Grand reception awaits Magufuli in Z’bar

ISSA YUSSUF in Pemba

President John Magufuli

GREEN Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party flags drape most of the streets on Pemba and Unguja Islands ready for Union President John Magufuli’s two-day visit in Zanzibar.

A number of programmes have been lined up to give the recently-elected new party chairman, a rousing welcome when he begins his tour in Pemba today.

Deputy CCM Secretary General (Zanzibar), Mr Vuai Ali Vuai and the Minister of State in the Zanzibar President’s Office (National Events and Union Affairs), Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, said in separate statements that preparations to welcome Dr Magufuli were well underway.

“All is well here in Pemba and people are happy to have the Union president here,” said Mr Vuai as Mr Aboud said; “People should turn-up in big numbers regardless of their political affiliations. He is a president of all the people.”

According to the statements, President Magufuli will be here today where he will address a public rally in the afternoon before doing the same on Unguja tomorrow (Saturday) after paying last respects to the fallen independence struggle heroes, led by Mzee Abeid Amani Karume at Kisiwandui area.

Dr Magufuli will be received by his Zanzibar counterpart, President Ali Mohamed Shein, who is expected here this morning from Unguja.

South Pemba Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Shekhan Mohamed, said yesterday that all security measures have been taken to ensure that the rally at Gombani ya Kale Grounds is peaceful.

This will be the first official visit for Dr Magufuli to Zanzibar since being elected as union president in the general election last October and National CCM Chairman in July, this year. He is also visiting the Isles to thank the people for electing him.

CUF Director of Publicity and Mass Communications, Mr Salum Bimani, told the ‘Daily News’ that they expect Dr Magufuli to have a constructive statement to convey to the people here on how to resolve what he described as the ‘political crisis’ in Zanzibar.

The main opposition party boycotted the general election re-run in Zanzibar, followed by a declaration not to work with Dr Shein’s government, challenging his victory in the elections after the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) nullified the October polls, blaming “massive fraud by the opposition.’’