Nov 13, 2012

Zanzibar: Union Will Continue


Zanzibar’s Second Vice President announced that the union structure with Tanzania will last amid calls for change from independent groups. 

Below is an article published by All Africa:

 

Zanzibar’s Second Vice President Seif Ali Idd has ruled out the possibility of breaking up the union, calling on the people to reflect of the advantages of withholding such a union pact.

Reading a report on the implementation of CCM manifesto in Zanzibar at the CCM National Congress here yesterday, Ambassador Iddi said union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was an amalgamation of purpose, and therefore it has been useful. This union is here to stay," he said. He added that union glitches were being discussed, and so far, a total of 23 meetings have been held and that the progress was promising.

The Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda added his voice on the matter saying "union shall not break" and that leaders of this country were not ready to see the union breaking. The current ongoing collection of views about new constitution have witnessed some groups of people especially in Zanzibar demanding that Zanzibar remain an independent state.

Campaigns on the matter have been spearheaded by the Islamic awakening activists (Uamsho) who have also been engaged in various chaotic missions that have disrupted peace in the recent past in the Isles. Reports from Zanzibar have it that union matter remains number one in the view collection meetings conducted by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

The CRC Chairman, Judge Joseph Warioba was once quoted as saying that some people with ill motives have been directing people on what to say especially when it comes to the matter, asking them to give their personal views. However, many among members of CCM in the Isles are happy with the current union structure of two governments and they believe that problems in the union can be solved without breaking the structure