Wednesday, March 30, 2016

New Zanzibar Speaker takes oath of office

ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar
 
A MEMBER of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi Mr Zubeir Ali Maulid took the oath of office on Wednesday as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives replacing outgoing former Speaker Pandu Ameir Kificho, who held the position for 25 years

After being elected the Speaker of the House of Representatives amassing 75 votes from all the legislators present at the time of voting yesterday, Mr Maulid was sworn-in to begin his fiveyear assignment.
He called for cooperation from the Representatives, saying: “From now onwards we must serve all people regardless of their political affiliation.” He also directed the legislators to “build trust to electorate and also promote peace and stability in the islands.
You are leaders for all people, including members from different political parties.” Seventy-seven Representatives, including Second Vice-President Seif Ali Iddi, took oath of allegiance in safeguarding both the Union and Zanzibar constitutions, before they officially took their seats in the House.
On March 20 Zanzibar held a re-run poll in which CCM won all the seats. Despite CCM winning all the seats, Mr Iddi, who was re-appointed Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President, was optimistic that the Government of National Unity (GNU) “may still be possible.”
He said that President Ali Mohamed Shein is constitutionally empowered to appoint 10 members to become Members of the House. This is the only opportunity after the opposition failed to win a seat in the parliament.
The Zanzibar House premises were congested for sometime as many new legislators invited their family members and electorates to witness the swearing-in ceremony which was also broadcast/ televised by the public electronic media.

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