The stymied Muafaka Talks could be given new life if the President decides to follow the example of Kenya and promote power-sharing.

Below is an article written by Felister Peter and published by the Guardian:

Major opposition parties in the country have advised President Jakaya Kikwete to emulate the example of rival parties in neighbouring Kenya in breaking the deadlock in the ongoing reconciliation talks between the Civic United Front (CUF) and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

Following successful signing of a power-sharing deal to end Kenya`s two-month post-election crisis, leaders of CUF and Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) believe Kikwete can use the experience to fast-track the stalled muafaka talks.

They issued the call on the sidelines of a conference hosted by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) yesterday in Dar es Salaam called to discuss political parties` code of ethics, laws and regulations.

They wanted President Jakaya Kikwete and former president Benjamin Mkapa, who have played an instrumental role in convincing Kenya`s President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga to reach a deal, to apply the same methodology in the case of the CCM and CUF talks.

CUF Deputy General Secretary Wilfred Rwakatare said: ``Kenya`s post-election crisis has not even taken six months. our leaders have shown their ability in the management of political impasse,`` he said.

``The Zanzibar peace accord is old enough. So, it needs immediate solution as some party members have started to lose hope,`` he added.

Rwakatare said that President Kikwete`s delays in resolving the Isles political crisis for almost two years now was a clear indication of failure and lack of political will on the part of the government and the ruling party.

``This is a great challenge to our president. Why shouldn't he (Kikwete) apply the same techniques used in Kenya to conclude talks between CUF and CCM?`` he wondered.

A representative from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Anthony Komu, said that failure to reach an agreement between the two parties was a shame to President Kikwete and former president Benjamin Mkapa.

He said that Zanzibar political problems existed since Mkapa's tenure in office but nothing had materialised so far, adding that, despite President Kikwete having promised to solve the problems during the past two years, there was no sign of a deal being brokered soon.

Komu said that President Kikwete must stand firm and take position and seek out a permanent solution to the stalled muafaka, insisting that further delays might plunge the country into a crisis similar to Kenya`s.

He said Zanzibar political impasse related to Kenyans. ``Since CCM does not have enough support in Zanzibar while CUF is facing resistance in some places, the best solution is a coalition government,`` he said.

The CCM`s Head of Election Department Matson Chizi said that Tanzanians must give President Kikwete enough time to solve Isles political problems saying he had managed to convince Kenyan leaders to end the crisis, he could hardly fail to solve Zanzibar problems.

He said most of the issues in the CUF and CCM muafaka talks have been discussed and settled with some few things remained unconcluded.

``Zanzibar`s case does not resemble with that of Kenya. The Zanzibar problems are too political while those in Kenya have just emerged after the general elections late last year,`` he said.

Meanwhile, the TCD Chairman John Cheyo congratulated the Kenyan leaders on signing a power sharing agreement intending to end a post election crisis.

Cheyo insisted on the need for political parties to adhere to the laws and rules governing political parties especially during election campaigns and during the elections.

However, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs) Philip Marmo underlined the role of media in ensuring free and fair elections.

He said media should give equal space to all parties and their contestants to express their policies to people.

Marmo said that each political party in the country has to make sure its members were aware of the laws and regulations governing political parties through their education programmes.