CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
|
Tanzania |
ELECTIONS
With the general election around the corner next October in Tanzania,
political
situation in the Isles of Zanzibar has continued to raise
mixed feelings
among the public about the future of the Union
Contrary to Tanzania’s mainland where election fever seems to be slightly lower, the tension between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and the Opposition Civic United Front (CUF) in Zanzibar is alarming as the two sides have continued to contest each other strongly to take over power in the Isles.
Observers note that the CCM in Zanzibar is already divided into factions which, if not stemmed as quickly as possible, will bring about stiffer competition from the Opposition than in 1995. Many Tanzanians are wondering what will happen to the Union if the CUF wins the coming election.
The CUF has nominated only one contestant in the race for Zanzibar’s presidency — the party’s secretary-general, Seif Sharif Hamad. The CCM, on the other hand has no less than five candidates. These are: Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal, Abdisalaam Issa Khatib, Amina Salum Ali, Aman Abeid Karume, Ahmed Hassan Diria.
It should be noted that Aman Abeid Karume is the son of the late Sheikh Abeid Karume, who led the revolution against the Sultan and subsequently became Zanzibar’s first President. He was assassinated in April 1972 by suspected political opponents.
It appears that the exercise to nominate people who will contest the CUF is becoming more intense, because President Salmin of Zanzibar is supporting the candidature of his chief minister, Dr. Mohamamed Gharib Bilali. This followed the CCM‘s National Executive Committee’s disapproval of Salim’s intention to amend the islands’ constitution, in order to permit Salmin stand for a third term in office. In a meeting in February, the NEC with a powerful supporting CCM faction, made it clear that in no way could Salmin to stand for a third term in office.
Many people say that no matter which party takes power in Zanzibar, the union with mainland Tanzania will continue, as the army comes under the leadership of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. The current President of Tanzania, Benjamin William Mkapa, is showing every sign of winning a second term in office.
The issue over the Union has made many Tanzanians turn their minds to the father of the nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the founder of the Union and its most ardent supporter. But what happens in Zanzibar will have a profound effect upon the nation as a whole.
ENGLISH CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 2000 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement