Feb 22, 2005

Zanzibar: Warioba Tips on Muafaka


The Zanzibar peace accord, popularly known as muafaka, could be ruined if Isles politicians fail to acknowledge the success reached so far
The Zanzibar peace accord, popularly known as muafaka, could be ruined if Isles’ politicians fail to acknowledge the success reached so far.

This was said by judge Joseph Warioba, when presenting a paper entitled ‘role of media in strengthening muafaka’, in a seminar, which also involved leaders of political parties.

“ Let us recognize and extol efforts that have been reached in the implementation of muafaka, and therefore distance ourselves from saying it has not been put into practice” Warioba said.

Judge Warioba said politicians have the role of safeguarding muafaka as the Isles move towards general elections scheduled for October this year.

“Zanzibar has felt the impact of political altercation for a long time, politicians must not allow the dirty history back in the society struggling to unite.

Let us agree that a greater part of muafaka has been instigated, and if we find some shortfalls we should find a diplomatic way of solving them instead of blaming each other.” He said.

Warioba made the observation amid the emotional discussion on muafaka in the seminar at Bwawani Hotel here, convened by the Joint Presidential Commission (JPA) in the on-going efforts to stabilize the peace accord made in 2001 between the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

During the seminar, CCM and CUF leaders blamed each other for failing to implement the muafaka in the right manner as earlier agreed.

But other leaders from other political parties such as DP, UPDP, NRA and JAHAZI-ASILIA were of the opinion that they should be included in the muafaka, in order to make it move smoothly.

Stressing on the role of the media on muafaka, Warioba said that the media had the best opportunity in uniting Tanzanians.

“Journalists should advocate for unity by reporting objective stories.

You may report anything, but put into consideration the unity of the people. Not everything could make a story,” Warioba said.

He said some journalists, at times, report news that drive the society to ethnicity division, insisting that news coverage should be constructive.

Some opposition leaders blamed the Zanzibar state-owned media organizations, mainly Television Zanzibar (TVZ) and Sauti ya Tanzania Zanzibar (STZ) for denying them some airtime.

 

Source: IPP