CUF vows to abscond from Kijitoupele by-election

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar

Mr Hamad Masoud Hamand.

THE Civic United Front (CUF) has said that it will not take part in the Kijitoupele by-election being organized by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), saying it is also illegal. The election is scheduled for March 20 this year, the same day for the Zanzibar’s re-run polls.

The Kijitoupele Constituency election in Unguja Island was postponed during last October general elections due to being mistakenly excluded from voter materials supply. NEC manages MPs and Union presidency on the islands, while ‘Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC)’ is responsible for the Islands’ polls (President, House of Representatives, and Councillors).

“We’re against the ZEC elections and so is NEC polls for Kijitoupele. Elections were held last October, the organized fresh elections are illegal,” said Mr Hamad Masoud Hamand, Acting Director for Mass Communication and Publicity.

He said CUF will continue opposing fresh elections, adding: “We are waiting for the House of Representatives to be opened so that our 27 members who won in last October elections can be sworn-in as new members.

We will go for the swearing-in ceremony.” Mr Hamad said they had no plan for demonstration because security forces are brutal, but they have vowed to continue opposing the current and future government as it is against the constitution.

“We ask our followers to remain calm as we fight-on for our right,” he said. Mr Hamad also dismissed as false reports in sections of the media that CUF leader Mr Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad had undergone major surgery in India.

“It was mere exaggerations by some people who even used an old photo of Mr Maalim when he was in Dar es Salaam for treatment,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamad complained that the police force has continued to harass the opposition following the summoning of the CUF Deputy Secretary General Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui.

He has been directed to report to the police today. Last week, one of the members of the CUF campaign team last year Mr Mohamed Mugheiry (alias Eddy Riamy) was summoned before he was taken into custody, linking him with a video clip containing insults to President Ali Mohamed Shein.

The Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Mr Salum Msangi, said, “No harassment to any citizen. Anybody can be summoned by the police for questioning on some allegations. We ask people for cooperation, because police and members of the public are friends.”