TANZANIA: Zanzibar held Peaceful Election though marred by irregularities
Despite the
fact that the Electoral Commission of Zanzibar has nullified the presidential
election due to what it termed as gross irregularities, residents of the semi-autonomous
Archipelago, whose two main islands are Unguja, often referred to as Zanzibar,
and Pemba, maintained peace especially on the 25th October, the
electoral date and even thereafter.
fact that the Electoral Commission of Zanzibar has nullified the presidential
election due to what it termed as gross irregularities, residents of the semi-autonomous
Archipelago, whose two main islands are Unguja, often referred to as Zanzibar,
and Pemba, maintained peace especially on the 25th October, the
electoral date and even thereafter.
According to
Rev. Father Cosmas Shayo, Parish Priest of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish in
Zanzibar, residents voted peacefully without any violence or riot.
Rev. Father Cosmas Shayo, Parish Priest of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish in
Zanzibar, residents voted peacefully without any violence or riot.
“Both
Muslims and Christian turned out in good numbers and voted peacefully. Tension
only occurred at the counting stations when the results were being announced.
However, there was no violence reported and since the electoral commission
nullified the results, people have gone back to their daily business as they
await what will happen next,” Father Shayo told AMECEA Online News on Phone from Zanzibar.
Muslims and Christian turned out in good numbers and voted peacefully. Tension
only occurred at the counting stations when the results were being announced.
However, there was no violence reported and since the electoral commission
nullified the results, people have gone back to their daily business as they
await what will happen next,” Father Shayo told AMECEA Online News on Phone from Zanzibar.
He said that
according to the constitution, following the annulment of the results, it will
take ninety days to hold another election. However, it is unclear if and when
new elections for Zanzibar’s president and parliament will be held or what will
happen next.
according to the constitution, following the annulment of the results, it will
take ninety days to hold another election. However, it is unclear if and when
new elections for Zanzibar’s president and parliament will be held or what will
happen next.
According to
media reports on Monday, the main opposition candidate for the post of Zanzibar
president, Maalim Seif Sharrif Hamad, declared himself the winner. His
announcement attracted sharp rebuke from the governing Chama Cha Mapunduzi (CCM) Party, which called it illegal. The Electoral
Commission Chairman in Zanzibar made the shock announcement that he was
scrapping the poll because it was full of gross irregularities.
media reports on Monday, the main opposition candidate for the post of Zanzibar
president, Maalim Seif Sharrif Hamad, declared himself the winner. His
announcement attracted sharp rebuke from the governing Chama Cha Mapunduzi (CCM) Party, which called it illegal. The Electoral
Commission Chairman in Zanzibar made the shock announcement that he was
scrapping the poll because it was full of gross irregularities.
The
semi-autonomous territory maintains a political union with main land Tanzania,
but has its own Parliament and President.
semi-autonomous territory maintains a political union with main land Tanzania,
but has its own Parliament and President.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News
