THE Union Government has appealed for calm during the general election re-run in Zanzibar on Sunday, assuring voters and the general public of adequate security during the entire exercise.
Home Affairs Minister Charles Kitwanga
told the ‘Daily News’ in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam that
250 soldiers from the Field Force Unit (FFU) have been deployed to
Zanzibar to reinforce the security arrangement there in the countdown to
the polls.
“We will station enough policemen on
both Unguja and Pemba to ensure maximum security before, during and
after the elections,’’ Mr Kitwanga said. He, however, assured the public
that the deployment of the anti-riot FFU to the Isles was not meant to
intimidate voters and the general public but rather to ensure their
maximum security and safety.
“All good-intentioned Zanzibaris should
go to the polling stations on Sunday and exercise their constitutional
right by casting their votes peacefully and immediately leave the
centres for home and wait for the results,” Mr Kitwanga appealed.
He described as unfortunate the acts of
violence that hit Pemba recently in which unknown people torched several
houses. Police in Pemba have launched a manhunt for arsonists who
torched seven houses in incidents linked to political animosity ahead of
Sunday’s general election re-run. According to police reports, over 20
people allegedly linked to the incident have already been arrested.
“However, we have so far managed to
contain the situation. We shall beef up security in both Pemba and
Unguja,” Mr Kitwanga pledged. Meanwhile, the minister has said that it
is safe to visit Zanzibar.
“There is peace and tranquillity in
Zanzibar and every visitor is guaranteed his or her safety and security.
Visitors should feel secure and visit Zanzibar like they are visiting
any part of Tanzania’’, said the minister.
“In the same way that tourists visit Dar
es Salaam or fly to Mwanza, they also should feel comfortable to visit
Zanzibar. He also assured that the elections will not affect tourism in
the Isles
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