Tanzania: What Should Be Done to Resolve Zanzibar Crisis

By Nsajigwa Nsa'sam Mwasokwa

Dar Res Salaam — Since the re-introduction of multipartism elections in Zanzibar have always been controversial. Most of polls ended in chaos. In 1995 for instance, some media outlets announced that Civic United Front (CUF) has won the presidency before the same was refuted by the government.

This lead to chaos with many CUF ,members believing that their front man, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad has had his victory snatched by the state. In 2000 similar situation prevailed but this time things went out of hand. Some people were killed and several others were injured as CUF members went to streets to contest what they believed to be the stolen victory. Some Tanzanians were forced to seek refuge in neighbouring Kenya after the situation deteriorated in the Isles. In 2005 chaos also characterised pre and post election. In all these three elections, margin of votes between the winner and the loser was very small. Complains that the election was not free and fair was rife.

The botched Kenya election of 2007 provided good lessons for Zanzibar. After noting what Kenya had done to resolve the internal strife, before 2010 polls, Zanzibaris agreed to a Government of National unity (GNU) model as a way of ironing out these perennial political differences.

Zanzibar constitution was amended and referendum was held in which people agreed to the formation of a GNU whatever the outcome of the election. The 2010 general Election was generally peaceful and CUF graciously accepted defeat. But, according to the constitutional requirements, the opposition party was given the post of First Vice President and several cabinet slots.

What happened in 2010 set a new path and many people believed that Zanzibar has found solution to its long period problem on political differences. But alas! This year things are much complicated in Zanzibar against hopes by many people that the GNU model was an assurance that elections would no longer destabilise political, social and economic situation in Zanzibar as a result of contested election results.

In the middle of vote tallying process Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairman, Jecha Salum Jecha announced the annulation the polls. He gave a number of reasons to back the decision. Among other things, he said there were a lot of discrepancies as far as election results, mainly from Pemba - a CUF stronghold, are concerned. Against preliminary reports from local and foreign observers who have the election process a clean bill of health, Mr Jecha said that the commission had received numerous complains over the election irregularities. He also said that ZEC members failed to reach consensus on a number of issues.