Summary
Secessionists have voiced demands for Zanzibar’s full autonomy saying it will increase the Island’s
access to international financeDar es Salaam. The ruling party in Zanzibar on Monday , MArch 13,
responded to growing demands for full autonomy in the Islands, saying
sovereignty doesn’t guarantee economic strength.
Instead, CCM has advised Zanzibaris to work hard, pay taxes, and develop
discipline in their financial expenditures. The party also clarified claims
that it is wrongly using the Zanzibar Social Security Fund (ZSSF) money for
implementation of its projects.
“We are against anything that will
end up breaking the Union. Our founding fathers had a strong vision when they
united the two countries in 1964,” CCM Zanzibar’s secretary of Ideology and
Publicity, Mr Khamis Mbeto Khamis, told MCL journalists when he visited the
Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) headquarters at Tabata Relini in Dar es
Salaam.
Mr Khamis said there are many countries with their sovereignty intact, but they
haven’t made great strides in economic development.
Mr Khamis noted that the most contentious issues in the Union have been
resolved through the instruments and procedures put in place by the founding
fathers.
“In financial matters, procedures require that the Zanzibar and Union
governments provide their requirements, and after that, Zanzibar is given its
share once a loan has been secured,” he said.
“These demands [for full autonomy] shouldn’t deceive us. We are only required
to work hard, build the economy, pay taxes, and have financial discipline,” he
added.
Regarding the ZSSF, Mr Khamis refuted claims that it is being used to fund CCM
projects despite having no party employee making a contribution to the fund.
“It is not true that CCM workers are not members of the ZSSF. They are,
including myself. However, all over the world, social security funds operate
and exist by investing in various business activities,” he said.
“Through these investments, they significantly contribute to the development of
their respective countries. CCM has entered into a contract with ZSSF to
facilitate this mission, whereby the ruling party provides land and gets its
shares like any other landlord,” he added.
Recently, secessionists and some
opposition politicians voiced demands for Zanzibar’s full autonomy, claiming
that it was the only way for the Island to unlock its access to international
finance in terms of loans and grants from multilateral financial institutions.
Welcoming Mr Khamis, MCL managing director Bakari Machumu described products
and services offered by the company, saying the company has started offering
training on data journalism to the government’s public relations officers.
“They are trained on the use of infographics for effective and efficient
communication as well as messaging. We have decided to share something small we
can do through our experts to simplify communication,” he said.
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