CCM Deputy Secretary General for Zanzibar Vuai
Ali Vuai speaks to reporters in Zanzibar yesterday. Left is the Speaker
of the House of Representatives Pandu Ameir Kificho, and the Minister
for Lands,
Two days after soldiers detonated a home-made bomb in Zanzibar municipality another home-made explosive exploded yesterday in the municipality, a trend that goes to show that all is not well in the Isles.
The first home-made bomb was denonated on Friday in Mkunazini area, in Unguja, while the second one, which was planted at Civic United Front (CUF) party premises located in Michenzani was also set off safely by soldiers.
West Urban Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mkadam Khamis Mkadam said the police had banned any kind of gathering due to security threats, adding that they would now not allow staging of any rally organised by political entities.
Already six people are in police custody in connection with the two incidents.
As the police step up security in the Isles, the ruling CCM yesterday held a press conference here at which it hailed the decision taken by Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairman Jecha Salim Jecha to nullify the election held last Sunday.
“CCM welcomes the Commission chairman’s decision and now we are waiting for it to announce when the next election will be held,” CCM Deputy General Secretary (Zanzibar) Vuai Ali Vuai told reporters.
“The ruling party commends the Commission for its decision to nullify the general election because it was not transparent and had a number of irregularities,” he added.
According to Vuai, the whole process was sabotaged by CUF and ZEC who planned to steal the vote, hence forcing party agents to sign result forms without having approved them.
Although he hailed the ZEC chairman’s move he added that it was up to Jecha to decide if he was going to resign.
“Though we have used a lot of resources during the campaigns, CCM is ready to participate in another election,” he said.
Vuai also urged the authorities to look into ways to deal with CUF General Secretary and presidential aspirant, Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, for declaring himself victorious before the Commission had completed tallying of the results.
He said Maalim Seif’s sole intention was to create anxiety in order to plunge the country into chaos and instability.
On Friday Maalim Seif, who is also the outgoing First Vice-President, issued a three-day ultimatum to the Zanzibar government to proceed with the release of election results or let Zanzibaris decide their own fate. The ultimatum ends today.
In another press conference held yesterday in Zanzibar, CUF Deputy Secretary General, Nassor Ahmed Manzrui, said CCM should not be afraid to work under the leadership of CUF as it was ready to serve any person, regardless of political differences.
He said they were still making efforts through diplomatic channels to see how best the impasse could be resolved by meeting with various embassies and leaders of the international community.
“They should psychological be ready to work under CUF for the betterment of the people and the country’s development,” he said.
He however called on the government to tell the public about who was responsible for planting bombs in some parts of Unguja Island while it had installed CCTV cameras in various areas.
“The government has used billions of shillings to install CCTV cameras in the municipality; hence they should be able to net those planting the bombs,” he added.
Political observers fear ZEC’s decision to nullify the election could plunge Zanzibar into violent incidents reminiscent of those which occurred in 2001.
Election observers have, on different occasions, issued statements expressing concern about the ZEC decision.
In their diplomatic statements, the observers have called on the Zanzibar electoral body to finalize tallying of the presidential results and announce them. SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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