Reconciliation on Zanzibar moving forward thanks to CUF
The reconciliation process on long time turbulent Zanzibar has taken major leaps forward, thanks to the brave suggestion for power sharing by founding UNPO-member CUF (Civic United Front). Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad, Secretary General of CUF has played and plays an essential role in the process.
Zanzibar, a part of the United Republic of Tanzania, has since the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in 1992 had its share of political turmoil as no elections since 1992 (1995, 2000, and 2005) have been free, fair and transparent. The two main contending political parties that vie for power are the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi - CCM and the opposition Civic United Front –CUF. The election playing ground has always been unevenly in favor of CCM. As the electoral system ensures that the election winner receives all political positions of power, elections become extremely competitive and atrocious.
Before, during and after elections, Zanzibar has always experienced violence perpetrated by state organs, especially the police, together with the youth of the ruling CCM who have been trained to attack the followers of CUF. People have lost their lives, been raped, lost their properties, and many more have been detained. After the violence of 2001 more than 2000 Zanzibaris were forced to seek refuge in Kenya.
After every election attempts have been made to reconcile the rival parties. These attempts resulted in signing the political accords of 1999 and 2001. However, the implementation of these accords left much to desire. After the elections of 2005, the Tanzanian President pledged to find a lasting solution to the intermittent conflicts. Delegations from CCM and CUF met and prepared a draft agreement which was to be approved by the two parties' decision making organs. Unfortunately CCM did not fully approve of the draft agreement, thus the negotiations were not concluded.
With the 2010 elections looming, many people were worried that new violence would occur. During the first round of voters' registration violence erupted in many places - people were attacked with machetes, houses were burned and many were detained. In order to prevent further violence Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad of CUF and Dr. Amani Abeid Karume of CCM held a meeting on 5th November, 2009. The symbolic handshake of the two leaders was well received by the majority of Zanzibaris and the tension eased out as supporters of the two camps began to reconcile. The move was publicly supported by the Tanzanian president, the US State Department and most diplomatic missions in Tanzania.
To consolidate the reconciliation process, the Zanzibar House of Representatives passed a motion in January, 2010, calling for the Zanzibar Constitution to be amended to provide for the formation of a Government of National Unity, where the candidate who gets the most votes in the Presidential Election shall be elected President and the party of the candidate who becomes second in the number of votes shall provide the First Vice-President. The party that has won the Presidency shall also provide the Second Vice-President. The ministerial positions shall be allocated in accordance to the proportion of seats that each party has in the House of Representatives.
The motion also calls for a referendum to be held so as to involve the electorate in the decision making whether Zanzibar should have a new political dispensation of power-sharing or not. According to plan, the referendum will be held before the forthcoming elections in Zanzibar. The leaders of the two parties are confident that the Zanzibaris will overwhelmingly vote in favor of power sharing.
The reconciliation process in Zanzibar gives the best hope for a prosperous future for the island. CUF is a founding member of UNPO and has strictly abided to the principle of non-violence. This seems now to bring dividends.
Before, during and after elections, Zanzibar has always experienced violence perpetrated by state organs, especially the police, together with the youth of the ruling CCM who have been trained to attack the followers of CUF. People have lost their lives, been raped, lost their properties, and many more have been detained. After the violence of 2001 more than 2000 Zanzibaris were forced to seek refuge in Kenya.
After every election attempts have been made to reconcile the rival parties. These attempts resulted in signing the political accords of 1999 and 2001. However, the implementation of these accords left much to desire. After the elections of 2005, the Tanzanian President pledged to find a lasting solution to the intermittent conflicts. Delegations from CCM and CUF met and prepared a draft agreement which was to be approved by the two parties' decision making organs. Unfortunately CCM did not fully approve of the draft agreement, thus the negotiations were not concluded.
With the 2010 elections looming, many people were worried that new violence would occur. During the first round of voters' registration violence erupted in many places - people were attacked with machetes, houses were burned and many were detained. In order to prevent further violence Mr. Seif Sharif Hamad of CUF and Dr. Amani Abeid Karume of CCM held a meeting on 5th November, 2009. The symbolic handshake of the two leaders was well received by the majority of Zanzibaris and the tension eased out as supporters of the two camps began to reconcile. The move was publicly supported by the Tanzanian president, the US State Department and most diplomatic missions in Tanzania.
To consolidate the reconciliation process, the Zanzibar House of Representatives passed a motion in January, 2010, calling for the Zanzibar Constitution to be amended to provide for the formation of a Government of National Unity, where the candidate who gets the most votes in the Presidential Election shall be elected President and the party of the candidate who becomes second in the number of votes shall provide the First Vice-President. The party that has won the Presidency shall also provide the Second Vice-President. The ministerial positions shall be allocated in accordance to the proportion of seats that each party has in the House of Representatives.
The motion also calls for a referendum to be held so as to involve the electorate in the decision making whether Zanzibar should have a new political dispensation of power-sharing or not. According to plan, the referendum will be held before the forthcoming elections in Zanzibar. The leaders of the two parties are confident that the Zanzibaris will overwhelmingly vote in favor of power sharing.
The reconciliation process in Zanzibar gives the best hope for a prosperous future for the island. CUF is a founding member of UNPO and has strictly abided to the principle of non-violence. This seems now to bring dividends.
