrissa had been working illegally as a journalist on Zanzibar and that he was being barred from practicing journalism until he complied with the island's regulations. Director of Information Ali Mwinyikai told CPJ that a 1988 Zanzibar law obliged all journalists working on the island to obtain press accreditation from his ministry, but that Idrissa had not done so. This accreditation must be renewed annually, he said.

Idrissa told CPJ that he had a press card issued by the union government of Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, and that he did not believe it was necessary to have two press cards. He and one other local journalist said that Zanzibar authorities have not routinely enforced the island's accreditation rule.

In November 2003, Zanzibar authorities used the 1988 law to shutter the island's only independent newspaper, Dira, on unspecified "national security" grounds. Independent journalists want the law scrapped, saying it is unconstitutional.

"We're outraged at this blatant censorship of a critical journalist, and call on Zanzibar authorities to allow Jabir Idrissa to resume working immediately," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. "Under the cover of an ‘accreditation' law, Zanzibar's government is actually licensing journalists—and, in this case, silencing one. We call on the government to eliminate the accreditation requirement."

Local journalists say that the Zanzibar authorities are seeking to further muzzle the press in the run-up to general elections in October. The ruling CCM party faces a strong challenge on Zanzibar from the opposition CUF party. Previous elections there have often been marked by political violence.

Pohamba 'led astray'
 

29/05/2005 - (SA)
News24
Edited by Elmarie Jack

Zanzibar - A communications glitch on Sunday forced Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba's motorcade to stray into the narrow alleys of the Tanzanian offshore island of Zanzibar, witnesses said.

They said the motorcade took a different direction after two security guide vehicles lost contact as they headed to Zanzibar's "House of Wonders", the only surviving palace of the island's 20th Century Sultan rulers, situated in the famous Stone Town.

"The security officers and the police lost contact, each taking a different route from the planned route," one witness said.

"It was a surprising incident. How come a presidential convoy gets misled," another witness said.

"Fortunately after a few minutes security had to reorganise the convoy so that it got to the planned destination."

"The unexpected reorganisation of the guest motorcade temporarily disturbed the commuter bus route in one of the streets in Zanzibar," according to a police officer, who requested to remain unnamed.

Later Pohanya, who arrived in Tanzania on Friday, held talks with Zanzibar President Abeid Amani Karume and agreed to enhance co-operation in the fishing sector.

Exploring oil in Tanzania

May 29 2005
Finance24.com
Edited by Adrienne Taylor

Dar es Salaam - Three international firms have applied for a licence to explore for oil off the coast of southern Tanzania, energy ministry officials said.
Austria's Orphir Energy, Brazil's Petrobras and Norway's Statoil have bidded for the licence, which is expected to be awarded next month, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation's director Yona Killagane said.

"The successful bidder will get license for eight out of the 12 blocks in the Indian Ocean that have been demarcated for oil exploration," he added.

Petrobras won block number five off Mafia Island in 2001 and Netherland's Shell Exploration won in 2002 the blocks that cover Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar and Pemba Islands.

While Petrobra has started its operations, Shell has not because it is yet to sign to sign the Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA).

Apart from the two firms engaged in deep-sea explorations, there are five others operating in other parts of the east African country.

Karume signs IDs Bill into law
 

2005-05-16 08:21:13
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume has signed into law a bill authorising Zanzibaris to be provided with identity cards.

The Secretary to the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council, Ramadhan Muombwa, said on Saturday that President Karume gave his assent to the Bill last week.

This paves the way for Zanzibaris to be provided with national identity cards before elections scheduled for later this year.

According to the law, the Zanzibar president must appoint a director who will be responsible for registering all Zanzibaris who are above 18 years of age and provide them with identity cards.

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) strongly opposed the Bill when it was tabled in the Zanzibar House of Representatives in April, saying providing Zanzibaris with national identity cards was a waste of money and part of a wider plot to 'rig' the elections in favour of the ruling party, CCM.

The leader of the opposition in the House said it was absurd for the Zanzibar government to spend close to 5bn/- in the exercise when it was constantly complaining that it did not have enough money to organise the elections.

But the government maintained that the Bill was aimed at making it easy to identify Zanzibaris and ensure their safety as the movement of people among the three East African Community (EAC) member states of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda became easier.

All CUF representatives opposed the Bill, but it still sailed through courtesy of CCM?s massive majority in the house.

CCM has 63 representatives while CUF has only 16.

Under the new law, it is a criminal offence for any Zanzibari aged 18 and above not to register with the authorities charged with issuing the identity cards.

Violators of the law face a fine of at least 100,000/- ($92) or a one-year jail term or both.

Providing false information in order to obtain an identity card can land one in jail for six months.

The law also requires all Zanzibaris living outside Zanzibar to register with the authorities within one month of their return to the Isles.

The population of Zanzibar and its sister island of Pemba is less than one million, according to the 2002 census.

Clove import raises a stink

Deepa Krishnan / Mumbai May 07, 2005

Clove traders in Delhi and Mumbai plan to approach the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Central Board of Excise and Customs in Delhi with regard to the misuse of import regulations in case of cloves.

Certain cloves importers are misusing the regulations to suit themselves, alleged a trader in Mumbai.

“Cloves sourced from Singapore, being a major trading market for the commodity, are exported to Bangladesh and from there to India under the garb of Bangladesh cloves ,” he said.

The Bangladesh origin cloves have entered the Kolkata market and are also reported to be filtering into the Delhi and Mumbai markets. Bangladesh is not a producer of cloves.

However, importers in India said the ministry of commerce in Dhaka issues a SAARC Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) certificate of Origin to the imported cloves.

This is affecting the trade of those who are still importing cloves by paying a duty of 35 per cent.

Import of cloves from any country other than South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) countries is subject to heavy import restrictions. Imports from Saarc countries are allowed at a concessional rate of 3.50 per cent as opposed to 35 per cent rate applicable on imports from any other country.

The current ruling price for Indonesian/Madagascan/Zanzibar cloves is between $3,000 - $3,500 per metric tonne (mt).

The Sri Lankan cloves are at $4,000 per mt, owing to its duty free import status. The domestic prices for Lankan cloves are at Rs 180-185 per kg compared with Rs 220 per kg for cloves of other origins.

The Indian demand for cloves is currently being met with Sri Lankan imports and the warehoused stocks, as fresh imports are unavailable at 35 percent duty.

The overall crop situation of cloves is bad, as Indonesia is set to enter second year of small crop size of about 35, 000 mt as compared with a normal 80,000 mt. Cloves of other origins such as Madagascar (8,000 mt), Zanzibar (4000 mt) are also facing a below normal crop situation.

Tanzanian youths pin hopes on new election candidate
 

Thu May 5, 2005 
By Helen Nyambura

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania's front running presidential candidate for October elections has kindled hopes of an escape from poverty among millions of youths, although few expect a radical break from his predecessor's policies.

Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete was elected on Wednesday as the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party presidential candidate in October 30 elections, making him the favourite to replace President Benjamin Mkapa.

"I am very happy because he is the saviour of the people," said Nicholas Mmaseri, a 24-year-old car washer.

Kikwete, 54, who lost the candidacy narrowly to Mkapa in 1995, an outcome many attributed partly to his relative youth compared to older leaders, has garnered strong support among the youth in mainland Tanzania's population of roughly 35 million.

Kikwete's supporters say he is likely to embrace bolder reforms and speed up the transformation of the country to a thriving economy from a stagnant socialist system built under founding father Julius Nyerere, although he promised continuity.

"My greatest goal is to continue the work that has been happening," Kikwete told some 1,600 party delegates in the capital Dodoma after his election as candidate.

"There is no need to feel that everyone before has been foolish and erase all that they did. If you take that style, you are bound to fail very soon," he said.

Pointing to Kikwete's refusal to use his position to acquire a prime government house, backers say he is the answer to corruption stunting growth in one of the world's poorest countries.

"If you ask me why Kikwete sailed through, I will tell you that Tanzanians have great expectations, hopes and love for him. They are tired of languishing in abject poverty amid plenty of natural resources," wrote Marycelina Masha, editor of the Guardian newspaper.

"He is one of those rare species of leaders who would not indulge in squandering tax payer's money while hospitals have no drugs and villagers don't have dispensaries."

But some commentators doubt he will make a great difference in Tanzania, which has followed a steady path of economic reforms earning it aid and debt relief from donors.

"He has a cult following with the youth but if you ask them why, they say because he is young, but he has nothing new to offer," said a journalist with a Tanzanian newspaper.

DOUBTS IN ZANZIBAR

On the islands of Zanzibar, the reaction to Kikwete's nomination was mostly indifferent or hostile, reflecting widespread resentment of the mainland government.

The semi-autonomous islands, where tourism and exports of cloves are the main earners, have long complained of being marginalised politically and economically.

Many islanders said CCM would have done better to choose Kikwete's rival Salim Ahmed Salim, who comes from Zanzibar, rather than Kikwete, a mainlander.

"Kikwete will want to keep tight control of Zanzibar. That's no good. CCM wants to keep a heavy hand on Zanzibar. We do not want that because CCM has not brought us progress," said Juma, 29, as he sold fried fish to tourists.

Dozens of people were killed in clashes between police and supporters of the opposition Civic United Front in 2001 following disputed polls in 2000 that saw CCM take power again on the islands, which elect their own president and parliament.

Bilal says national unity govt not ideal for Zanzibar

2005-05-09 09:18:42
By Ludger Kasumuni
Guardian

There is no shortcut to the formation of a government of national unity in Zanzibar, former Zanzibar Chief Minister Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal has said.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian last week in Dodoma, Dr Bilal said that, although the CCM/CUF accord provides for the formation of a government of national unity on the Isles, this could not be done soon as the political situation prevailing there does not favour such a move at present.

Asked whether it was true that the formation of a government of national unity could be a lasting solution to the crisis in Zanzibar, he said that it would be wrong to approach the palpable situation on the Isles from such a perspective because the opposition has no room for political tolerance.

He also said the CCM/CUF muafaka (accord) does not specifically say the formation of a government of national unity would be the solution for the crisis on the isles.

The intention of the proposals, he said, was to promote dialogue in the event of a stand off.

?It is not true that the muafaka talks of the need for a government of national unity to avert potential political crisis. It only talks of the possibility of initiating a national dialogue on the formation of a government of national unity on the Isles,? Dr Bilal said.

He said the concept of a government of national unity has many interpretations and as such, there is a need to educate Tanzanians and CCM members on its pros and cons first.

?The concept of government of national unity is ambiguous as it has various connotations. We cannot rush at forming the government of national unity before tabling that issue before the relevant interest groups for consensus,? he said.

?This issue must be clearly understood by people and party members in particular. It should be discussed in a transparent manner to get consensus,? he added.

Responding to a question whether he would cross over to the opposition after stepping down from the Zanzibar presidential race, he said that since he was not a refugee within CCM, he was not ready to do so.

Last Monday Dr Bilal was compelled to pull out of the contest for Zanzibar presidency after being advised by the ruling party, CCM?s powerful organ, the Central Committee.

His decision to pull out of the race had paved way for the incumbent president of Zanzibar Amani Abeid Karume, who had promised to consolidate the Union and Zanzibar Revolution.

Only 11 cleared by court to register in Zanzibar

2005-05-05 08:46:20
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Even after the Civic United Front secretary-general Seif Sharrif Hamad successfully petitioned the Zanzibar Electoral (ZEC) to rescind its decision to bar him from registering, the number of similar petitions that have been heard and cleared by the court remains low.

Only 11 out of 197 petitions filed at the Vuga Regional Court in Zanzibar were successful, resulting in orders to ZEC to register the petitioners for the general election.

Records at the court registrar?s office show that 54 petitions were dismissed for, among other reasons, the petitioners failing to turn up to give evidence.

A total of 244 petitions were filed at the Vuga Court by May 3, the court?s records show. Opposition parties on the Isles allege that hundreds of Zanzibaris were barred from registering for the general election scheduled for October this year. According to CUF, over 34,000 were barred from registering.

The exercise on the Isles ended on April 26, after registering a total of 499,007 voters for the general election, according to ZEC.

The commission said the names and pictures of all registered voters would be displayed in public places for verification and possible correction.

ZEC said it was looking into allegations of underage registration raised by the opposition during the voter registration exercise in Zanzibar.

The main rival parties have already picked their candidates for the Zanzibar top post, President Amani Karume for CCM, and Seif Sharrif Hamad for the CUF.

This will be the second time the two political heavyweights will be locking horns in the hunt for Isles? presidency.

Four CCM losers concede defeat

2005-05-04 09:51:28
By Guardian Team

Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal attends the CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Dodoma yesterday. Dr Bilal withdrew his candidacy for the Zanzibar presidency nomination during the party?s Central Committee meeting on Monday. (Photo: Selemani Mpoch

Four of the six losers in the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Central Committee?s screening of presidential nomination hopefuls said yesterday they were satisfied with the outcome, but the other two expressed reservations about the process that began on Monday afternoon.

In separate interviews, the losers for the Union and Zanzibar presidency said they had no qualms over the manner in which the exercise was conducted or its outcome.

However, they said the criteria used to drop them were arbitrary.

Ambassador Ali Abeid Karume said he was concerned about the number of candidates from the Mainland short-listed in the first round of vetting.

'I am satisfied with the CC results and I have no problem about the outcome, although I would have wished to be among the last five.

However, the ratio of Mainlanders against Islanders still in the race is too wide,' he said and added that his was only a concern.

'I think we should be sincere. I?m for the Union.

My father was one of the founders of this union that resulted in the merger of the two countries.

But when it comes to the Union presidency, there should have been some sort of balance of candidates from the two partners who will be vetted by NEC.'

Asked whether a fifty-fifty deal would have been ideal, he said: 'No, for the five CC nominees, two of them should have come from Zanzibar.'

Speaking fluent English throughout the interview and sitting besides his wife and his first son, he said he hoped such a balance would be looked into in the future.

Magalle John Shibuda said he was satisfied with the results, but promised to give a detailed statement on what might have cost him the nomination later.

Another loser, Dr William Shija, said he would comment on the loss tomorrow.

'I will give my comments on the results and the way the exercise was conducted after nomination is concluded,' Dr Shija said.

A close friend of Tanzania?s ambassador to Russia, Patrick Chokala, told The Guardian that envoy had accepted the verdict of party organs and would not contest it.

Chokala could not be reached for comment as he was out of his hotel most of the day.

Ilala Member of Parliament Iddi Simba, whose bid for State House was also scuttled by CC, could not be traced yesterday.

Efforts to get him by phone or reach him at his hotel were futile as he was said to be out.

Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, who was eyeing the Isles presidency, said he was not in a position to comment on the results because he was tired.

Speaking through an aide, he requested to be left alone, as he was fatigued.

No kissing please, Zanzibar Islamists tell tourists

 
Wed May 4, 2005 
By William Maclean

ZANZIBAR (Reuters) - Islamist groups in Zanzibar are worried by what they see as increasingly inappropriate behaviour by Western tourists, saying their actions offend the Indian Ocean islands' conservative Muslim culture.

The organisations are also concerned about the spread of bars on the islands off mainland Tanzania, whose beaches and coral reefs make it a haven for honeymooners.

"Tourists should not indulge in sex acts or kiss openly, this is not something that people can accept," Farid Hadi, chairman of the Zanzibar Imams' Association (Jumaza), said on Wednesday.

"Every society has norms to be respected. We want a law that stipulates that while tourists are accepted, there are standards that forbid wearing very short dresses in public.

"In Islam non-Muslims can pursue their ways provided that, when doing so, they keep to themselves in a segregated manner."

Abdallah Said Ali, Secretary of the Society for Islamic Awareness, (UAMSHO), says the courts tend to side with the tourist industry's argument that too strict an interpretation of laws controlling alcohol sales are bad for business.

"When we tried to take legal action against one bar on those grounds we failed, and we were told we were trying to destroy the economy," he said.

Tourism is the second biggest foreign exchange earner for Zanzibar, but is expected to increase in importance because of the collapse of the islands' clove export trade due to a fall in prices caused by global oversupply.

Zanzibar opposition warns of poll protests

Tue May 3, 2005
By William Maclean

ZANZIBAR (Reuters) - The opposition on Tanzania's volatile Zanzibar islands threatened on Tuesday to stage Ukraine-style protests if it thinks elections scheduled for later this year have been rigged.

The Civic United Front (CUF), which saw dozens of its supporters shot dead by police during political unrest in 2001, urged the international community to pressure the government to allow free and fair elections due in October.

"We will launch people power demonstrations if we feel the election has been stolen," Hamad Masoud Hamad, CUF director of organisation and election affairs, told Reuters in an interview.

"People are preparing for it. And here it would be even more than Ukraine in terms of mass mobilisation."

He was referring to protests that helped to secure eventual victory for the opposition after disputed elections in Ukraine last year.

"If CCM wins freely and fairly we will be the first to congratulate them. But they cannot win," he said, referring to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

CCM has been in power both on the islands and the mainland -- the former British colonial territory of Tanganyika -- since they joined to form the union of Tanzania in 1964.

But semi-autonomous Zanzibar remains a backward corner of one of the world's poorest countries despite spice trading and tourism.

CUF, which campaigns for more autonomy for the islands, says it was cheated of victory by CCM in Tanzania's two previous multiparty polls. Most independent electoral observers agree.

Dozens of CUF supporters were killed in clashes in 2001 following disputed polls in 2000 in the opposition's previous attempt to mount mass protests against alleged election fraud. The authorities say police officers fired only in self defence.

CUF supporters say they are being harassed in the run up to the polls and that a voter registration exercise has deliberately excluded some 30,000 CUF supporters.

"We are seeing intimidation and harassment," said Hamad, pointing to a youth who arrived at CUF offices complaining of being beaten by police and showing bruises on his back.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission denies widespread irregularities and senior CCM official Mohamed Bilal dismissed CUF's charges.

Ulinzi faces Awassa as APR take on Zanzibari side

 
By Finny Muyeshi in Mwanza
Tuesday April 26, 2005
The Standard

Ulinzi Stars return to the CCM Kirumba Stadium this afternoon to face Ethiopian side Awassa on the fourth day of the East and Central Africa Club Championship here.

Also in action today are Jacob Mulee’s APR from Rwanda, who open their title defence against KMKM of Zanzibar.

While APR are making their debut in this year’s tournament, Ulinzi would be in action for the second time after their laboured 1-0 victory over KMKM on Sunday. Coach Yusuf Chipo must have had a sleepless night planning for Awassa who, in their 1-1 draw with Mtibwa Sugar of Tanzania, showed that they had skills known of Ethiopian sides.

Mulee, a former Kenya national team coach, was on the other hand beaming with confidence ahead of this clash.

"I have seen nothing much in both KMKM and Ulinzi so I do not any problems," he said yesterday.

"KMKM have improved a lot since losing on aggregate 7-0 to Tusker in an Africa Champions League round but they pose no much problems to a team like APR," Mulee said. He described Ulinzi as a strong physical side but lacking in teamwork.

"They are too individualistic. They play no particular formation, choosing to run the ball. That can only be a problem to inexperienced sides, not APR," he said.

Mulee praised Awassa, who toyed around with Mtibwa.

"There is no doubt they are skillfull, their possession is high thus they need to be approached carefully," he said. Ulinzi goalkeeper Francis Onyiso was a relaxed man against KMKM apart from late in the match when the Zanzibaris launched sporadic attacks which were thwarted.

"We wasted many chances but it is good we started well," the former national team goalkeeper said.

"But Awassa will be a different ball game so we shall need to be in our best shape," he said.

Chipo said his team was on its way to recovery.

"We had a long winning stretch at home, making us look invincible. When we drew with Nzoia in a league match it was a wake up call so I am sure my players know we must always play well to win," he said.

Police Investigate Explosion in Zanzibar
 

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi, 25 April 2005
VOA

Bomb-damaged office of Chama Cha Mapinduzi
Police are investigating an explosion that destroyed an office of Zanzibar's ruling party in the latest of a series of pre-election violence. Four suspects are in custody following Sunday night's explosion at an office of Zanzibar's ruling-party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, known as the CCM. No one was killed or injured in the explosion.

Zanzibar's deputy director of criminal investigations, Ramadhani Kinyogo, tells VOA police are currently interrogating the suspects.

He would not say whether or not the explosion was a politically motivated attack, or if it is part of recent pre-election conflicts between the ruling CCM and the opposition party Civic United Front, the CUF.

"This is a criminal offense or act, and what is important to be proved before court is the motive," he said. "If someone is a political figure who has done it, well, almost everybody in the country here is a political member. Therefore I cannot comment as to whether he is a CUF member or any other Chama Chama (CCM)."

CCM's deputy secretary-general Saleh Ferouz tells VOA his party suspects that the rival CUF is responsible for Sunday's explosion.

"We believe that because it is normal for this opposition party to exercise this style of what you can call, not campaign, but to try to terrorize people," he said.

But a desk officer in CUF's department of youth affairs, Juma Sanani, denies that his party was responsible, saying that at least two of the suspects in custody were in a mosque at the time of the explosion.

"So this is the same story: the CCM did this and then they say that CUF did this," he said. "This is what CCM did during elections every year."

Sunday's explosion is the latest in a series of conflicts between the ruling party and the opposition leading up to Zanzibar's elections, scheduled for the end of October.

Within the past couple of months, arsonists had set fire to the home of CUF leader Abbas Muhunzi, voter registration had been suspended twice because of street fights between supporters of the two parties, the authorities have banned political gatherings, and a ruling party official was murdered last week.

The semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar united with mainland Tanzania in 1964 to form a common, union government.

Zanzibar has its own president and has jurisdiction over the islands' education, social and cultural affairs, among other things, while the mainland is responsible for such programs as defense, immigration, and foreign affairs.

The CCM has ruled Zanzibar since 1964. The islands held their first multi-party elections in 1995, which CCM won amidst allegations of election fraud.

National and international human rights groups have criticized the CCM and Tanzanian authorities for beating, harassing, and killing opposition supporters.

The islands, a popular tourist destination, are predominantly Muslim. Foreign observers tend to monitor Zanzibari politics closely because there are some fears of the islands becoming a terrorist enclave.

Shivji: Treason can be committed on Isles

2005-04-24
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
SOURCE: Guardian

Renowned lawyer and scholar, Prof Issa Shivji, has said Zanzibar is a sovereign state, where treason can be committed.

His remarks contradicted the Tanzania Court of Appeal ruling on the Zanzibar treason trial that the Isles? are not sovereign and therefore treason cannot be committed on the Islands.

Zanzibar State Attorney Msemo Mavale observed: ?The Court of Appeal judgment was a challenge to Tanzanians, and specifically the lawmakers.

God forbid if it happens that the Union president is killed in Zanzibar. How could such case be handled in a non-sovereign country, where treason cannot be committed??

Prof Shivji of the University of Dar es Salaam made the remarks on Saturday at Bwawani Hotel in Zanzibar at a one-day conference organised by the Zanzibar Law Society to mark the 41st anniversary of the Tanzania Union.

?The Zanzibar Constitution stipulates that Zanzibar is a sovereign state, albeit its sovereignty is limited and jurisdiction of the executive and the legislature is limited to non-Union matters,? Prof Shivji said, adding:
??A Zanzibari owes allegiance to the state of Zanzibar and therefore an offence of treason can be committed against the state.?

?His opinion came during discussions on his paper in which the Court of Appeal ruling in a treason case that involved Machano and 17 others versus the Zanzibar government featured prominently. In the judgement, Zanzibar was referred to as a non-sovereign state where treason could not be committed.

??At the Bar, whether we agree or disagree with judges, we always do it humbly and with great respect. So my disagreement, if any, does not imply disrespect to the court or to honourable judges,? Prof Shivji said.

?He observed that there were some peculiar features pertaining to both the way the Court of Appeal assumed jurisdiction in the case and the approach and style of ruling.

?Machano and 17 other Zanzibaris were charged for treason under section 26 of the penal decree of Zanzibar.

The charge said the accused by words and actions intended and devised ways of overthrowing the Isles government and removing from authority the president of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ).

?The then deputy chief justice from Nigeria Garba Tumaka overruled the defence on all preliminary issues. The accused persons appealed in the Court of Appeal, where after the hearing judgment was reserved.

However, while the judgement was pending, there was general election in Zanzibar, after which a new president, Amani Abeid Karume, elected. Soon after President Karume was sworn into power on November 7, 2000, the prosecutor withdrew the charges and the accused were set free. Two weeks later, the Court of Appeal delivered its ruling.

?But in ordinary circumstances, a court would not have proceeded to give a judgement, where judgement was superfluous because the charges had been withdrawn.

Since the appellants would obviously have no interest to pursue the matter, the case would have been marked withdrawn and that would have been the end of the proceedings,? Prof Shivji argued.

Commenting on Prof Shivji?s paper, Prof Chris Maina said, ?I was not shocked with Zanzibar High Court Judge from Nigeria when he ruled in favour of SMZ because it was very difficult for him to look at the matter differently.?

?Prof Maina also said the 25-year-old Tanzania Court of Appeal that ?there are weaknesses in the court?s decision-making. The court has problems in acting independently.?

Prof Shivji said that what freed the accused was political and not a legal decision, and that in the case whose decision resulted in declaring that ?Zanzibar is neither sovereign nor a state should have involved members of a party whose political position has been, and continues to be, for greater autonomy for Zanzibar in the Union.?

Zanzibar wants you on its beaches

April 23, 2005
Globeandmail.com
Agence France-Presse

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA -- Officials on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar unveiled plans this month to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting their sun-drenched beaches.

Zanzibar hopes to attract as many as 100,000 visitors, an increase of nearly 10 per cent over its previous high, this year through a campaign that will include advertising and improving infrastructure, they said.

Key to the plans are boosting the number of guests to the island from the West, Russia and east, south and Southeast Asia where economic booms have given people the means to travel for leisure, said Ali Khalil Mirza, the marketing officer for the Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZTC). "Zanzibar's tourism sector has been doing well for the past two decades, but more efforts are required to improve on the sector in order to attract tourists from developed countries like those in Europe and the United States," he said.

Mirza told reporters that the commission would reassess the rating systems for Zanzibar's 173 hotels and resorts, train more tour guides in foreign languages and move to control "beach boys," who often harass sunbathing tourists. To lure Russian, Chinese and other Asian visitors, he said, Zanzibar would expand promotions advertising the island as a tourist destination and begin to publish brochures in Chinese, Spanish, Italian and French in addition to English, the only language they now appear in. Italian nationals now make up the largest number of visitors to Zanzibar, followed by Britons, Belgians, Scandinavians and South Africans, according to ZTC statistics.

Tourism on the island has been growing at a rate of more than 6 per cent a year from 2001 to 2004, when 92,161 visitors were recorded, and now is now the mainstay of the Zanzibar economy, replacing agriculture, particularly the export of cloves, ZTC said. From last July to February, about 82,000 tourists visited the island, pumping more than $50-million into the local economy, Mirza said.

Pomp as Isles honour investors

2005-04-23
By Khalfan Said
Guardian

Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA) on behalf of the government on Wednesday, organised Best Partners in Progress Awards in recognition of the role of investors in building the economy.

According to ZIPA Director General Dr Hamed R.H Hikmany, the government wants to encourage investors efforts by presenting them with the annual awards.

About thirteen firms from different economic sectors were awarded. Zan Air Limited scooped the overall award, in a colourful ceremony, which attracted “who- is- who” in the business circles on the Isles.

Dr Hikmany said the standards used in awarding were: employment generation, revenue generation, compliance with governance laws and regulations, environmental protection, submission of quarterly progress reports and relations with stakeholders.

The winners were: Birr Seaweed, Seaweed Company Limited, and ZANEA Seaweed (agriculture and fisheries), Zanzibar Diving Centre (business and services), Mbweni Ruins Company Limited, Breeze Beach Club and Blue Bay Beach Resort (hotel and tourism).

Other winners were: Drop of Zanzibar, Zanzibar Aluminium Construction, Kanza Carpentry Limited (Industries). In the transport sector, winners included African Shipping Company, and Azam Marines Limited.

Officiating at the ceremony, the Minister of State responsible for Regional Administration, Suleiman Othman Nyanga, said Zanzibar had managed to recover from economical and political crisis.
“Zanzibar is now stable for investment,” he declared.

Tanzania: Flooding in Zanzibar Information Bulletin No. 1

Date: 22 Apr 2005
International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

In Brief

This Information Bulletin (no. 01/2005) is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time. Based on further updates and details from assessment reports, or should the situation deteriorate, the Federation may consider international support through DREF or Emergency Appeal.

The Situation

Unprecedented heavy rainfall in Zanzibar Island for two consecutive days (17-18 April 2005) has led to heavy flooding in what has been described as the worst in 40 years. The flooding has completely submerged several hundred houses, totally damaged a few and destroyed infrastructure in six of the hardest hit administrative locations/wards of Mwanakelekwe, Jang'ombe, Sebuleni, Karahani, Mombasa and Miembeni in Zanzibar urban.

To date, no resulting deaths or injuries have been reported by the government; however, 150 families have been formally registered to have been rendered homeless, and have been given temporary accommodation in three schools (closed due to the flooding). As of Wednesday 20 April, 2005, sixty-four (64) houses had been destroyed in urban areas and 10 in rural areas. All household items were lost in the deluge.

A bridge linking Zanzibar town to one of the affected locations in Zanzibar South was also badly damaged and partly washed away. Fortunately, most roads have suffered minimal damage and are still passable. Three power transformers were damaged leaving some of these areas without electricity.

Five boreholes which cater for the most of the domestic water requirements in the affected areas were badly damaged and contaminated, posing the threat of an outbreak of water-borne diseases. Two cases of cholera - endemic in Zanzibar - have already been reported, but local measures to rapidly contain the situation exist and have been successfully mobilized in the past.

The local government authorities undertook a preliminary assessment; this was followed with a local appeal for cash and in-kind donations for water treatment chemicals, food and medicine. The local government authorities in Zanzibar are also issuing cash handouts to the families sheltered in schools for purchasing of essential/basic food items. At an emergency meeting organized by the local government authorities in Zanzibar, an urgent request was made to assist 1,758 families affected, including those who had been residing in 800 houses impacted by the floods. 

Zanzibar overturns candidate ban

4/20/05
BBC NEWS

Zanzibar's main opposition leader has been allowed to register as a voter for October's election after appealing against his initial refusal.
If his ban had been upheld, he would have effectively been disqualified from standing as a candidate.

Seif Shariff Hamad said he was happy at the decision but also called for a similar reversal for "hundreds of other Zanzibaris".

A new law requires voters to have lived in their constituency for three years.

Officials from Mr Hama's Civic United Front (CUF) say some 32,000 people have been refused as voters.

The voter registration exercise was also marred by violence.

At least nine queuing to register went to hospital after being assaulted by a group of 70 unknown men wielding iron bars and machetes.

The CUF accuses the ruling CCM party of rigging previous elections and using violence and intimidation against its supporters.

The CUF enjoys most of its support on the semi-autonomous archipelago but the CCM party has won recent elections on the islands as well as on the mainland.

Thousands of Zanzibaris homeless after heavy rains

DAR ES SALAAM, 20 Apr 2005 (IRIN)

Thousands of people in the north of the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar were made homeless on Tuesday following the heaviest rains on the island for more than three decades, a government official told IRIN on Wednesday.

"We are still assessing the magnitude of the damage," Said Shabaan, the deputy permanent secretary in Zanzibar's chief minister's office, said.

Some homes were swept away, he said. Others are flooded.

He estimated that 500 families had been affected, with each family having between four and six members, although some may have up to 10.

Zanzibar's chief minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, called for international aid. He said the families needed food, blankets, mattresses, mosquito nets, clothes and medicine, and that they risked catching diseases such as cholera and malaria.

Relief organisations are awaiting an official government report on the extent of the damage before acting, officials in Nahodha's office said.

The report is expected on Thursday.

Zanzibar 'bars' foreign workers

4/19/05
BBC NEWS

Zanzibar's MPs have passed a bill barring foreigners - including mainland Tanzanians - from working on the archipelago when locals can do the job.
The bill was unanimously passed, with MPs expressing the hope that it will bring down unemployment in Zanzibar.

Some locals complain that East Africans take jobs in the tourism industry that could be filled by Zanzibaris.

Labour official Omar Shajar told the BBC the intention was to prioritise islanders but not exclude mainlanders.

The issue is likely to be controversial in mainland Tanzania, where Zanzibaris do not require work permits.

The bill which still needs presidential assent in order to become law requires all foreigners to apply for permission to work on the island before they arrive and limits their employment in Zanzibar to four years.

Violators, illegal foreign workers and their employers could face fines and a three-month jail sentence.

Under the 1964 act of union, Zanzibar was allowed to remain semi-autonomous and to have its own president while benefiting from the economic and political clout of the mainland.

Zanzibar already has its own parliament, executive, legal system, national anthem and flag.

Hamad barred from registering
 

2005-04-15 09:08:15
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary-General Seif Shariff Hamad has been barred from registering in the permanent voters’ register in Zanzibar.

Hamad told The Guardian in Zanzibar yesterday that an assistant returning officer and a Sheha (civic leader) barred him from registering at a centre located near the Leather Factory premises.

“I went this (yesterday) morning to register in the voters’ book, but I was surprised when the assistant returning officer and a civic leader (sheha) barred me from registering, saying I did not qualify to vote in the area,” Hamad said.

For one to register as a voter in Zanzibar, one has to be a Zanzibari who has lived at the place where he or she wants to vote for at least 36 consecutive months. The voter must also be aged over 18 to take part in the elections.

According to electoral regulations, both the assistant returning officer and the sheha are agents of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) which upholds their decisions.

Hamad said that he was told he had not stayed at his Mtoni home for 36 consecutive months as required by electoral laws. He said he had filed an objection and would follow up the matter until he is allowed to register.

However, there are concerns that some of the sections are being misused to block people from registering.

Hamad, who is vying for Zanzibar presidency for the third time, said hundreds of Zanzibaris, mainly those suspected to be opposition supporters, had been barred from registering.

“This incident proves our oft-repeated complaints that ZEC is siding with CCM,” he said.
He added: “Despite the increasing mess in the preparations for the general election, CUF is determined to fight for its rights. I appeal to Zanzibaris not to get discouraged as there is no easy walk to real democracy.”

“CUF has no plans this time to boycott the forthcoming general election, but where people are intimidated, bullied, beaten up and their property destroyed, it is very difficult to rule out the possibility of violence,” he added.

He condemned ZEC and the police for working for the Zanzibar government and CCM to violate electoral laws and human rights on the Isles so that “CCM can win the next elections.”

The voters’ registration exercise has been marred by irregularities and political hostilities since the beginning of the exercise last November.

At least two people have been killed, scores injured and dozens of houses and vehicles set on fire. The exercise ends on April 24.

Meanwhile, Hamad said his party had made several attempts to call for a meeting with CCM to discuss the political situation in the country but to no avail.

“I think CCM has decided to retain power by hook or crook. The 2001 muafaka (peace accord) directs us to convene meetings every now and then to sort out misunderstandings. We have not met since last August,” Hamad said.

Some human rights activists and academics have called on leaders of political parties in Zanzibar to consider forming a government of national unity to end the deepening hostilities on Isles.

Controversy greets new Z'bar IDs law

2005-04-14 09:09:13
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Zanzibar House of Representatives has passed a Bill to issue all Zanzibaris with national identity cards.

But opposition parties on the Isles read mischief in the new law and immediately accused the government of planning to sideline Zanzibaris who are residents abroad from taking part in the forthcoming general election.

The contentious section of the Bill provides that Zanzibaris who qualify to get the identity cards must have lived on the Isles for at least three consecutive years.

As soon as the debate on the Bill ended, Chama Cha Mapinduzi members of the House urged President Amani Karume to sign the Bill into law as soon as possible for its speedy enactment.

The CCM position angered the opposition, which now claims that the ruling party is planning to lock Zanzibari residents abroad out of the October 30 polls.

The opposition side in the House argued that some sections of the Bill would precipitate chaos on the Isles unless they are expunged to give an equal opportunity to Zanzibari nationals living abroad to acquire the new identification documents.

The Zanzibar House of Representatives is made up of 63 CCM members while 15 belong to CUF.

Minister of State in the President’s Office (Local Government and Special Security Units) Suleiman Othman Nyanga said the sole purpose of the law is to identify Zanzibaris.

“Do not misunderstand the Bill. The government has no hidden agenda,” Nyanga told the House.

But a member from the opposition, Abubakar Khamis Bakari, said the Bill contained controversial sections that must first be expunged in the interest of all Zanzibaris.

He expressed concern at the hurried manner in which the Bill was passed, saying this was an indicator that CCM would use the law to block eligible voters from participating in the coming general election.

Salum Yusuf (Pandani, CUF) argued that the identity cards are not meant to help Zanzibaris, but “to restrict some category of people from voting in the forthcoming elections as well as denying Zanzibaris living abroad from enjoying their citizenship rights”.

Another CUF member, Haji Faki Shaali (Mkanyageni), told the House: “It’s disappointing.

While other countries ensure that their citizens vote, Zanzibar is looking for ways of denying its citizens the right to take part in elections.”

Ali Mzee Ali (Nominated, CCM) said the proposed identity cards would simplify the process of establishing a person’s status of being a permanent resident in a certain location during the elections.

Zanzibar Attorney General Iddi Pandu Hassan said it was unfortunate that some members of the House had misunderstood the spirit of the Bill.

Violence hits Zanzibar voting centre
 

Thursday 14 April 2005, 12:55 Makka Time, 9:55 GMT
Aljazeera net

At least nine people, including a police officer, have been wounded on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar in political violence.

"Assailants armed with iron rods and machetes attacked people in a queue at Kinuni voters' registration centre," George Kizuguto, the police spokesman for Zanzibar township, said on Thursday.

He said nine people, including the officer, had been hospitalised as a result of the attack.

The incident, which took place on the outskirts of Zanzibar town on Wednesday, was the latest in a series of attacks related to the upcoming general elections that have polarised tense relations between the island's main political rivals.

Witnesses said the attackers were supporters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapindizi (CCM - Revolutionary Party) and the wounded - with the exception of the police officer - were members of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

The identities of those involved could not be independently confirmed. The attack comes a day after another group of armed men, allegedly CCM supporters, wounded three CUF party agents at a voter registration centre.

The attack

Witnesses to that incident on Tuesday said about 70 assailants disembarked from pickups and started hitting people in the Kinuni area of the island, which has a history of political violence.

"They got off from the cars, came towards the queue and started beating up people who were at the place to register in the voters' book," one witness said on condition he not be named.

Zanzibar's Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations Ramadhani Kinyogo said police were looking into all the incidents and allegations of political motivation and would take necessary action.

"We are working on each incident carefully so that we can bring all the culprits to book," Kinyogo said.

Voter registration on Zanzibar was briefly suspended last week in an effort by election authorities to cool tensions that have flared since the beginning of March.

Opposition parties throughout Tanzania repeatedly say that the CCM has recruited armed youth, notably in Zanzibar, to intimidate voters from registering for the 30 October polls, but the ruling party denies the claims.

Police break up planned demo

2005-04-11 02:12:04
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Anti-riot police were yesterday called in to break up a demonstration planned by hundreds of Zanzibar residents who were to march to the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) offices.

The demonstrators were to protest over what they said was the commission’s decision to deny them an opportunity to register in the permanent voters’ register.

The protestors had assembled early in the morning on Maisara Street for the demonstration before police in full riot gear pounced on them and dispersed them as they were preparing to begin the march.

The demonstrators complained that they had been denied by ZEC a chance to register as voters ahead of this year’s general election.

They also said local leaders (shehas) had prevented them from registering as voters in violation of their constitutional right.

Unguja-West Region Police Commander George Kizuguto said that a contingent of the crack Field Force Unit (FFU) was dispatched to break up the planned march after receiving intelligence that hundreds of people had assembled in readiness for the demonstration against ZEC.

When members of FFU ordered the marchers to leave, they complied and dispersed peacefully, Kizuguto said.

“We were compelled to disperse the angry mob that had assembled on Maisara Street after being informed that they had planned an illegal march to ZEC headquarters to protest over voter registration,” he said.

ZEC chairman Masauni Yusuf Masauni said he was not aware of the planned march.

He also said that he had no information about the thousands of residents of Pemba who claim to have been denied the right to register as voters.

Meanwhile, the Civic United Front (CUF) opposition party has complained that thousands of residents were denied the right to be registered as voters.

In a statement signed by the party’s deputy director of publicity and policy, Salim Bimani, CUF condemned the shehas’ decision to bar thousands of people from registering at various voter registration stations.

CUF said government leaders in Unguja-West Region had directed the shehas to bar people hailing from Pemba from registering in the area.

Z’bar violence: Police nurse over 10 children
 

2005-04-11 02:09:32
By Guardian Correspondent, Zanzibar
Guardian

Police in Zanzibar’s Mjini Magharib (Urban West) Region are taking care of over 10 children from Kianga Village after their parents abandoned them following political violence that hit the area on April 4.

Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto told reporters yesterday that the children were abandoned after unknown people invaded CCM offices and engaged the youths who were manning the offices in fierce fighting that spilt into other parts of the region.

Following the incident, six people were arrested and charged, the RPC said. He added that his office was still investigating other incidents, including one in which houses were set on fire and residents severely beaten by unknown assailants.

He said following the mayhem, crime in the area had risen and added that security had been tightened to curb lawlessness in the area.

Speaking to reporters who visited the village at the weekend, some villagers said security had deteriorated since April 4, when there was mayhem in the village and a number of houses torched.

Asha Mtumwa claimed that “hooligans” who terrorised the village were usually housed at offices of political parties and let loose at night to harass people.

Mpaje Amour, who also abandoned her two children during the violence, said she fled into a forest where she spent the night after the area was attacked.

“We appeal to President Mkapa to intervene because nothing is being done and our children do not go to school because of insecurity,” she said.

Village chairman Asedi Mvita Asedi refuted claims that CCM youths were responsible for the mayhem.

Civic United Front (CUF) Kianga Branch leader Haroub Hassan said the incidents were intended to intimidate people, especially those hailing from Pemba, and prevent them from registering as voters.

“The Union government should take this seriously…this is a violation of human rights because people are free to live anywhere in this country,” he said.

Zanzibar: Voter Registration Resumes

Voter registration resumed on Thursday in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar following a two-day suspension following violence between supporters of the two main political parties, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).
"Registration of voters resumed today. But there are more horrible acts of violence designed to intimidate us," Salum Bimani, a CUF spokesman, told IRIN on Thursday.

"We have resumed registration and we are going on well," Masauni Yusuf Masau, the chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, said on Friday.

Bimani said unknown people set fire to two houses on Thursday in the Kianga area, on the outskirts of Zanzibar town. "Many people were also beaten," he said. "Some are now so scared to stay in their homes at night they go to the bush to spend the night."
The Zanzibar Urban West regional police commander, George Kizuguto, said the police were aware of the reports and were carrying out investigations.

The electoral commission suspended voter registration on Tuesday to "avoid unnecessary friction".

Tensions remain high between CCM and CUF supporters ahead of general elections, scheduled for October. CUF representatives have complained that CCM was taking hundreds of people from mainland Tanzania to Zanzibar, and that the party was illegally registering them as voters on the island.

On Monday, hundreds of people attempted to break into a voter registration centre. Unofficially, Zanzibari police said these people were CUF supporters disgruntled over what they claimed to be voter registration fraud.

CCM has denied the allegations: "It is CUF which is causing chaos," Vuai Ali Vuai, the deputy publicity secretary of CCM, said.

Political violence shakes Zanzibar

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AP) -- Arsonists set fire to a Zanzibari opposition leader's home and protesters attempted to raid a voter registration center Tuesday as violence flared months ahead of elections in the semiautonomous archipelago.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission on Monday suspended a voter registration drive in Zanzibar town, the Indian ocean archipelago's biggest town, to try to calm rising tensions between ruling and opposition party loyalists. The drive had begun Sunday.

General elections in predominantly Muslim Zanzibar are scheduled for Oct. 23, and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or Revolutionary Party, is expected to face a stiff challenge from the opposition Civic United Front. The ruling party labels opposition supporters Muslim secessionists, while the opposition says the ruling party represents only the interests of the mainland, which largely Christian and animist.

But suspending the registration drive appeared to do little to ease tensions, and early Tuesday, attackers used gasoline to set fire to the home of Civic United Front leader Abbas Muhunzi, said George Kizugutu, a senior police officer.

Muhunzi, his wife and five children escaped unhurt, although his elderly father was beaten by assailants with iron bars. Neighbors said the attackers were youths who wore red T-shirts and black trousers.

"It seems now Zanzibar is experiencing a kind of political bonfire," said Muhunzi, a member of Zanzibar's House of Representatives. He appealed to the government to intervene and end "political thuggery" in Zanzibar before "things get out of control."

Later Tuesday, more than 400 people attempted to invade a suburban registration center, but beat back by police, said Rashid Ali Suluhu, an election officer.

Police were investigating the attempted arson and remained on "alert" Tuesday night, setting up roadblocks in some areas.

Zanzibar, which united with the mainland to form the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964, elects its own president and legislature, and

The last vote, in 2000, was marred by irregularities, voter intimidation and politically motivated violence. Ruling and opposition party supporters have since become decidedly more militant, with the government creating paramilitary militias to ensure order and the opposition reportedly establishing "self-defense forces."

In recent months, six people have been killed in political violence.

ZEC suspends voter registration

2005-04-05 01:11:08
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) yesterday temporarily suspended voter registration in Mjini Magharibi.

ZEC Chairman Masauni Yusuf Masauni said the decision was arrived at after the electoral body detected irregularities in the exercise that started on April 7.
He did not specify the irregularities.

A press statement released in Zanzibar yesterday said the exercise would resume once the commission seals the loopholes in the flawed process.

He said the decision to suspend the exercise was arrived at after some commissioner’s detected irregularities during a tour of 86 centres in the district.

“There is a need for ZEC to discuss electoral laws with various stakeholders to forestall potential chaos in the exercise,” he said in the statement.

The commission called upon voters to be patient as the irregularities were being sorted out.

Meanwhile, Mjini Magharib shehas boycotted a scheduled meeting with ZEC to discuss voter registration problems.

The meeting that was to take place at Bwawani Hotel was to be addressed by ZEC Director Masauni Yussuf Masauni.

The commissioners arrived with their bags at the venue ready for the meeting only to find that the shehas had not turned up.

“We are going to discuss the issue in the office and take a position,” said ZEC commissioner Nassor Seif Amour.

CUF Rep’s house set on fire

2005-04-05 01:03:02
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Guardian

Civic United Front (CUF) politician Abbas Juma Muhunzi and his family escaped death when their house was set on fire early yesterday.

The family was asleep in the house on Mpendae Street in Mjini Magharib (Urban West) Region when the arsonists struck at around 2am.

The assailants attacked and seriously injured Muhunzi’s father, Juma Muhunzi, 65, who was resting outside the house before splashing the building with petrol and setting it on fire. The old man was hit with iron bars and was admitted to hospital.

Mjini Magharib Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto said police were investigating the attack.

“We’re carrying out investigations and a statement will be issued later…it’s too early to say anything,” he said.

Muhunzi, his wife Kauthar Humoud and children Zulekha, Mariam, Asha, Muhiddin and Nasra escaped unhurt.

Neighbours said they were woken up by Muhunzi’s father’s shouts for help as he was being attacked by youths dressed in red T-shirts and black trousers.

“They jumped over the wall and began attacking the old man who had opted to sleep outside because of the heat in his room. They were beating him with iron bars,” one of the neighbours told The Guardian.

Khalfan Habib said he was guarding his minibus when about 30 youths armed with a variety of crude weapons surrounded Muhunzi’s house and started jumping over the wall.

“I got out of the car, but they ordered me to return inside (the car). I then saw them starting a fire by using petrol and coconut palm leaves,” he said.

Narrating the incident, Muhunzi said he hid in a shed in his compound when the attackers struck and called his close relatives on his mobile phone, adding that he fled the house when the assailants started attacking his father and smashing the windows of his car.

The Chambani Representative said the attackers were intent on killing him and that “it is only by God’s grace that I’m still alive”.

Muhunzi said the arsonists fled immediately after setting the house on fire, but the blaze was quickly put out by his family and neighbours before it could engulf the building.

He asked the Union government to intervene and end “political thuggery” in Zanzibar ahead of this year’s general election.

“The attack was part of a campaign of intimidation targeting opposition leaders and supporters in Zanzibar. The Union government must intervene before things get out of hand,” he said.

Fire guts Isles’ ATCL offices
 

2005-04-02
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Sunday Observer

Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL) offices at Shangani area in the stone town was yesterday morning burnt down.

The ATCL branch manager, Nassor Mugheiry, confirmed the incident, saying, “The fire broke up at around 8.15 a.m destroying a number of office equipment, including computers.”

He pointed out however that a report on the loss occasioned by the fire would be released after completion of investigations into the incident.

ATCL shifted its offices to Shangani area from Vuga last November, as part of a strategy to improve its services.

Last Thursday a medium-scale woodwork factory was set ablaze by unknown arsonists, reducing to ashes items worth more than 500m/- in Saateni area, Zanzibar municipality.

Urban West Unguja Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto confirmed the incident, saying it was still unknown who torched the factory .

Eyewitnesses said they saw two cars come close to the gate of the factory after which the occupants ordered the guards to surrender their belongings, including mobile phones and lie down. They were later ordered to crawl far before the factory was set ablaze.

The factory’s Executive Director, Said Abdallah Najim, said he believed that his factory was set ablaze by mischievous individuals bent on scaring law-abiding people from registering in the permanent voter register.

He said most of the items that were destroyed in the inferno included two containers of construction tiles, plywood, wires, hardboards, chipboards, roofing tiles and two containers of assorted colour paint.

Riot Police March Through Zanzibar In Show Of Force
 

4/2/05
ZANZIBAR, Tanzania (AP)

--Riot police marched through
opposition strongholds in Zanzibar Friday, chanting
slogans such as "don't play with the state" and
arresting several people ahead of weekend voter
registration.

Voter registration was set to begin in Zanzibar's main
city Saturday, after previous exercises in the
semiautonomous archipelago ended in violence.
General elections have been scheduled for Oct. 23. The
last elections in 2000 were declared seriously flawed
by international observers and both ruling party and
opposition supporters have become decidedly more
militant since then.

Salim Bimani, a spokesman for the opposition Civic
United Front said an unknown number of party members
were arrested Friday and a lumber mill owned by an
opposition supporter was set alight on Wednesday
night.

Police refused to confirm any arrests or the attack.
"Tanzania and (Zanzibar) are a very peaceful," said
Khalid Iddi Nuizan, a police spokesman.
Tanzanian officials have frequently condemned press
accounts of civil unrest on the Indian Ocean islands,
which are major tourist destinations. Residents said
they were intimidated by the riot police marching
through Stone Town's narrow, 15th century streets, and
singing martial songs.

The police beat several of the men they arrested.
The riot police were recently deployed to
predominantly Muslim Zanzibar from the mainland, where
most people are Christian. Politics on Zanzibar, which
has its own president and parliament, often has a
religious aspect, with opposition supporters being
labeled mostly Muslim secessionists and the ruling
party accused of representing only mainland
interests.

The extra police are part of what authorities call
Operation Dondola, intended to ensure a peaceful voter
registration. Dondola means wasp in Swahili. Past
violence has pitted ruling party and opposition
supporters against each other, leaving at least six
dead. The government has set up paramilitary militias
to ensure order, while the opposition is also
believed to have established "self-defense forces,"
setting the stage for potentially serious violence.

Zanzibar ID plans draw fire
 

29/03/2005 11:58 - (SA)

Zanzibar - Plans by authorities on Tanzania's politically volatile semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar to register all residents and require them to carry identification cards before October's election came under fire on Tuesday.

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) decried the proposal -- to be considered by Zanzibar's legislature when it meets next in April - as a waste of money and part of an alleged plot by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM - Revolutionary Party) to sabotage the polls.

"It is untimely and a wastage of funds with a hidden agenda to block opposition supporters from taking part in general elections," said CUF leader Seif Sharif Hamad.

The government says the law is needed not only to easily identify Zanzibari citizens but also to ensure safety and security as movement between the East African Community (EAC) countries of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda becomes easier.

But Hamad said the proposal, which he maintained would cost five billion Tanzanian shillings ($4.6m), made little sense given persistent government complaints that it needs more money to properly run the October 30 election.

"Why IDs now? These are just efforts to upset elections," he told reporters, noting that just last week police had banned all political and religious demonstrations.

The ban is part of an operation, that has included night-time sweeps of residential areas, to crack down on "troublemakers" in Zanzibar after CUF and CCM supporters clashed earlier this month.

Under the bill to be debated by lawmakers at their next session beginning on April 6, it would be a criminal offence for any Zanzibari citizen over the age of 18 not to register with authorities and possess an ID card.

Violators would be subject to a fine of at least 100 000 shillings ($92) and/or a one-year prison term. Providing false information to obtain the ID could draw a six-month jail sentence, according to the bill.

In addition, the legislation would require all Zanzibaris living outside Zanzibar to register with authorities within one month their return to the island.

The population of Zanzibar and its sister island of Pemba is just under one million, according to the 2002 census.

Zanzibar violence flares

01/04/2005 18:28 - (SA)

Zanzibar - At least three people and as many as seven were wounded in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar on Friday as political violence flared the day before voter registration was to start for upcoming elections, police and witnesses said.

Rampaging armed youths set ablaze an opposition-owned factory and burned a trailer on the property in what witnesses said was an attempt to frighten opposition supporters from registering to vote in the October 30 polls.

Several dozen young supporters of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM -Revolutionary Party) set ablaze the Sanaa Carpentry Factory which is owned by a member of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), they said.

"Armed CCM youth have been going around to intimidate opposition voters to prevent us from going to register tomorrow," Hamadi Salim said from his bed at Zanzibar's Al-Rahma hospital where he was being treated for head injuries.

"They attacked us," he said.

Witnesses said seven people were injured, one of them seriously, in the violence in Zanzibar's Changombe area, an opposition stronghold, but Zanzibar police spokesperson George Githugoto said only three people had been wounded.

Opposition leaders charged that the youth - known as "Janjaweed," the same name given to Khartoum's proxy militia in Sudan's western Darfur region - were working alongside police officers deployed from mainland Tanzania to disrupt the registration process.

"The Tanzanian inspector general of police has brought many policemen to Zanzibar to work closer with the Janjaweed, not to keep peace, but to harrass the opposition in favour of the ruling party," said CUF chief Seif Sharrif Hamad who is a candidate for the Zanzibar presidency.

CCM officials were unavailable for comment.

Tension between CCM and CUF supporters has escalated in recent weeks in the run-up to the campaign for the elections.

Last month, at least 25 people were injured in clashes between CCM and CUF supporters and the Tanzanian government responded by deploying more police to the island which is prone to electoral violence.

Zanzibar plans tourism push

01/04/2005

Zanzibar - Officials on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar on Friday unveiled plans to dramatically increase the number of foreign tourists visiting their sun-drenched beaches.

Zanzibar hopes to attract as many as 100 000 visitors, a nearly 10% increase over its previous high, this year through the campaign which will include advertising and improving tourism infrastructure, they said.

Key to the plans are boosting the number of guests to the island from the west, Russia and east, south, and southeast Asia where economic booms have given people the means to travel for leisure, said Ali Khalil Mirza, the marketing officer for the Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZTC).

"Zanzibar's tourism sector has been doing well for the past two decades, but more efforts are required to improve on the sector in order to attract tourists from developed countries like those in Europe and the United States," he said.

Re-assessing rating systems

Mirza told reporters that the commission would re-assessing the rating systems for Zanzibar's 173 established hotels and resorts, train more tour guides in foreign languages and move to control "beach boys" who often harass sun-bathing tourists.

To lure Russian, Chinese and other Asian visitors, he said Zanzibar would expand promotions advertising the island as a tourist destination and begin to publish brochures in Chinese, Spanish, Italian and French in addition to English, the only language they now appear in.

Italian nationals now make up the largest number of visitors to Zanzibar, followed by Britons, Belgians, Scandinavians, South Africans, according to ZTC statistics.

Tourism on the island has been growing at a rate of more than six percent per year between 2001 and 2004, when 92 161 visitors were recorded on the island, and now is now the mainstay of the Zanzabari economy, replacing agriculture, particularly the export of cloves, ZTC said.

According to Mirza, the tourism sector accounts for as much as 21% of the island's GDP and is directly responsible for 7 000 jobs and indirectly responsible for 30 000 jobs.

Between last July and February about 82 000 tourists visited the island, pumping more than $50m into the local economy, he said.

Zanzibar wants to protect jobs

30/03/2005 21:13 - (SA)

Zanzibar - Legislators on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar are due next week to begin debate on a bill that would bar foreigners, including those from mainland Tanzania, from working there.

The proposed labour law is intended to boost opportunities for Zanzibari youth, particularly in the tourism sector and would repeal less restrictive legislation that many blame for the island's high unemployment rate.

If passed the legislation would bar non-islanders from "employment in Zanzibar unless no Zanzibari qualifies for the job", according to the draft bill to be considered when parliament begins its next session on April 6.

In addition, it would require foreigners to apply for permission to work on the island before they arrive and would limit their employment in Zanzibar to four years.

Violators, illegal foreign workers and their employers, would face a 500 000-Tanzanian shilling ($472) fine and/or a three-month jail sentence, according to the draft.

The sponsor of the bill, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the minister of employment on Zanzibar and its sister islands of Pemba and Mafia, said the legislation was "progressive" and would be "a blessing for Zanzibaris".

Legislators have long complained that youths from outside Zanzibar - mainly Ugandans, Kenyans and mainland Tanzanians - are taking many tourism-related jobs on the island leaving locals unemployed.

Apart from the tourism industry, non-islanders also fill many jobs in the banking sector on the island, according to MPs.

Zanzibari teams in Tusker Cup?

March 24, 2005
By Burton Brown

For the first time, football teams from Zanzibar have the chance to be included in the 2005 Tusker Cup tournament destined for kick off in June.
For years, Zanzibari teams have been banned from taking part in any tournament sponsored by any brands of alcohol, as it is contrary to the tradition of the majority of the Isle’s inhabitants.
Confirming the Tusker Cup tournament, Marketing Manager of Tusker, Gasper Lyaruu told The Express that Zanzibari teams would be allowed to participate in the event if they succeeded in winning the confidence of the public, who nominate the teams to compete in the tournament.
The participants in the tournament are selected from nominations sent in by consumers of Tusker, through coupons found on the beer bottles.
The 2005 edition of Tusker Cup is expected to kick off June 11 at CCM Kirumba Stadium featuring four teams from Tanzania and two teams from Kenya and Uganda.

Zanzibar’s debt reaches Tsh.170/- billion
 

March 24, 2005
The Express
By Timothy Kitundu

The increase in internal borrowing by the government of Zanzibar during November 2004, is cited as the main cause for the total debts, internal and external, now standing at Tsh. 172.7 billion, from Tsh. 168.7 billion registered at the end of October.
However, the external debt continued to dominate the debt portfolio; amounting to Tsh. 119.5 billion which represents 69.2 per cent of the total debt; the domestic debt amounted to Tsh. 53.2 billion representing 30.8 per cent of the total debt, according to the December Bank of Tanzania monthly economic review.
The review indicates that during November 2004, domestic debt edged up to Tsh. 53.2 billion from Tsh. 49.2 billion registered in the preceding month, due to government borrowing from domestic sources, accumulated interest arrears and new gratuity claims.
The domestic debt maturity profile shows that debt maturing in less than a year stood at Tsh. 9.4 billion, representing 17.7 per cent of the total domestic debt. Debt maturing between 1-2 years amounted to Tsh. 13.9 billion, representing 26.1 per cent of the total domestic debt.
Debts maturing between 2-5 years increased by 25.0 per cent to Tsh. 1.0 billion, and accounted for 1.9 per cent of total domestic debt. Debt with ‘undetermined maturity’, including accumulated interest arrears and retired civil servants’ claims, amounted to Tsh. 28.9 billion or 54.3 per cent.
The external debt, according to the review, stood at US$ 112.6 million (Tsh. 123.2 billion), of which multilateral creditors’ claims amounted to US$ 94.2 million (Tsh. 103.4 billion), representing 83.7 per cent of the total external debt.
Bilateral debt amounted to US$ 10.9 million (Tsh. 12.1 billion) or 9.6 per cent, while commercial and private creditors’ claims amounted to US$ 7.5 million (Tsh. 8.25 billion), representing 6.7 per cent of total external debt.
The review indicates that external debt maturing above 20 years stood at US$ 93.5 million (Tsh. 102.3 billion), accounting for 83.1 per cent of total external debt.
Debt with maturity ranging between 10-20 years stood at US$ 10.7 million (Tsh. 11.77 billion), representing 9.5 per cent of total external debt while debt maturing between 5-10 years stood at US$ 8.4 million (Tsh. 9.24 billion) or 7.4 per cent.

Activists tell Zanzibar police to respect human rights

23 Mar 2005
Source: IRIN

DAR ES SALAAM, 23 March (IRIN) - Human rights activists have called on the Zanzibari police to adhere to professional ethics and respect human rights after the Tanzanian government deployed extra policemen to the semi-autonomous island on Monday.

"We are asking the police to be careful in the execution of the operation," said Jilde Mambo, a legal adviser with the Zanzibar Legal Services Centre, a human rights NGO.

Tanzanian Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Omari Mahita ordered increased police presence onto Zanzibar's streets from Monday, in an operation that has been code-named "Operation Dondola".

"Street patrols have been enhanced to ensure [that] those disrupting the peace on the island are apprehended," Ramadhani Kinyogo, the deputy director of Zanzibar's Police Criminal Investigations Department, said. "Additional police were brought from the mainland on the orders of the IGP."

The deployment follows recent clashes between supporters of Zanzibar's main rival political parties - the opposition Civic United Front and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

Kinyogo said police had received reports that some people had blocked voters from registering. "The patrols are aimed at protecting the public from the troublemakers," he said.

An official at the Legal and Human Rights Centre, Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, said her organisation had no objection to police intervening in a situation where the breakdown of law and order was imminent.

"After all, the duty of police is to protect people and their property," she said. "But this must be done on merit and transparently. In the case of Zanzibar, we are yet to be told whether or not the situation deserves such [a] show of state power."

She added, "What is now going on in Zanzibar smacks of deliberate intimidation of would-be voters and people who are ready to express their feelings."

She also criticised the name of the police operation saying "dondola" was Kiswahili for a bee-like insect that stings but does not produce honey. She said it seemed the police were "threatening the very people they [were] supposed to protect."

General elections in Tanzania are scheduled for 30 October and voter registration is under way. Political parties have begun the process of nominating presidential candidates.

Tanzanians helping save turtles

By Tira Shubart
BBC News, Tanzania

Turtle-based tourism in Tanzania has been given a boost by a successful community-based conservation programme.

Turtles are endangered worldwide, but the five species of turtles found along the Tanzania coastline are now increasing in numbers.

An intensive education and awareness programme has enlisted local fishermen and villagers in the conservation programme.

Turtle nests are now protected and monitored in many parts of Tanzania.

The longest and best documented programme is on Mafia Island, recognised as a regionally important nesting ground for Green and Hawksbill turtles.

Guard

Communities living near traditional turtle nesting areas now record and protect turtle nests through local village monitors. The villagers are paid around $10 for each nest they discover and guard.

Conservationist Catharine Muir
Village monitor Omari Abdulla is enthusiastic about his responsibilities.

During the nesting season he visits beaches where turtles have come to dig a nest and lay their eggs.

Once a nest is spotted, Mr Abdulla records its location, the number of eggs and ensured it is protected.

"We find tracks and then find the nest. When the turtles are coming out, we tell all the villagers and school children. It's about involving the whole community. And we see the numbers of turtles increasing."

Initiated in January 2001, the number of recorded nests on Mafia Island has more than doubled from 68 to more than 150 a year. And at least 30,000 successful hatchlings have been counted.

Poaching of turtles, once valued as a delicacy, has fallen by 90% on the island since the start of the turtle awareness programme.

Catharine Muir, Coordinator of the Tanzania Turtle & Dugong Conservation Programme, has seen dramatic changes over the years.

"When I first came to Mafia Island 10 years ago all one would see scattered along the beaches were turtle skulls, shells and meat. It was a really sad sight, a turtle mortuary," she said.

Community

Fishermen are now encouraged to surrender the live turtle accidentally caught in nets. And they assist with the tagging and releasing of turtles for future records on migratory patterns.


School children living near marine reserves have joined in the conservation programme. Schools have participated in painting competitions to show turtles in their natural habitat.

And teachers take students on field trips to see turtle hatchlings scramble from their nests to the sea.

Identical programmes have been initiated in three other traditional nesting areas along Tanzania's 900 km coastline.

There are two large marine parks and a number of marine reserves in Tanzania which were established to encourage conservation measures to benefit both fishermen and marine resources.

In some coastal areas, new economic activities such as seaweed farming and handicrafts have been introduced to provide alternative income for fishing communities.

Dugong

The marine conservation programmes have also benefited the critically endangered dugong, also known as the sea cow.

Dugongs were the basis of the mermaid myth in many seagoing societies, including Tanzania.

In Greek mythology mermaids were known as beautiful sirens that lured sailors to a shipwreck death with their sweet songs.

In fact dugongs are placid marine mammals which can grow to 3.5 meters long and feed on sea grass. Dugongs were thought to have become extinct in Tanzania, hunted for their meat and caught accidentally in fishing nets.

Now two small colonies of the mammals have been discovered along the 900 km Tanzanian coastline and they have been adopted as a flagship species.

When local fishermen spot dugongs, they now report sightings to local conservation officials.

Turtle-based tourism and ecotourism are expected to benefit from the conservation programme.

The biodiversity of the tropical coral reefs, home to 25% of all species in the ocean, profits from a healthy population of turtles.

For scuba divers and snorkelers, turtles are one of the most beloved marine animals.

As sightings of turtles become increasingly common, conservationists are hopeful that the turtle population may gain a strong hold in Tanzania.

Hero’s send off for late Diria
 

2005-03-19 03:28:25
By Judica Tarimo
Guardian

Hundreds of people from Zanzibar and Mainland yesterday attended the burial of diplomat and Isles’ Cabinet Minister, Ahmed Hassan Diria, who died of heart attack in Germany on Sunday.

Vice-President, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, led senior government officials from both the Union and Isles governments who attended the burial at the Kisutu Cemetery, along Bibi titi Mohamed Road. He was accorded a state burial.

Earlier, President Benjamin Mkapa, accompanied by Cabinet ministers and senior government officials, visited the home of the diplomat located at Upanga, Longido Street, to pay their last respects.

Diria’s body arrived at the Dar es Salaam International Airport from Germany yesterday morning and was received by his relatives and government officials.

The body was taken to the Al-Maamur Mosque in the afternoon for prayers before burial.

Speaking at the end of the ceremony, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy) William Lukuvi said Diria’s death was a great loss to the family and the entire nation.

“We have lost an advocate and a fighter who stood firm for peace, unity, solidarity and freedom of all people in the Union,” Lukuvi said.

Diria, who was Minister of State in the President’s Office (Constitutional Affairs and Good Governance) died in Germany where he had been taken for treatment.

Before he was airlifted to Germany, Diria had been admitted at the Dar es Salaam-based Hindu Mandal Hospital and Nairobi Hospital in Kenya.

Ambassador Diria was buried in Dar es Salaam according to the wishes of his wife and children who turned down pleas by relatives and the government to bury him in Zanzibar.

On Thursday, groups of people who claimed to be late Diria’s relatives in Zanzibar contested the decision to bury the late politician in Dar es Salaam.

They threatened to boycott the burial if Diria was buried in Dar es Salaam. However, they relented and took part in yesterday’s burial.

Set date for polls, CUF tells Isles’ electoral body
 

2005-03-19 03:15:56
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Civic United Front (CUF) party has warned the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) that any delays in setting the date for the general election would be a violation of the Isles’ constitution.

“We think it is time ZEC announced the general election schedule.

The announcement of the elections date will give the electorate and parties time to prepare for it,” CUF said in a letter to ZEC.

The letter, signed by Hamad Masoud Hamad, said that stakeholders in the elections, which include political parties, the media and security forces, need to know the elections date early enough.

“The Zanzibar Constitution gives powers to ZEC to announce general election.

And the same document states, ‘Presidential elections will be held not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days before the serving president term expires.’

There is still enough time, but it is better for ZEC to announce the general election date before it is too late,” CUF’s letter said in part.

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has already fixed October 30, for the Union general election.

However, ZEC chairman Masauni Yussuf Masauni said the commission was not consulted over the Union elections date and therefore was not bound to go by NEC’s decisions.

Commenting on CUF’s demand to have the general election date, ZEC information officer Idrissa Jecha said the commission would announce the elections schedule “when time for that comes”.

“When time comes, ZEC will announce the general election schedule.

ZEC is made up of learned people who include lawyers who have been working independently. We therefore cannot be compelled by anybody, including CUF,” he said.

CUF information and publicity deputy director Salum Bimani said yesterday that ZEC violated the Constitution in 2000 by conducting general election beyond the required time.

“Zanzibar general election date must fall between September 8, 2005 and October 8, 2005.

President Karume was sworn in office on November 9, 2000.

We did not go to court in 2000 for violation of the constitution, but if in this year such a mess happens, CUF will go to court,” Bimani said.

Poll observers are welcome, says Karume
 

2005-03-18 00:20:22
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Local and international observers will be allowed to follow up October’s general election in Zanzibar, President Amani Abeid Karume has said.

A press release from State house says Karume made the assertion on Tuesday in Helsinki, Finland, when he met the country’s president, Tarja Halonen.

Halonen had sought to know from Karume if election observers would be allowed in Zanzibar during the forthcoming elections.

Karume said all what the observers will have to do is to inform the government about their presence in advance.

According to the statement, the two presidents deliberated on development of democracy in Tanzania and the importance of preserving Isles’ historical sites.

Zanzibar May Not Produce President
 

The East African (Nairobi)
March 14, 2005
James Mwakisyala
Nairobi

President Mkapa recently said that the alternating presidency was not a constitutional requirement, writes JAMES MWAKISYALA. The chances of nominating a presidential candidate for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) from Zanzibar to compete in the October 30 general election remained shrouded in uncertainty by last Thursday.

There was no clear favourite among the two candidates, who have already collected nomination forms and paid the compulsory fee of Tsh 1 million ($952) each to the CCM Secretariat.

They are former OAU Secretary General Salim Ahmed Salim and Ali Abeid Karume - the young brother of Isles president Amani Karume. Sources in the Isles political circles said supporters of the two candidates were already exchanging bitter words in their bids to outdo one another for nomination.

Although the two candidates may not be the last to collect nomination forms, Tanzania Vice President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein has expressed interest to do so before the April 15 deadline. Dr Shein hails from Pemba, a twin island of Zanzibar - the other island is Unguja. More CCM members from Zanzibar are expected to vie for nomination on CCM tickets.

Although Tanzania's historical political expectations on both Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland would entitle a Zanzibari to vie for presidential nomination, the presentation of this year's competition reveals that that may not necessarily be the case. Tanzania could see compromises by king makers on both sides to alter that tradition.

The first president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, was president from 1964 - 1985, he was replaced by Ali Hassan Mwinyi - a Zanzibari (1985 - 1995).

Mwinyi handed over power to Benjamin Mkapa - a mainlander from 1995-2005. This is what gives Zanzibaris the impression that the next presidential nominee for CCM should come from the Isles.

However, this tradition of alternating presidents is not constitutional, and it is what is driving many CCM members from Tanzania mainland to vie for the party nomination. By last Thursday, nine CCM members had collected nomination forms and many more were reported to be on their way to Dodoma to collect theirs. They included two women - Getrude Ibengwe Mongela, the Speaker of the African Parliament and former Cabinet Minister, and Asha-Rose Migiro also a Cabinet minister.

When on a visit to London late last year, President Mkapa, whose presidential term ends in October, reiterated that the next president would come from any part of the country. He insisted that the alternating presidency was not a constitutional requirement. He also promised a "surprise" for Tanzanians intimating that the popular names may not produce his successors at State House.

Most CCM members seeking nomination or supporting certain mainland candidates have sided with Mkapa's argument because that is what gives them a chance to State House.

This argument hasn't gone down well with Zanzibar's old guards, particularly those who participated in the 1964 Zanzibar revolution that toppled the Sultanate rule. They are the ones mainland politicians will have to negotiate with to break this tradition.

Mainland candidates include CCM vice chairman John Malecela - a veteran politician, Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, who has been premier for the past 10 years, Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete - popular among the youths, Prof Mark Mwandosya, an engineering professor-cum politician, and a prominent businessman and former banker Iddi Simba.

The other candidates from the mainland are Works Minister John Magufuli and Patrick Chokala - currently ambassador to Moscow and former press secretary to former President Mwinyi.

Political support in Zanzibar is greatly weighted against a candidate's political history, especially the pre-1964 revolution history. Dr Salim belonged to UMMA party that supported the Sultanate regime prior to the bloody revolution in 1964. His party later joined hands with the then ruling party - Afro-Shiraz Party (ASP), but that hasn't helped much as allegations of sympathies with "Arabianism" continues to haunt him.

He has repeatedly rejected that history as a non-issue to right thinking people, but Zanzibaris continue to remind him.

However, there is no doubt that at international level, Dr Salim is second to none.

As for Mr Ali Karume, analysts think it would be difficult to accept brothers to run the two sides of the United Republic of Tanzania - with the elder brother Amani in Zanzibar and the young brother on the United Republic side.

The only Isles candidate who has not received open criticism so far is Dr Shein, who has not even collected nomination forms. He stands the best chance of the lot because he has been scandal-free and has had a short political career, having been appointed VP in 2002 upon the death of Dr Omar Ali Juma.

Thus, CCM electoral bodies of the Central Committee, the National Executive Committee and the General Conference will have a heavy task to decide whether to respect political history of alternating presidency and which candidate fits CCM's 13-point criteria for presidential nomination.

Z’bar discusses protection of historical sites

2005-03-12 10:50:50
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Despite the increased destruction of the Isles’ historical heritage, the government was determined to protect and conserve them, according to Prof Abdul Sheriff of Zanzibar Museum.

Speaking at a one-day workshop on the need to preserve historical sites for Muslim leaders from the Zanzibar Stone Town, he said economical and technological advancements have greatly increased the damages to historical sites.

Some participants said that a good number of historical sites have lost their original structures because of not only economical advancement but as a result of lack of knowledge on why important sites need protection.

“Developing our houses, mosques and environment must safeguard the historical buildings. Protecting our old buildings is also valued in Islam, as we have many old mosques built more than 900 years ago,” Professor Sheriff said.

Zanzibar was lucky to have one of the oldest mosques in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Kizimkazi, which is still being used to-date, he said.

“Kizimkazi Mosque was built by the first king in Zanzibar, Abu Imrani, 900 years ago. The mosque had damages, but old people have been repairing it using the same materials used in constructing it- white mire and stones,” Prof Sherif said.

Kilwa Town in Tanzania Mainland was one of the most attractive historical towns in the eastern part of Africa, the professor said.

He pointed out that economic development in many parts of the world has played a major part in ruining historical sites.

“People tend to think that modern buildings are better compared to the old ones,” he said.

Despite the efforts by the Zanzibar Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority (ZSTCDA) to press the public to keep historical sites intact, Prof Sherif said, a number of mosques have been modernized.

He mentioned some of the old mosques, that have lost their original structures, as Darajani, Bububu and Bamnara.

Darajani and Bububu mosques were pulled down and reconstructed using modern materials- cement and sand.

Using local materials mainly mud, white sludge and stones, people constructed most of the old buildings in Zanzibar and other coastal areas.

The ZSTCDA Director, Issa Sariboko Makarani, lamented that residents at historical sites in Zanzibar Stone Town and elsewhere were sidelining the authority’s directives and regulations when doing repairs.

However, Said Nassor Seif from the office of the Mufti blamed ZSTCDA for the mess.
“The Authority acts very slowly. It must stand strong and ensure our heritage sites are not ruined,” he said.

The chair of the Zanzibar Stone Town Conservation Association, Khalifan Hemed Khalifan, said ZSTCDA should ensure it involves stakeholders in the planning of historical sites conservation.

Zanzibar is a member of the International Heritage Management supported by UNESCO.

Aspirant dispels fears on ‘Karume dynasty’
 

2005-03-11 09:27:42
By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
Guardian

Ambassador Ali Abeid Karume yesterday dispelled fears of the emergence of a “Karume dynasty” if he was elected Union president in the October general election.

Speaking in Arusha, Karume said there was nothing to worry about if he was elected Union president and his elder brother, Amani Abeid Karume, retained the Zanzibari presidency in the October 30, elections.

“On the contrary, it will be good for the nation if we both win because we will agree on most matters of national interest…there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

The ambassador said, however, that those who feared such a scenarios should take heart in the fact that “President Karume will remain with just one five-year term after this year’s elections while I’ll have two.”

He reminded his detractors that nowhere in the constitution was it stated that the Union and Zanzibar governments could not be headed by presidents who were siblings.

Karume said he was sure foreign aid to Tanzania would increase if he was nominated by CCM and elected in October.

“Forty two per cent of the government’s budget comes from donors. I’ll see to it that we get more assistance if I’ll be elected president,” he said.

Karume yesterday completed the task of obtaining the mandatory 250 guarantors.

Zanzibar is 'ticking'

11/03/2005
News24 (SA)
Edited by trs

Dar Es Salaam - Tanzania's main opposition party warned Friday of a political "time bomb" on the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar after weekend clashes there between its supporters and those of the government.

"Zanzibaris are now sitting on a time bomb," said Seif Shariff Hamad, the secretary general of the Civic United Front (CUF). "If it explodes, the consequences are beyond imagination."

Hamad, speaking a news conference here, accused the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM - Revolutionary Party) of fomenting the disturbances in a bid to secure victory in upcoming general elections through intimidation.

He said retiring President Benjamin Mkapa's CCM was colluding with the government in establishing camps to train young militants to cause chaos in the run up to the October 30 vote.

"The youth attending special training in the camps are being indoctrinated with the politics of hate," Hamad said.

At least 26 people were wounded and three vehicles and offices belonging to the CUF destroyed last Sunday when opposition and CCM supporters clashed after political rallies on Zanzibar.

On Monday, police arrested 18 people suspected of involvement in the violence in raids that opposition supporters said caused physical injuries and property damage.

Police blamed the riots - which appeared similar to violence on the island in the run-up to elections in 2000 - on political leaders inciting their supporters to extremes to boost support ahead of the polls.

The CCM and CUF blamed each other for Sunday's unrest with each alleging that other was intent on sabotaging the so-called "Muafaka Accord" they signed in 2001 to prevent a recurrence of violence.

On Friday, Hamad said the early morning post-riot police raids were part of a CCM campaign to harass innocent opposition supporters and alleged that the Zanzibar Electoral Commission was flouting regulations to benefit the CCM.

"This is totally unacceptable," he said. "Police are trying to instil fear among the people, while the electoral commission is planning to disrupt the elections."

He accused election officials of registering people as young as 10 years old to vote in the polls and maintained the CCM, which has ruled Tanzania since independence in 1961, was using the commission to ensure it remained in power.

Arrests after Zanzibar political violence

IAFRICA.COM
Posted Tue, 08 Mar 2005

Police on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar have arrested 18 people in connection with weekend political violence that left more than two dozen people injured, officials said on Tuesday.

"We arrested 18 people and our investigations are still going on," said Zanzibar's Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ramadhan Kinyogo. "They will be taken to court."

According to witnesses, about 100 police officers overnight on Monday raided homes of of people suspected of involvement in Sunday's rioting that wounded 26 people and destroyed three offices and vehicles belonging to the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

They said the raids took place in early morning hours of Tuesday and that five people were injured in addition to some minor property damage.

Kinyogo said the police operation was continuing and appealed to the public to help identify those who took part in Sunday's clashes between supporters of the CUF and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM Revolutionary Party).

"We are still going on with the operation so that we can arrest all the culprits who took part in Sunday's fracas," he told AFP. "We ask the general public to identify all other offenders who are still at-large."

CCM and CUF supporters hurled stones and knives after attending separate rallies as Zanzibar and the rest of Tanzania prepare for October general elections.

Police blamed the violence — the latest on the island which is prone to such incidents — on political leaders inciting their supporters to extremes during events aimed at boosting support ahead of the October 30 polls.

17 injured in Zanzibar violence

Ireland On-Line
08/03/2005 - 12:04:32

Political violence has flared in Zanzibar with mobs attacking political opposition members’ offices and homes - leaving at least 17 people injured - as the island prepares for elections this year.

Four branch offices belonging to the opposition Civic United Front were burned to the ground and another mob attacked the home of the party’s leader, setting two vehicles on fire, party spokesman Salim Bimani said Monday.

Two of the injured were admitted to the Mnazi Mmoja National Hospital’s intensive care unit in critical condition, he said. The destroyed vehicles belonged to two bodyguards who fought off the mob that attacked front leader Seif Shariff Hamad’s home.

The attacks were in the western section of the town of Zanzibar, where members of both the opposition and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party live. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission plans to begin registering voters in the area next month.

General elections are scheduled for October 23 in Zanzibar, a semiautonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania. The last elections, in 2000, were marred by violence and irregularities.

Politics in Zanzibar also have a religious dimension. The ruling party is based on the largely Christian mainland Tanzania, while the Zanzibar-based Civic United Front is largely Muslim. More than 90% of Zanzibaris are Muslim.

Political and religious tensions on Zanzibar, home to about one million people, have grown since the 2000 election.

The recent trouble started Sunday night when both parties held rallies less than one mile from one another. When the two rallies ended, supporters from both sides provoked one another, and soon stones, knives and spears were hurled through the air, witnesses said.

Before dawn on Monday, 200 members of a newly formed, pro-government civilian militia attacked Hamad’s home, Bimani said. The government began recruiting civilians to join self-defence units two years ago.

Regional police commander George Kizuguto confirmed the violence and said investigations were underway, but that no arrests had been made.

Karume still sole CCM aspirant

2005-03-05 10:52:59
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume (left) is presented with CCM presidential nomination forms by the party’s Deputy Secretary General (Zanzibar), Saleh Ramadhan Ferouz, at the CCM Kisiwandui office in Zanzibar yesterday. (Photo: Mwinyimvua Ali of Zanz

Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume collected CCM nomination forms for the Isles’ presidency yesterday.

Karume is still unchallenged although former Chief Minister Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal is said to be interested in contesting the seat on CCM’s ticket.

CCM Deputy Secretary-General (Zanzibar) Saleh Ramadhan Ferouz handed the nomination forms to Karume after the president paid the mandatory fee of 1m/-.

If nominated to vie for a second term, Karume is likely to face the Civic United Front’s Seif Shariff Hamad in the October 30, general election. Hamad is the only person to have applied for CUF’s nomination.

CCM Zanzibar headquarters at Kisiwandui were alive with live taraab music since morning before Karume showed up in the afternoon to pick up the forms.

Dozens of CCM supporters, among them ministers and regional party leaders, turned up at Kisiwandui to escort Karume on his way to collect the forms, after praying at the grave of his father, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, Zanzibar’s first president.

Later, Karume, accompanied by family members and friends, addressed journalists. He recounted his successes and expressed the desire to sustain them during his second term.

“I have been told by Zanzibaris to ask my party, CCM, to once again nominate me so that I can continue spurring economic growth on Isles,” he said and added that during his tenure infrastructure development was given top priority.

“While the UN has set 2015 as the deadline for the provision of universal primary school education, I am glad to say that most children in Zanzibar are already in school. In addition, we have built health centres, almost in every village.

Further, 65 per cent of our population has access to safe drinking water,” Karume said.
He said that, if he were re-elected, he would make sure that all roads on the isles are constructed to tarmac level by 2008.

Karume urged Zanzibaris to support his bid to retain the presidency. In addition, he told them to step up the war against HIV/Aids, saying that the pandemic retards development.

The forthcoming elections are eagerly awaited in Zanzibar and it is expected that tension will be building up as October draws closer.

Memories of the row between CCM and CUF after the 2000 general election are still fresh in voters’ minds, even after hammering out a truce, popularly known as muafaka, that ended hostilities between the two parties.

CUF preparing list of ‘crooked’ officers

2005-03-02 09:19:16
By Ludger Kasumuni

The opposition Civic United Front (CUF), says it is compiling a list of police officers engaging in politics in Zanzibar.

The list would be forwarded to Tanzania’s top policeman, Omar Mahita, once it was ready, CUF Deputy Director of Publicity and Policy Salim Bimani told The Guardian by telephone yesterday.

He said the party had decided against presenting the list to Zanzibar Police Commissioner Khalid Idd Nuizani.

“Nuizani has asked us to forward the list to him, but we’re not ready to do so because we have no confidence in the police top brass in Zanzibar. We’ll take the list to the IGP (Inspector General of Police) himself,” he said.

The CUF official said the party would target those officers who engaged in politics with a view to “propping up a certain political party”.

Bimani also complained that police in Zanzibar had been intimidating CUF agents in the ongoing voter registration exercise in Kusini Unguja Region.

“Police have been harassing CUF agents to lay the ground for the registration of ineligible people ahead of the October general election.”

Two CUF officials — Khatib Ali Hamad and Abdi Barwan – were arrested on “flimsy” grounds yesterday and detained at Taje and Makunduchi police stations, Bimani said.
He also added that two other agents, Amir Mbarak and Feruz Omar Khamis, were arrested for allegedly inciting CUF supporters to violence, a claim he dismissed as a blatant lie.

“The aim of the arbitrary arrests is to clear registration centres of CUF agents so that ineligible people can be registered without hindrance,” Bimani said.

Deputy AG raps Zanzibar court

 
2005-02-25 23:49:09
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar

Zanzibar Deputy Attorney General Omar Makungu has termed as wrong a decision by the court to impose fees on petitions by people left out of the recently concluded voter registration exercise conducted by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) on the Isles.

In a statement issued in Zanzibar yesterday, Makungu said the 20,000/- fee each of the 221 would-be voters have been asked to pay before their petitions are heard, amounted to an abrogation of justice on the islands as it had barred people with genuine grievances against ZEC from being heard by the court.

Makungu’s remarks come just a day after opposition Civic United Front party said it was lining up 10 to challenge ZEC’s allegedly flawed voter registration exercise.

The party said ZEC is working in cahoots with the governing Chama Cha Mapunduzi to rig the December polls.

The deputy attorney general said the 221 complainants, all of whom are residents of North-Unguja Region, had backed off after failing to raise the amount of money the court had imposed.

Reached for comment, Makungu told The Guardian yesterday that the court in North-Unguja Region was supposed to hear all the petitions relating to voter registration without subjecting the complainants to paying fees. Participation in the polls scheduled for December 30, is “the constitutional right of everyone,” the deputy attorney general said.

“We have already informed the High Court in Zanzibar that all the petitions against ZEC emanating from the recently concluded voter registration exercise should be heard without the petitioners being charged any fee,” the deputy attorney-general said.

Makungu said he recently met with CUF leaders to listen to their complaints regarding their members being forced to fork out 20,000/- each by the Mkokotoni court before their grievances to be heard.

The CUF deputy director of publicity and policy, Salim Bimani, confirmed that members of the party who had failed to register in the permanent voters’ register could not be legally appeased because of the hefty fees imposed by the court.

He said most the petitioners were poor peasants and therefore could not raise the amount of money the court had imposed on them. Their right to be heard has clearly been infringed upon by the court, he said.

He also said that at least 220 residents of Tumbatu, Chaani, Nungwi and Bumbwini are missing out in the permanent voter register on the grounds that they were nationals of the United Arab Emirates.

“It is amazing that ZEC is denying these people their democratic right despite the fact that all of them were born and live in Zanzibar,” Bimani said.

The exercise of registering voters in the permanent register has ended in North-Unguja region, but will start tomorrow in South-Unguja Region.

Eco-Islam Hits Zanzibar Fishermen

By Daniel Dickinson, Pemba, Tanzania
BBC News
2005-02-17

The Koran is not widely known as a source of guidance on environmental and conservation issues, but that has not stopped one development organisation in Tanzania from using it to help conserve an island marine park.

Religious leaders have been asked to promote conservation messages using the texts of the Koran - an approach which has proved a great deal more successful than government regulations.

The island of Misali is just a small dot in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Pemba.

The coral reef surrounding it is home to a rich variety of fish and turtles.

Misali is uninhabited, but where there are fish, there are fishermen - and just a few years ago this fragile island paradise was under serious threat.

Religious awareness

Destructive fishing methods were damaging the corals and harming species that lived there. Government bans had little impact.

The fishermen who launch their wooden dugout canoe from the windswept shores of Misali, like 99% of the population of the Zanzibar archipelago, are Muslims.

Once they realised that catches were falling dramatically, the non-governmental organisation Care International stepped in to persuade them to take better care of their environment - through a scheme based on Islamic principles.

"People didn't experience environmental destruction in their areas until very recently," says Ali Thani, Care's project director.

"And after what they are experiencing, they feel that Islamic environmental ethics might be better to create awareness in the community to protect their environment."

These fishermen have learned the benefits of fishing in a sustainable manner without harming the island's bio-diversity.

Tourist destination

Salum Haji has fished these waters for as long as he can remember.

"There have been a lot of bad things happening here," he says.

"People have used dynamite and guns to fish here. This has destroyed the coral.

"I am happy that now we have learnt that the Koran tells us to protect everything in this world, including the environment.

"I am more dedicated to protecting the environment now and a more committed Muslim as well."

With sustainable fishing, catches have increased.

And the underwater life is so rich that the island has also become a tourist destination, with money paid by visitors being put back into community development on Pemba.

It is thought this is the first time the teachings of the Koran have been used in Tanzania to promote conservation.

Local religious leaders like Shehe Mlekwa Lissani Bambi are now highlighting Islamic teachings about conservation in their sermons, though a certain amount of interpretation has been necessary, he says.

"Everything we see in the world is in the Koran," he says.

"We have not changed what is in it as this cannot be changed, but we are reading it with more knowledge.

"We are the guardians of God's creation. He asks us to protect what he created and we can do this by looking after the environment."

'God's law'

Shehe Mlekwa Lissani Bambi feels it is fitting that Misali island was chosen to pioneer the use of Islamic ethics to conserve the environment. Misali is steeped in Islamic myth, including one surrounding a saintly figure known as the Prophet Hadhara.

"The island is very important in our history. Once Prophet Hadhara arrived at Misali and asked fishermen for a prayer mat.

"As there was no mat, Hadhara said the island itself was like a prayer mat since it exactly points towards Mecca.

"He prayed and then disappeared. Since then the island is called Misali, which means prayer mat."

Care International project director Ali Thani says it was only possible to convince people with the help of the sheha and shehe - the religious leaders. So far, he says, the project appears to be working.

One local fisherman summarised neatly why the religious message has succeeded where government decrees failed: It is easy to ignore the government, he said, but no-one can break God's law.

BBC Starts FM Broadcasts in Zanzibar

The East African (Nairobi)
February 7, 2005

Ali Sultan
Nairobi

AFTER SIX years of negotiations, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has signed an agreement with the state-owned Sauti ya Tanzania (STZ) radio to operate an FM radio station in Zanzibar.

Zanzibar and Pemba island listeners will now be able to listen to BBC World Service Programmes on 94.1 FM and 93.55 FM respectively.

Announcing the agreement at the Serena Inn hotel last week, the BBC Head of Africa and Middle East Region Programmes, Jerry Timmins assured listeners, There will be no censorship of the content of the programmes.

The Minister of State in the Isles Chief Minister's Office, Ali Juma Shamhuna, concurred with Timmins, saying There will be no interruption of BBC programmes.

The director of Radio Sauti ya Zanzibar, Yusuf Omar Chunda, said it took six years to negotiate the agreement. He described the long negotiations as normal government procedures aimed at making the agreement sustainable.

The BBC head of Swahili Service Tido Mhando told The EastAfrican that the BBC FM broadcasts will go straight to listeners and will be broadcast without any interference from any quarter.

The agreement includes training of staff from Radio Zanzibar, which will enable local journalists to grasp the techniques of working with advanced electronic media.

Journalists who attended the launching ceremony, however, expressed fears that the Isles government might not tolerate criticism aired by the BBC.

They said that the same government had earlier entered into a similar agreement with Radio Deutch Welle of Germany.

It was alleged that almost all live programmes or newscasts aired by Zanzibar-based correspondents were either deliberately interrupted or removed. Their transmission stopped mid last year without any explanation being given.

Mr Mhando said, "Our agreement is a bit different. We can assure you of no interruption from anywhere. He said BBC understands clearly what he called the "sensitivity of Isles politics and culture" and added that Zanzibar is a part of the BBC-Swahili Service".

He added that the BBC has been broadcasting in Kiswahili on short wave since 1957 and that broadcasters from Zanzibar played a vital role in sustaining the growth of Kiswahili service. "To improve our services, we will introduce a new schedule of programmes with more air time from April this year," he said.

In another development, Zanzibar has launched a new weekly news tabloid called Zanzibar Wiki Hii (Zanzibar This Week). The 16-page weekly is privately owned and will be published every Monday by Busara Publications.

The newspaper's managing editor, Juma Mohammed, told The EastAfrican that the objective of launching the newspaper was to "offer a variety of news to Zanzibaris in the era of globalisation and good governance".

He said that, unlike the mainland, Zanzibar does not have enough media outlets. "We will try our best to uphold a high level of professionalism and ethical standards," he said.

Zanzibar has only one state-owned daily newspaper, Zanzibar Leo, one television station, Zanzibar (TVZ), and a radio station, Sauti ya Zanzibar (STZ). A privately owned newspaper, Dira, which was published weekly by Zanzibar International Media Co Ltd (ZIMCO), proved shortlived. It was banned last year for publishing what the government called "sensitive information" which it said was "anti-union" and contrally to "Zanzibar's ideals

Potential Zanzibar voters ‘intimidated’

2005-02-06 08:59:45
By Ludger Kasumuni, Zanzibar

Dozens of residents in North Unguja have been denied their right to vote after being chased out of the voters’ registration stations in Kinyasini and Kisongoni villages.

Speaking to members of the press yesterday outside the head office of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), a number of villagers said that the local leaders (Shehas) had banned them from registering their names in the permanent voters’ register on the grounds that they had originated Pemba.

At least there were 20 people representing more than 100 colleagues who had decided to forward their complaints to ZEC.

One of them, Simai Ali Kombo , said that they had received a letter from the ZEC District Officer referring them to go back to their respective registration stations for resolving the matter.

In a letter signed by the ZEC District Officer, Foum Alli, dated February 5, 2005, ZEC said that all the affected residents must go back to resolve the matter with respective assistant registration officers.

“We have lived in Kinyasini village for many decades, but we wonder why these people (Shehas) are denying us the right to vote,” Kombo said.

He added: “We are also forced out of the villages by the police. The police are threatening to kick us out of the village if we continue to demand registration.”

All the affected residents had shown their previous voting certificates which had shown that they had participated in the 2000 general elections.

Meanwhile, the opposition party Civic United Front (CUF) has written a letter to the ZEC narrating a number of complaints associated with what they claim is mismanagement of the on going voters’ registration exercise.

According to the CUF letter dated February 2, 2005, CUF complains that CCM supporters, contrary to the electoral laws ,have constructed some registration stations.

In a letter of which a copy has been availed to the press, CUF cites those stations as Pangatupu, Kichakapwiriri and Kilombera, based in the North-Unguja region.

CUF also complains that some members of the paramilitary forces had terrified residents of Pangatupu two days before the commencement of registration exercise in North Unguja region on January 27, 2005.

In a letter which was signed by CUF Acting Secretary General, Hamad Masoud Hamad, CUF further complains that on February 1, this year, the members of paramilitary forces had barred residents from registering at the same station, paving the way for them to get registered contrary to the law.

At Kilombero station on January 29, 2005, the members of paramilitary forces, had forced out of the station the CUF representative, CUF claims in the same letter.

CUF further complains that ZEC had allowed establishment of registration centres near the camps of paramilitary forces.

‘Zanzibar deserves EAC autonomous representation ’

2005-02-02 09:21:26
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

While Zanzibar business community fears that the Isles would not benefit from the East African customs union, the EAC Secretariat said here yesterday that the critical challenge in the implementation of the customs union was to translate it into opportunities for the East African people.

The business community here feels that it is not proper for Zanzibar to be represented in EAC through Union Government, and that it would not benefit much from the newly launched customs unions.

The secretariat met with Zanzibar business community yesterday in Zanzibar at the EAC customs union stakeholders’ workshop.

“Zanzibar remains a small country with no competitive industrial and agricultural products, the union may swallow us. And we get problems in justifying Zanzibar working in the EAC through Tanzania Mainland, specifically when talking about economy since it is a non Union matter,” a prominent business man in Zanzibar, Mohamed Raza, said.

He also observed that it would be impossible to implement some tariffs. “I predict economic chaos,” Raza said.

Raza also a member of the Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture, appealed to lawyers in EAC to find a solution where Zanzibar would participate in EAC activities as an autonomous nation and not through Tanzania Mainland.

He also said Zanzibar should be given enough time to develop its industries before the tariffs are applied in the isles.

Khamis Mussa from the Zanzibar Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture also observed that the participation of Zanzibar in the formation of EAC and the customs union was poor, and that strategic areas should be considered for the benefit of the Isles.

Ahmed Sheikh of the Zanzibar Free Port Authority said that there was a danger for the exploitation of items such as cement where Zanzibar purchase at cheaper price abroad, but at a higher price domestically (from Tanga).

Responding to the business community observations, the East African Community secretariat admitted a number of hitches in the implementation of the Customs Union Protocol but said it was confident that these would be resolved.

The Director-General of Customs and Trade, Peter Kiguta, told the Zanzibar business community that several hitches had been encountered on the customs union, especially on the issues of tariffs on essential commodities such as rice for Zanzibar.

“We are now striving to set things smooth in the implementation of the customs union. We have removed customs boundaries to expand our market, let us use the opportunities,” Kiguta said, adding that complaints over the hitches were going to be resolved gradually within five years.

Kiguta said all the three member countries Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were now having in place three-band common external tariffs: imports falling under zero; 10 per cent and 25 per cent categories.

Opening the workshop held at Zanzibar Beach Resort, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (President’s Office) Julian Raphael, said: “The signing of the protocol for the establishment of the EAC customs union last year and its commencement on January 1st this year, has kept the business community and the Zanzibaris anxious about the customs union and its benefits to the people of the East Africa.”

He said the challenge for the business community was to take advantage of the EAC customs union though he said that some difficulties might be encountered in the process of implementation of the customs union.

“I wish to call upon the people of Zanzibar to advantage of the prospects of the EAC customs Union,” Raphael said.

Zanzibar, Netherlands establish marine maintenance unit

2005-02-01 08:57:50
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

The Zanzibar government, in collaboration with a Netherlands firm, has introduced marine vessel maintenance and manufacturing unit.

It was revealed in Zanzibar yesterday that, the maintenance section that established as phase two of Zanzibar slipway expansion at Malindi harbour begins next week.

The Zanzibar Ports Corporation (ZPC) director general, Mustapha Jumbe, said here yesterday that Zanzibar ports had made a remarkable progress since it signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Damen Shipyard Gorinchem from Netherlands in 1998.

Jumbe was introducing DAMEN managing director to Zanzibar’s Minister of Communication and Transport, Brigadier General (retired) Adam Mwakanjuki.

“Just last year we made a small tag boat named ‘KULI’, a 400 tons water berg and we can now repair vessels with mechanical problems,” Jumbe said, adding that the work of extending the Malindi slipway starts next week under the supervision of experts from DAMEN.

He also said that Zanzibar was striving to develop its ports to accommodate the East African Community business competition and that sea transport companies would use Zanzibar instead of going to Mombassa, Kenya for the sea vessels' services.

The managing director of DAMEN, Lorenz Winkel, said that his firm opted to work with Zanzibar because of “political stability and conducive working environment.”

In his remarks, Mwakanjuki said that Zanzibar would sustain its Cooperation with DAMEN in developing Zanzibar port.

‘Zanzibar Airport, let down to tourism sector’
 

2005-01-31 06:32:51
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Guardian

Despite remarkable improvement in the tourism industry in Zanzibar, the sector still faces a host of problems; World Bank consultant on aviation Michel Iches has been told.

Investors in the sector told Iches at a forum to air views to aid the World Bank design aviation guidelines in Zanzibar last Friday, that air transport in the isles left a lot to be desired.

They lamented that there was lack of trained workers at the Zanzibar’s Airport and it was also worn out. Such an airport, they said was capable of scarring off tourists.

One of the investors, Martin Fine, from the Blue Bay Hotel, said air transport in the isles starting from Zanzibar Airport needed a lot of improvement.

“Yes, there is some remarkable improvement in the tourism industry but our bottleneck seems to be the air transport. Services at Zanzibar Airport are wanting,” Fine said.

He expressed his concern over the behaviours of the beach boys and the riding of motorcycles at the beaches.
“I think such problems can be controlled if there was determination to,” Fine added.

Antonella Balestra of Italian Tursanda Travel observed that while Zanzibar was striving to improve the industry by encouraging the construction of high class hotels, more concentration on the development of the Zanzibar airport was necessary.

“The airport is a mess, there is no adequate security. Handling and inspection of luggage must be improved,” Balestra said.

The World Bank officer said he would present the reports to WB.
“Air transportation and tourism are closely linked. Talk to the World Bank representative in Dar es Salaam. The bank is there to help,” Fine said.

The forum attended by Iches, officials of Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZTC) and a host of investors was held at Maruhubi Tourism Training Institute.

Tusker stun KMKM 4-1

By Gilbert Wandera
Sunday January 30, 2005
The Standard

Harambee Stars striker Moses Odhiambo scored a double as Tusker crushed KMKM of Zanzibar 4-1 in a first leg Champions League tie at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani yesterday.

Odhiambo who came in the 23rd minute for Frankline Obare needed just six minutes to make his presence felt.He received a loose ball on the right flank, cut out two KMKM defenders and beat Ali Saluum with a low shot.

His second goal came towards the end of the first half when he connected a free kick taken by Macdonald Mariga.

A delighted Odhiambo said afterwards that he had been specifically deployed to turn around the match.

It was Moses Gitau who opened the scores for the home side from a sixth minute corner taken by Charles Okwemba. Tusker, however, appeared to lack the ability to defend the goals as they allowed their opponents a lot of room in their half.

Poor defending finally cost Tusker a goal in the 16th minute when Juma Semsue tapped home a loose ball.

KMKM never appeared content and Victor Onyango was forced to dive full length to block a Maulid Kapenta clear shot. Moses Odhimabo’s shot was punched out for a corner in the seventh minute. Mariga completed the scores for Tusker with perfect free kick in the 83rd minute that found KMKM’s flat-footed.

KMKM coach, Ibrahim Kapent, blamed the match referee for allowing their opponents too many advantages. Kapenta vowed to turn around the scores during the return leg match at home.

Tight security as voter registration kicks off

2005-01-29
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Registration of voters starts today in Kaskazini Unguja amid tight security in the region as tension builds.

Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) Deputy Information Officer Saleh Mnemo told The Guardian yesterday that preparations were ready and that 59 registration centres had been set up in the region’s eight constituencies.

“We are through with the preparations, including the distribution of the materials, and we hope things will move smoothly,” Mnemo said.

However, isolated incidents have taken place in Bumbwini constituency, including circulation of leaflets warning CUF supporters not to turn up for registration.

Last Tuesday the police reported that a registration centre was set ablaze by unidentified people.

Regional Police Commander Ali Haji Shaka said a number of police officers including anti-riot police had been deployed in the region.

“We are prepared to counter any breach of law and order,” Shaka said as CCM and CUF traded accusations over a bid to disrupt the registration.

While CUF claims that youths from the Mainland had been transported to Zanzibar to register illegally, CCM is calling upon the police to intensify security.

Isles CCM Publicity Secretary , Vuai Ali Vuai, told a press conference Wednesday that a tight security detail would enable eligible voters to exercise their constitutional rights to register.

A total of 157,030 voters had been registered in Pemba out of whom 76,030 were from Kusini Region and 81,373 from Kaskazini .

Registration of voters in a permanent voter register is one of the components agreed in the Muafaka reached between CCM and CUF shortly after the 2000 general elections.

Zanzibar bars Tanzania from seeking oil

January 26, 2005
 Sapa-AFP

Zanzibar - Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar on Wednesday barred the mainland government from exploring for oil off its coast until both sides agree on how to share the resource, its chief minister said.

Recent press reports here have said that the government in Dar es Salaam had hired a Canadian firm to search for oil believed to be under the Indian Ocean off the Zanzibar coast.

"Any study or the exploitation of petroleum will not be allowed in Zanzibar, there are issues that must be solved for the economical benefit of both sides of the union," Shamsi Vuai Nahodha told parliament. "What is important is to stick to our position."

Zanzibar's economy is based primarily on the production of spices, mainly cloves grown on the island of Pemba, trade, and tourism. The formerly independent twin island group joined with mainland Tanganyika 1964 to form Tanzania.


Under the union's constitution, natural resources are to be controlled from the central government, but Zanzibar complains that it has so far not benefited from the arrangement.

"We have forwarded our demands to our colleagues in the prime minister's office in Dar es Salaam (that) we need oil (and other natural resources) to be isolated from union issues, or it should be clearly placed in the constitution that natural resources is a union matter that benefits both sides of the union," Nahodha said.

"We should not be too emotional, pushing the government to rush into tackling this issue. We should be patient even for some years, to get answers, which would benefit Zanzibar."

"But you should put in mind that no one will be allowed to study the presence of petroleum in Zanzibar," he added.

No more jail time for Zanzibar's young mothers

Zanzibar, Tanzania
Sapa-AFP
26 January 2005 05:03

Bucking opposition from conservative Islamists, Zanzibar's Parliament on Wednesday repealed a controversial law that prescribed jail terms of up to two years for unmarried young women who fall pregnant.

Lawmakers on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island voted to replace the provision with one that sets a sentence of six months of community service for schoolgirls and unmarried 18- to 21-year-old women who fall pregnant.

The replacement of the 1985 Spinsters, Widows and Female Divorcee Protection Act does not affect the three- to five-year jail terms for men over the age of 18 who impregnate schoolgirls and women covered by the law.

As its predecessor did, the new legislation, which must still be signed by Zanzibar's President Amani Abeid Karume, leaves cases of minor boys impregnating young women to be settled by families.

Women's rights activists had complained that the provision of jail sentences for young unwed mothers and pregnant schoolgirls ruined their lives as they had to drop out of school, serve a prison sentence and raise their child.

But the amendment had been criticised by some in Zanzibar's Muslim community -- which makes up more than 90% of the population -- as being too lenient on girls and encouraging them to engage in pre-marital sexual activity.

Salim Juma Othman, Zanzibar's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, defended the change, denying it will promote promiscuity among the island's youth and saying it will bring the legal code up to international standards.

"We do not want a draconian law like the [original] Spinsters, Widows and Female Divorcee Protection Act," he told lawmakers during a lengthy debate on the merits of the revision.

"On the other hand, the government has decided to come up with this new Act due to the importance of protecting this vulnerable group," Othman said, referring to schoolgirls and young, unmarried women.

He said the new law is the result of the government striking a balance so that schoolgirls and young unwed mothers do not unnecessarily suffer, and men are still punished for misbehaviour.

Despite the fierce debate, the 50 lawmakers in attendance at Wednesday's parliamentary session all voted in favour of the change.

Thirty-five MPs were absent, an AFP correspondent said.

Tanzanian leader aligns himself with Mugabe

- Sapa-AFP

1/23/05

Harare - Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa on Saturday predicted "handsome victories" for both his party and Zimbabwe's governing Zanu-PF in upcoming general elections in the two countries.

Mkapa, who jetted in to Harare for talks with Mugabe, told reporters after the meeting that Zimbabwe "has elections in March, I have elections in October - and we both expect we will win very handsomely".

The Tanzanian leader said he was "very satisfied" with his talks with Mugabe in which "we exchanged views on the situations in both our countries" and underscored that his CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi -Revolutionary Party) and the Zanu-PF were "partner parties".

He left for Tanzania after attending a special lunch hosted for him.

Mugabe and Mkapa enjoy warm ties.

Earlier this month, Mugabe was the sole foreign leader to attend the anniversary of the bloody 1964 revolution in Zanzibar which led to the ouster of the island's Arab oligarchy and its union with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.

Zimbabwe's March elections are seen as a litmus test to its commitment to fall in line with southern African regional standards. The last two elections in 2000 and 2002 were marred by allegations of violence and rigging.

Mkapa, who is due to retire at the end of his second and final five-year term in November, a month after the East African nation hold its third multi-party general elections, has pledged to hold free and fair polls.

‘No plans to change Isles constituencies’

2005-01-22 08:07:32
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar

Zanzibar has no plans to ‘tamper with’ the
number of constituencies in Pemba or Unguja
as claimed by the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

Minister of State in the Chief Minister’s Office Ali Juma Shamhuna told The Guardian yesterday the House had directed the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reconsider the boundaries of the constituents in the Isles, contrary to CUF claims that there was a scheme to increase the number in Unguja and do the opposite in Pemba.

The House of Representatives is made up of members from both CCM and CUF.

Early this week CUF claimed that CCM had been lobbying for a reduced number of constituencies in Pemba while seeking to increase them in Unguja.Pemba Island is a CUF stronghold.

“The government is not responsible for any constituent changes. This is a responsibility of ZEC, whose members come from both CUF and CCM,” he said.

“We don’t want anyone to tarnish the image of the government in the Isles,” he added.

He, said since ZEC commissioners, Ussi Khamis, Nassor Seif and Khatib Mwichande, had supervised the assessment of the constituencies, it was not wise for anyone to lay the blame on CCM or the government.

He, however, admitted the government had recommended a review of constituencies, after the National Census report of 2002.

But this happened because there was a concern over an imbalance between the available infrastructure and the number of people.

The Island of Pemba has 21 constituencies, while Unguja which is more populous has 29.

Impeccable sources have told The Guardian it was true the Isles government intends to establish new constituencies in Unguja, namely Kiembesamaki, Mpendae and Magogoni.

In Pemba, the sources said the government was planning to eliminate Mgogoni, Kiwani and Pandani.

When asked to comment, ZEC Public Relations Officer Saleh Mnemo said he was not aware of the plan, but added that a public opinion would be sought before any ‘final decision’ was made.

On his part, CUF Director of Policy and Publicity Salum Bimani said the party had credible information on the CCM government strategy.

In a telephone interview, ZEC Chairman Masauni Yusuf denied there was any such arrangement.

“No meeting has ever been convened to discuss the matter,” he said.

Preach peace, Karume tells politicians

2005-01-22 08:16:44
By Mwinyi Sadala, Zanzibar

Leaders of political parties, along with some government officials,listen to the Zanzibar President Amani Karume when he addressed the faithful at the Idd Al Hajj prayers at Forodhani Palace in Zanzibar yesterday.(Photo: Courtesy of Zanzibar State House)

Zanzibar President Aman Abeid Karume has called on politicians to enlighten their supporters on the importance of cherishing democratic values.

Addressing Eid el Hajj gathering at Forodhani Community House, the President said politicians should preach peace to their followers.

“Politicians should tell the people to abide by the law and fight for peaceful General Elections scheduled to take place later this year,” Karume said.

He stressed that upholding peace was everybody’s responsibility.

The President said that citizens were expected to distance themselves from acts of hooliganism that would create chaos.

“Angry exchanges and sedition expression should be avoided at any cost as we edge towards the General Elections,” Karume said.

Politicians should practically show that they are mature by pushing forward development agenda, said the President.

The government would not sit back and watch a few people disrupt peace and tranquillity built for many years by devoted Tanzanians, he said.

“Do not expect that my government will slumber while some people threaten our peace.

The government will employ all its power to ensure that peace, tranquillity and national unity are sustained in the Isles,” he said.

Ideological differences among politicians should not be used as an excuse to undermine development activities and in essence halting war against poverty, Karume said.

He reminded Zanzibaris that fostering development agenda was not the responsibility of the government alone.

“People’s participation in development activities has started to bear fruits as witnessed through education and water sectors,” he said.

He also urged people to maintain religious values and assist the needy.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, has urged Tanzanians to fight evils in the society.

Speaking at the Idd El Hajj gathering held at the national level at Mwembechai in Dar es Salaam, Dr Shein said evils like murder, rape, robbery, corruption, hatred and prostitution bring disasters and tribulations.

The VP also called on Tanzanians to avoid political and religious squabbles that would cause chaos.

Stigma mars anti-Aids battle in zanzibar

2005-01-16 08:06:52
By Observer Reporter

Stigmatisation has been singled out as the main reason for the reluctance by many people in Zanzibar to undergo HIV/AIDS testing.

A TV programme monitored in Dar es salaam has quoted the Chairman of the Isles people living with AIDS (ZAKA), Khamis Mbarouk, as saying that was the major impediment in their battle against the disease.

“This makes it difficult for us to establish the rate at which the disease, for which neither a vaccine nor a cure has been found, is spreading,” Mbarouk said.

Currently Zanzibar has 6,000 people infected with the deadly HIV virus out of whom 600 have died, leaving behind 500 orphans.

The programme cited an example of one Mariamu who lives with a child of her younger sister who died of AIDS, but all her neighbours have barred their children from playing with her.

“Immediately when they heard that my younger sister had died of AIDS, my neighbours started pestering me over the state of the child,” Mariam narrated, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Mbarouk said following high sigma associatedwith AIDS in the Isles, the majority of the people were not prepared to go for HIV testing to establish the health status for fear of being stigmatised.

He said another problem his organisation was facing was lack of funds for running their operations.

“This is an organisation dealing with people living with HIV/AIDS and as such to be effective we need money to buy food and drugs for our members,” he said.

He also hinted that the life prolonging drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS were yet to reach the Isles.

“We have heard of them but they are yet to reach us here,” he lamented.

Mbarouk appealed to local and international donors to support his organisation to enable them reach all their members, especially those located in the rural areas.

Meanwhile, the Director for the Zanzibar Commission for AIDS (ZACAIDS), Ms Asha Ali Abdallah, conceded existence of the problem but said her agency was working on modalities of getting the antiretroviral drugs to Zanzibar.

On the use of condoms, Ms Abdallah however, said individuals had the feedom to decide whether or not to use the protective devices.

“We cannot apply force,” she said.She remarked further: “Condom use is a very sensitive issue which we must handle carefully.

A religious leader, for instance, cannot mobilize worshippers to use condoms.”

Coral meets candlelight on Chumbe

By Darryl Leniuk

Special to The Globe and Mail

Saturday, January 15, 2005 

With its undersea forests, open-air bungalows and laid-back ambiance, DARRYL LENIUK discovers Chumbe Island to be more than just a pretty reef off the coast of Tanzania

CHUMBE ISLAND, TANZANIA -- As the skiff buzzed across the blue, wind-whipped bay to Chumbe Island's fringing coral reef, Hamisi, our guide, gave a crash course in snorkelling to the others on board: "Spit in your mask and rinse it, to keep it from fogging . . . Make sure not to touch the coral . . . If you need help, stay close to me."

The older European couples fumbled with their fins and masks as Hamisi, a local university student, reached over to secure a strap or lock a buckle. But I was ready. Being a true water rat, snorkelling the protected reef at Chumbe Island, a small coral island 13 kilometres southwest of Zanzibar, in Tanzania, had been high on my to-do list for some time.

Finning down for a fish's-eye view, I found myself among giant table corals and schools of neon-coloured tropical fish: orange anthias, turquoise parrotfish and oriental sweetlips. Watching the tiny fish flit in and out of the corals was mesmerizing. I surfaced, took another breath and swam down again to watch a green sea turtle soar over a car-sized coral bommie, parting a school of silvery glassfish as it glided off into the blue.

For entire article use this link:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/

TPStory/LAC/20050115/CHUMBE15/TPTravel/TopStories

Tremor rattles Tanzania's Zanzibar island: official

ZANZIBAR, Jan 15 (AFP)
TurkishPress.com

An earthquake shook Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar Saturday, the meteorological department said, without giving its measurement on the Richter scale.

"The tremor was observed at several places on the island, including Pemba," the department's Khamis Ali Suleiman told AFP.

There were no reports of casualties.

The tremor struck around 8:15 am (0515 GMT), spreading panic across the Indian Ocean island, witnesses said.

"I saw people running, as many people were caught unawares," said Juma Hassan, a witness.

At least 163,370 people have died after an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra sparked massive waves that swept across shorelines in south Asia and east Africa.

The waves killed 10 people in Tanzania on December 26.

Celebrating the Revolution without learning about it

2005-01-15 07:34:35
By Ani Jozen

Celebrations marking the 41st year of the Zanzibar Revolution were gathering pace in Zanzibar and other places, and a new flag underlining its autonomy from the United Republic hoisted.

That was plentiful for a single weekend, especially when this is added to soul-searching about the preliminary phase of civic elections that ended lately. Open-ended questions remain or are increasing about the revolution’s legacy.

One interesting feature, though exists that many among Mainlanders celebrating the revolution aren’t likely to be aware, but a few with some experience in Zanzibar know it.

The point is that schools in Zanzibar often do not teach a subject called ‘history,’ in which case the revolution isn’t part of systematic teaching in most schools. If the matter is broached it is by some sideline interest, for instance, as an aspect of geography, etc.

An educationist with experience in a Catholic institution in Zanzibar, Deogratias Mushi, notes that while he worked for two years in the past decade in Zanzibar, the subject wasn’t being taught.

How far such a taboo has by now been lifted and teachers are more relaxed to include that in curriculum say in civics or even on its own, as history, isn’t clear. It’s something which educational NGOs like HakiElimu may venture to check.

Yet there is a major symbolic significance of this anomaly, in that the Revolution can’t afford being put to an intense classroom discussion.

There are likely to be too many gaps in the tale or account of how it took place, such that it can only be confined to newspapers, and at times they are just tolerated on Isles stands, like Majira. History columnist William Shao has done an excellent job, educating an entire generation on it.

Of all the “details” of the Zanzibar Revolution that makes it difficult for party propaganda to accept that the subject be taught in schools, is the role of John Okello, and his fate later.

Even among knowledgeable adults close to retirement, people must still ask one another what they know of the fellow, whether he was “used,” meaning co-opted and given big role, by the revolutionists. Or alternatively was it his handiwork, initiative?

On account of the lack of transparency about the issues, details of what happened at that period are still being released, partly from documents of that period, in foreign countries.

Where a Freedom of Information Act exists, government records, correspondence etc become public matters after 30 years - a rule that is as yet not existing in Africa. Here, government records are permanently secret, save for vetted researchers, etc.

Thus even at 41 years since it occurred, no such thing as systematic teaching of the history of the revolution takes place, let alone an unveiling of what transpired, by checking the records.

It is an indication of how far we still have to travel to democracy, and within Zanzibar itself, even more perilous tasks exist, for instance to bring the ‘spirit of revolution’ to accept free polls. A revolution means enmity, and enmity is permanent.

It is hence clear that as Zanzibar celebrates the 41 years of its revolution, instead of merely being happy as to what has been achieved, faces a greater problem.

It has to make an internal revolution so that the Isles and the wider entity to which it has been attached as a sovereign state remain in peace, namely restoring an ability to conduct free elections. The revolution has entered into a vicious cycle, of an Animal Farm legacy.

In strict logical terms the revolution was made because the Jamshid sultanate, assisted by the British, had contrived to bring about a win of the Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP), by hooks and crooks.

If this sense of the revolution is correct, it means that it would thereafter bring about fair elections that the old regime was messing up, but that means it can also lose power. It has instead adopted the same method, for its own use.

Judging from sentiments from upper levels of the ruling party both in the Isles and in the Mainland, some kind of stock taking is continuing, and no formula can be found on how to solve its crisis.

In the Isles they want the Mainland to use the force it disposes to ensure that the Isles CCM remains in power there despite any upsurge in opposition votes. On the Mainland they want to be more careful, not used to Isles conflicts.

What however comes up in the relationship between celebrating the revolution without teaching about it, is that this paradox can only be resolved when this underlying conflict is ended.

If the revolution occurred due to the fact that the Jamshid sultanate contrived, by constituency boundary changes to ensure that a party sympathetic to it wins, then this tendency should be checked. Otherwise need arises for another revolution.

In other words, the 1964 Revolution shall only be taught in schools once the Isles return to the democratic ethos in whose name it was conducted, and which it has flouted ever since.

Only in this manner shall it be possible to confront the specific events of the revolution, the roles of its various personalities, and the fate that awaited its leadership.

The democratic revolution enable people to confront all epochs of evil, that of pre-revolutionary politics and post-revolutionary deeds. By accepting popular mandate, it can face the truth.

For the moment, it is interesting to figure out how far the Revolution is far from an uprising meant to bring about a democratic order, as different from ‘majority’ rule.

For unlike South Africa where a majority was in a clear manner recognisable by its racial characteristics and was so discriminated, Zanzibar wasn’t a case of racial oppression as slavery had long back been disbanded. The land issue wasn’t sufficient cause for chaos.

Similar to 1964, the current pretext about disallowing (for all intents and purposes) democratic elections is that the opposition ‘shall return Arabs who will take away the land.’

As a matter of fact, the reason for the chaos was election cheating, meanwhile as it is possible an elected Afro-Shirazi party would have a few ideas about land it could put to effect. But as in other East African countries, its significance was limited.

Thus the 1964 revolution and its legacy, as well as current pressures towards another ‘revolution,’ so that the democratic ethos it claimed to defend is actually restored, is a conflict limited to politics.

The race factor was either limited or non-existent, for the Shirazi allies of the ZNP, itself not a totally pro-Sultanate party, and had a few radicals within it, were black. Can one tell Shirazis of Shamte from those of Thabit Kombo?

As far as this year’s celebrations come up, perhaps the hoisting of a flag is the most important symbol, but might it also be an omen?

If the ruling party, on account of frenetic efforts within its ranks to get this or that fellow as the next president, skips the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ on alternating presidential phases between the two parts of the Union, who knows if the flag won’t fly farther up? And what will that mean for democracy?

Pemba still caught in the web of abject poverty

2005-01-11 07:51:19
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Amazed Micheweni primary school pupils surround Nizari Zaibi, the information technology (IT) advisor carrying a video camera.

He directs his camera towards the pupils; they are scared pushing each other to disperse!

Most of the pupils, in dozens, are barefooted, some with shabby school uniforms. The better off pupils are seen in old slippers; they are eager to talk but scared even to be near the vehicle.

However, they get confidence with time!
As we drive along the Kwale-Shumbamjini grooved road, we see people mainly women, bulls, and donkeys carrying yellow plastic buckets searching for water in the area.

“Our wives rarely get a chance to have enough sleep in the night. They wake up early in the morning or go to bed late because of looking for water. Our great demand in the village is water,” says 25-year-old Ali Khamis Mohamed.

Apart from the water problem in Shumbamjini village, Khamis said that their children walk three to six kilometres to go to school at Micheweni.

At Kwale village, a horrified young woman halts the work of crushing stones and swiftly enters a thatched hut. “Oh! I cannot stand, nowadays in Pemba we no longer enjoy enough freedom, seeing a stranger especially with a vehicle, you have to disappear.

That is why I had to run to rescue my self,” she says. After hardly three minutes, the lady hesitantly returns to her job outside the hut.
She says she is able to crush about 25 kilogrammes (minimum) a day and sells at Ts 300/= per kilogramme.

That was partly what a group of journalists witnessed in the Micheweni district villages in North Pemba after learning from the five-day poverty policy analysis training workshop for the media staff, conducted at Gombani stadium, Chakechake, Pemba. The workshop ended last Friday.

At the workshop the media practitioners were informed that poverty was still rampant in Zanzibar, but more serious in rural areas mainly in Pemba, the island that has been producing tons of cloves being sold in the world market.

Journalists suggested that money from the export of cloves, should help the farmers as one of the strategies to eradicate poverty in the clove-rich island.

The journalists also learnt that although money plays a major role in poverty reduction, “poverty also includes lack of basic needs: food, shelter, water, health, education, and infrastructures,” said Mwita Mgeni, a senior lecturer at the Zanzibar Institute of Financial Administration (ZIFA).

He said that despite government efforts to fight poverty in the Zanzibar society, many people still encounter the problem because their daily income is hardly one U.S. dollar a day.

Another lecturer at ZIFA, Said Seif Mgeni, told participants that in a bid to fight poverty, a number of plans had been devised and the media could play a major role in this endeavour.

The Zanzibar Poverty Reduction Plan (ZPRP), The Development Vision 2020 of Zanzibar (Vision 2020), and Household Budget Survey (HBS), to mention a few, are efforts taken by the government under donor support to fight poverty in Zanzibar.

Mgeni informed journalists that since poverty means lack of capability of household or individuals to have enough resources or abilities to meet their needs, it is associated with ill health, nutrition and low literacy, lack of confidence and powerlessness.

He said there are two concepts used by statisticians and researchers throughout the world: the absolute poverty, the minimum set of resources a person needs to survive, while relative poverty is a measurement of resources and living conditions of parts of the population in relation to others, but further explained:

“Poverty is divided into two broad categories: Income poverty and non-income poverty. Income poverty is associated with low productivity in agriculture, fishing, and livestock due to use of poor technology, limited access to land particularity women, and lack of employment, limited access to credit, basic facilities such as electricity, communication, and water supply, lack of infrastructures; limited access to market, and youth migration from rural areas to towns,” he said.

Non-income poverty covers issues of access to social services, survival and vulnerability and social well-being. It was revealed that Zanzibar has limited access to social services, notably education, health and water supply.

Many Zanzibaris also suffer from nutrient deficiencies in rural areas and in the small urban centres in Pemba, gradually increasing child malnutrition and underweight for under five-year-olds although severe malnutrition has decreased.

Participants also heard that lack of commitment to accountability, lack of professional approach on decisions on recruitment, training, postings, and promotions, understanding of financial and budgetary disciplines, and lack of career development all contribute to poverty.

Most of the households in Pemba had no toilets, and the rate of dropouts in school, especially girls, is still relatively high compared to other parts of Zanzibar.

According to local leaders and the Micheweni district planning officer Hamad Masoud Hamad, the Zanzibar government and the donor community have played a big role in the development of the district.

“Micheweni has remarkably advanced in many things. Many children are now taken to school, many villages now have access to water and health centres, and also awareness on many issues is rising,” Masoud said.

He said five TASAF projects including the construction of schools and provision of water had partly helped Micheweni district.

‘Blacklisting’ of houses put police on alert

2005-01-14 07:39:48
By Guardian Reporter, Zanzibar


Police in Kaskazini Unguja Region, Zanzibar, are investigating an incident in which unidentified people have marked several houses in Bumbwini village with red X.

Regional Police Commander Ali Haji Shaka said leaflets threatening eligible voters were also distributed.

"The leaflets which read ‘do not register’ were dropped on the veranda of some houses,” Shaka said.

“We have information that the incident occurred yesterday, including the circulation of documents containing threats to the supporters of the opposition party,” Shaka said without giving details.

Voters registration starts next week in Kaskazini Unguja.”
Reports from the region, about 30 Kilometres from Zanzibar Stone Town, say that two residents, Zahoro Juma and Ame Silima, have reported to Bumbwini Police Station, on the threats.

The threat messages were distributed at Hasara-roho, Mtendaji, Mkongwehagewa, Kwa Mansour Mtendeni ‘B’ and Msikiti Mkuu.

When asked to comment, Salum Bimani of the Civic United Front (CUF) said: “We received complaints from our supporters in the area.

This is a serious matter which needs quick police action.”

In Kaskazini Pemba, where registration ended yesterday, two houses had been set ablaze by unidentified people.

In his speech during the climax of the 41st anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution, President Amani Abeid Karume said his government would not spare anybody trying to breach the peace and stability, specifically as the Islands were headed for the general elections.

Pomp as Isles hoist own flag

2005-01-10 07:49:00
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar


Zanzibar yesterday hoisted her own flag in a colourful launching ceremony at Amaan Stadium that attracted a capacity crowd.

The event was dominated by jovial CCM supporters, who often interrupted the programme with cheers.

About 25 motorcyclists waving CCM flags circled around the stadium to colour the event before the actual hoisting of the flag.

The Zanzibar flag was brought in the stadium at around 10.35 am in a Toyota Land Cruiser modified to suit the yesterday’s function.

It was escorted by TPDF soldiers, one of whom handed the flag to a KMKM soldier, Lieutenant Matius Simon.

Simon then handed it over to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Pandu Ameir Kificho, who then presented it to President Amani Abeid Karume.

A 21 gun salute and Zanzibar national anthem accompanied the hoisting of the flag.

Other leaders present at the historic event were Vice President Ali Mohamed Shein, Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, and Minister for Home Affairs ( Union) Omar Ramadhani Mapuri.

No leader from the main opposition party CUF was present.

Also conspicuous was the absence of some prominent people, including former President Dr Salmin Amour and former Chief Minister Dr Mohamed Gharib.

There were reports of a confusing schedule as many people had been informed that the ceremony would take place today.

When approached for comment, CUF Information and Publicity Secretary Salum Bimani said: “ We missed an important event which was initiated by our party.

This is very unfortunate. The invitation we were sent indicates that the function takes place tomorrow (today) and Secretary General Seif Sharrif Hamad had planned to attend.”

But Bimani said he was happy Zanzibar had its own flag.

TADEA’s Juma Ali Khatib claimed that the organizers of the event sidelined the opposition deliberately, adding: “It is wrong for CCM and its government to monopolise the function.

This is a national event that should know no ideological differences.”

KMKM face Serengeti Boys

2005-01-11 07:49:19
By Majuto Omary

Zanzibar representative in African Champion League KMKM today play Mainland’s under-17 national soccer team, Serengeti Boys, at the Dar es Salaam’s National Stadium.

KMKM Secretary-General Mussa Soraga said yesterday that both teams would use the match to prepare for international matches.

Serengeti Boys will use the match to prepare for their African Youth Championship second round, return leg match against Zimbabwe on January 23 at Barbourfields in Bulawayo. Tanzania beat Zimbabwe 3-1 in the first leg last Saturday.

Any type of draw will make Serengeti Boys romp into the African Youth Champions finals in Gambia later this year.

KMKM will use the match to prepare for the African Champions League preliminary round, first leg match against Tusker of Kenya to be held between January 29 and 30 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Soraga said some of his players had already arrived in the country. The rest of the players would arrive in the country today.

He said KMKM would also play Moro United in Morogoro after their match against Serengeti Boys. He said that the team would camp in Arusha after playing Morogoro-based side.

Soraga said that Mainland soccer champions Simba SC had refused to play friendly match against KMKM. Simba who are currently in a residential camp in Kigamboni will also represent Mainland in the African Champions League.

He said that KMKM had so far played four friendlies out of which they won three. They beat Mlandege 2-1, Kipanga 2-1, JKU 3-1 and forced 1-1 against Police.

Players of the team are Twalib Hassan, Salum Ally, Masemo Makungu, Mohamed Kankasi, Eddy Janja, Salum Chaku, Hamis Kapenta, Suleiman Mcha and Mdibu Mussa.

Others are Hassan Ramadhani, Twaha Mohamed, Vuai Juma, Juma Semsiwa, Juma Khalifa, Maulid Kapenta, Amen Misumo, Hajji Mohamed and Hamis Kibobea.
Ibrahim Kapenta and Omari Kombo are coaches of the team.

Isles tourist hub after tsunami disaster

2005-01-11 08:08:10
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar

Tourists who had planned to spend their holidays in South Asia are now flocking to Zanzibar after the recent tsunami disaster which killed hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed infrastructure.

But the sudden influx has caught the tour operators unawares and their headache is on how to cope with the accommodation hitch. Most hotels are fully booked and the waiting lists are reportedly very long.

“Zanzibar is enjoying a rapid increase of tourists, a scenario never witnessed before,” said Said Salum Soud, a tour company operator.

He said the ‘rush’ became evident about a week ago when many holiday makers from the West poured into the Isles.

According to Soud, the tourists believe that Zanzibar was the best alternative after South Asia became a disaster area.

“We have booked some of the tourists in hotels in Dar es Salaam and have arranged for them to visit sites in Zanzibar,” he said.

When approached for comment, Chairman of the Zanzibar Tourism Commission Issa Ahmed admitted there was a massive arrival of tourists but challenged tour operators to take full advantage of the unfolding situation.

“Hoteliers and other key players in tourism should double their efforts and improve services. This will give tourists a chance to make the Isles their first choice when planning for holidays,” said Ahmed.

He said so far, a total of 83,000 tourists had visited Zanzibar since the high season began last July.

"We hope the number will rise to more than 100,000 before the end of the season in February,” he noted.

Reacting to a proposal that elections should be postponed to avoid interrupting the current flow of tourists who might be scared of political squabbles, Soud said the idea held no water.

“It is costly to postpone elections,” he said.
He commended joint efforts made to enhance growth of the tourist industry in Zanzibar, which contributes about 20 per cent of the total national income.

The Indian Ocean quake that struck on December 26, 2004 killed more than 150,000 people in twelve Asian countries.

Some African coastal lines were also affected, Tanzania and Somalia inclusive.

Zanzibar flag to fly today

2005-01-09 08:28:32
By Correspondent Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar

The Zanzibar President, Amani Abeid Karume, is this morning expected to inaugurate the Zanzibar flag, as part of celebrations to mark the Isle’s 41st revolution day anniversary climaxing on Wednesday.

The ceremony to take place at Amani Stadium, will be witnessed by, among others, the Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary-General, Seif Sharif Hamad, and other representatives from the political opposition.

Seif‘s attendance was confirmed by the CUF publicity and information officer, Salum Bimani, confirmed yesterday.

In October last year, the Zanzibar House of Representatives unanimously approved a Bill seeking the introduction of a Zanzibar flag, amid dissatisfaction by the opposition on its design.

Zanzibar surrendered its sovereignty on April 26, 1964 when it merged with the then Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The need for having a specific flag for the Isles was not a critical issue until a multi-party political system was ushered in, and the opposition pressed for it. It argued that the flag was necessary to accord Zanzibar a distinct identity.

Addressing a press conference last Wednesday, the Zanzibar Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, said that the flag would, however, only be hoisted during functions that do not involve participation of sovereign nations.

He said: “the Isles administration will have the right to fly its flag in all functions which do not need the representation of the sovereign members such as in the CAF Cup soccer tournament where Zanzibar competes as a member.”

During the winding up discussion of the flag bill last October, the Zanzibar Attorney General, Iddi Pandu Hassan, insisted that the flag was a demonstration of the existence of Zanzibar and would consolidate the Union formed in 1964 after the merger of the then Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

He said the enclosure of an insert of the union flag within the Zanzibar flag was an indication that Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania and “meant nothing else.”

He rejected the opposition claims that the insert of the union flag within the flag was part of strategies of the Union government to swallow Zanzibar.

“Zanzibar is there to stay as part of the United Republic of Tanzania, the establishment of the Zanzibar flag was a step in the right direction to show the existence of Zanzibar in the Union. Explained” Pandu.

Despite strong support to introduce the flag, several opposition Civic United Front (CUF) legislators were not happy with the addition of the slot in of the national flag within the Isles flag, arguing that it was undermining Zanzibar politically.

Some opposition politicians further claimed that the flag was specifically designed to meet the interests of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and not for the interests of Zanzibaris.

The new flag contains green, gold, dark-blue, light blue and black colours and the insert of the national flag.

Under the law protecting the flag, any person who would show contempt of the flag shall be liable to a five-year jail term or pay a fine not exceeding 700,000/-.

However, according to the law, no person would be prosecuted for the offence without the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Anti-riot police ‘assassinated’

2005-01-07 08:01:56
By Mwinyi Sadallah,Zanzibar


An anti- riot policeman has been brutally murdered by unknown people at his house in Jang’ombe, Unguja.

The assailant(s) stubbed Corporal Omar Fadhil on his neck several times, according to Mjini Magharibi Police Regional Commander, George Kizuguto.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, Kizuguto said Fadhil’s body was discovered on Tuesday, after neighbours sensed a foul smell emanating from his room.

He said the neighbours reported the matter to police who broke into the room only to find a decomposing body of Corporal Fadhil lying in a pool of blood with multiple wounds on the neck.

Kizuguto said the wounds and the blood suggested that the deceased was knifed by his assailants.

Fadhil, who was on a three-month leave, was laid to rest on Tuesday evening at Mwanakwerekwe cemetery, on the outskirts of Zanzibar.

The RPC said police were waiting for a report from Mnazi Mmoja hospital to establish the cause of Fadhil’s death.

The deceased, a resident of Pemba, was living alone in the room. Some of the neighbours said he went missing for three days until Tuesday when his body was discovered, the RPC said.

Last month, the commander of volunteer militia ( Valantia), Major Ayoub Mohammed, was murdered in Chake Chake, Pemba.

SAUTI ZA BUSARA SWAHILI FESTIVAL, 10 – 13 FEBRUARY 2005, ZANZIBAR
 

By popular demand, here is an update for the many of you traveling to Zanzibar for Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) Swahili Music Festival, taking place Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th February, 2005.

The main venue for this year’s festival is again in historic Stone Town: the grassy side of Zanzibar’s Old Fort (“Mambo Club”) facing Forodhani Gardens and overlooking the Indian Ocean. Fittingly described by Ian Anderson in fROOTS magazine as “the big club venue most world music festival organisers would die for”. Freshly grilled prawns, octopus, squid, fish kebabs are all prepared on site, with a bar and stalls selling local crafts.

The main aim of the festival is to showcase the wealth and diversity of Swahili music and we are proud to announce that many of East Africa’s finest groups are confirmed to participate:

FROM EAST AFRICA

DANCE / GUITAR BANDS: Kilimanjaro Band (“Wananjenje”), Zanzibar Moonlight Jazz Band

MUSIC FUSION: Saida Karoli, Manyani Nani, Sisi Tambala

HIPHOP AND URBAN MUSIC: Juma Nature & Wanaume, Wazenji Kijiwe, Klear Kut, Stara Thomas, Solo Thang, BTB, DJ Saleh

TAARAB & KIDUMBAK: Nadi Ikhwan Safaa (Malindi Taarab), Culture Musical Club, Segere Original, Sosoliso Kidumbak, Zein l’Abdin Trio, DCMA Student Group

NGOMA & TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Bi Kidude, Chibite Group, Beni ya Kilua, Black Roots, Jagwa Music (Mchiriku), Hiyari ya Moyowo (Kirumbizi), Imani Ngoma, Matimba Arts, Ngoma ya Kibati, Kidutani & Jang’ombe Nursery Schools

RELIGIOUS SUFI MUSIC: Maulidi ya Homu ya Mtendeni

THEATRE, COMEDY, ACROBATICS: Jambo Brothers, Halikuniki Comedy Group

FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD:

El Tanbura Group (Egypt), Seiyun Popular Arts (Yemen), Imena (Rwanda), Ndeef Leng (Senegal), Pamuzinda (Zimbabwe)

Guest of Honour for 2005 Festival is Bi Kidude, Zanzibar’s 93-year old cultural ambassador, traditional healer and bare-foot diva of taarab and unyago ngoma, who has been traveling the world to sing, drum and entertain since the 1920s.

Isles contemplate power generation from Ocean
 

2005-01-05 09:28:48
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar

The Zanzibar government is undertaking a study to look into a possibility of using water currents from the Indian Ocean to generate electricity.

Power utility company General Manager Suleiman Ali Juma said yesterday an Israeli company, SDE Limited, had been contracted to undertake the study.
Juma said if the plan proved viable, a plant would be built in Pemba which has a history of strong currents, needed to run turbines.

Juma said the proposal would help Zanzibar save a lot of money currently ‘wasted’ in thermo power production for Pemba.

He said an expert from the Israeli company had already visited Pemba and that negotiations were at an advanced stage.

He said his company was incurring huge losses as money spent on power generation surpassed by far its monthly collections.\"What we get is peanuts really compared to money spent,” he said, adding that the company spends 200m/- per month to generate power, while collections stand at 60m/- only.

He said the power company buys 31 megawatts at a cost of 500m/- from the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) every month.

On why the company relied on both Tanesco and its own thermo power, he said a plan to supply the Isles with electricity from the national grid had stalled because of financial constraints.

A total of 23 million US dollars was needed to draw power from Pangani in Tanga. Strong currents at the Kaskazini Pemba coastline where electricity cables from Pangani could pass, also hampered the project, he said.

Tanzanian Govt Caught Napping

The East African

January 3, 2005
Stanley Kamana, Special Correspondent
Nairobi

THE TSUNAMI that left a trail of devastation from Indonesia to the East African coast, last week claimed the lives of 10 Tanzanians, including five schoolboys, and seriously injured another three, all residents of Dar es Salaam.

Subsequently, the government was criticised for neither warning the people about the impending disaster nor condoling the bereaved families.

By last Friday, the Tsunami, a "train" of giant waves unleashed by a powerful undersea earthquake off the western coast of the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, had claimed more than 125,000 lives in several countries. The tremor, which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, was the most powerful worldwide since 1964.

Although the tidal waves were weakened by the long distance they had travelled - some 4,800 kilometres, they hit Dar es Salaam on Sunday afternoon after crossing the Indian Ocean at a speed of 1,000 kilometres an hour.

Most Dar es Salaam residents were unaware of what was going on until a ferry plying the Magogoni Creek between the city centre and Kigamboni was caught up in a storm that destabilised it for two hours. The navy had to use two marine boats to battle the waves as they rescued fishermen whose boats had overturned or sunk. Property was damaged along the shore, including small seagoing vessels that were lying in the harbour and fishing gear outside the Magogoni fishmarket.

There were no casualties in Zanzibar because the government reacted to the impending catastrophe quickly. It aired announcements on radio and television warning the public to stay away from the sea shore.

Some Dar es Salaam residents expressed outrage over the government's handling of the disaster.

Deocarius Muta, a relative of one of the deceased schoolboys, decried what he called the government's lack of concern for the welfare of its people.

"Did you see today's papers?" he asked on Wednesday. "One of them has our picture paying last respects to our children at Salasala Primary School while another has a picture of Prime Minister [Frederick] Sumaye consoling a family whose flat in the NIC Investment House was destroyed by a fire on Monday afternoon while they holidayed in Zanzibar.

"What message was Sumaye trying to convey? That the loss of a family's household items solicits more concern from our leaders than the tragic deaths of 10 young Tanzanians? We feel insulted."

Mussa Himid, a businessman from Zanzibar, pointed out that even President Benjamin Mkapa's condolence message to the victims of tsunami did not mention the 10 Tanzanians, but only covered those who were afflicted in Indonesia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Z’bar prepares new law on schoolgirl pregnancies

2005-01-03 05:02:08
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar


Schoolgirls getting pregnant in Zanzibar should be allowed to continue with their studies instead of being expelled, a ministerial committee has advised.

Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Haroun Ali Suleiman said, however, that the committee charged with drawing a new education policy for the Isles had proposed that only those pupils who became pregnant “unintentionally” should continue schooling.

The proposals are being studied before being forwarded to law-making organs.

Suleiman said in an exclusive interview with The Guardian that grounds that would be used to determine whether or not a pupil got pregnant intentionally, included rape and girls being forced by their parents to have sexual relations with men showing interest in marrying them.

The new law will also target parents who married off their daughters before completing school.

Suleiman said the committee was collecting the views of Zanzibaris from all walks of life with a view to coming up with proposals aimed at ensuring that girls’ right to education was protected.

“Thousands of girls are currently being denied their right to education regardless of the circumstances that leads to their getting pregnant. This is what we want to change.”

Plans are also underway to amend the 1985 legislation on adolescent girls and widows which, Suleiman said, violated human rights.

According to the legislation, girls who become pregnant out of wedlock could be jailed for up to two years, while people responsible for the pregnancies face a maximum of three years in jail.

In another development, Suleiman said two male teachers had been sacked for having sexual relations with their pupils. He refused to name the teachers or schools they were teaching at.

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