Unity has proved good for Zanzibar

Unity has proved good for Zanzibar


By Pauline Lyapa, 29th May 2011 @ 16:00,

MORE than a decade ago, a political cloud hung over Zanzibar as two major political parties, CCM and CUF, were deeply mired in political animosity that threatened to eat into the very fabric of national unity.

The deep mistrust among leaders and followers of the wo parties was clear for everyone to see. Politicians from both sides spent most of their allotted times at public rallies to speak ill of the other party in an attempt to tarnish each other’s image.

All this political hostility and bickering originated from the results of the first multi-party general elections in 1995 that were won by CCM. The party’s presidential candidate, Dr Salmin Amour, defeated CUF’s candidate, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, popularly known as Maalim Seif.

CUF felt that they were robbed of outright victory in both parliamentary and presidential elections and that the results were ‘fine-tuned’ The political impasse that impacted adversely on Zanzibar, including slowing the development tempo to a great extent, proved so damaging that the Commonwealth Secretariat in London initiated efforts aimed at reconciling the two sides.

The Commonwealth effort succeeded in reaching an agreement, now dubbed Muafaka 1, which was signed by CCM and CUF in 1999. It did not last long due to political mistrust that crept in, necessitating the need for more negotiations, this time brokered by the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar.

This effort met with considerable success, leading to the signing of Muafaka II. But again, even this one did not last long. There was still hope yet and again, both parties sat again to negotiate Muafaka III.

This one was no better than the others as talks completely broke down along the way. Then out of the blue skies, solution came after CUF and the government of Zanzibar realised that no good will ever come out of the impasse.

After earnest and sincere negotiations, both parties settled for a unity government, which has so far been working well