Hamad: I have high hope in Magufuli in solving Isles woes

ZANZIBAR First Vice-President Seif Sharif Hamad said he has confidence in President John Magufuli in solving the political impasse in the islands.

Mr Hamad, who is also the Secretary General of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), reiterated as well that the party was against fresh elections in Zanzibar.

“Dr Magufuli has indicated that he has the will to resolve the political situation in Zanzibar and I have a lot of trust in him,” Mr Hamad told journalists at a news conference in Dar es Salaam.

He added: “It is high time President Magufuli spearheaded negotiations to find an amicable solution to the stalemate in Zanzibar.” The presidential hopeful went on to press the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to announce results of elections conducted on October 25, last year. He also called on top leaders of CCM and his party to engage in negotiations to address the political situation in the islands.

The election for Zanzibar’s presidency and Members of the House of Representatives were nullified by the electoral body, which cited ‘massive irregularities’. He defended himself for announcing results of the elections against procedures, stating that the results were collected by agents from polling stations.

“The results were public knowledge and what I did was to compile data from polling stations as posted by returning officers,” he maintained. However, ZEC is the only organ which has been mandated to announce results of the elections.

Asked why he was still occupying the office of the First Vice-President and yet he has said there is no government in Zanzibar, Mr Hamad said he has remained in office to “protect the interests of his followers.”

Mr Hamad has vied for the presidency unsuccessfully in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. He also contested for the post last year in which the election was nullified by ZEC.

The ensuing political standoff after the announcement of election results in the Isles in the 2000 general elections was marred with political violence of unprecedented proportions that led to massive civil disturbances that led to hundreds of Zanzibaris to flee the islands.

Mr Hamad had declared victory in a presidential election even as official tallying continued, raising tensions as the mainland awaited official poll results. He had announced that he had won the Zanzibar presidential election, saying he beat his rival, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein of CCM with more than 52 per cent of the vote.

“Our supporters know we have won. They have gathered to celebrate. They have been extremely patient and it would be counterproductive to attempt to trick them out of their moment,” he had said in a statement.

“For those who have still not come to grips with this reality, and still think there are ways of fabricating a different outcome, we would like you to know that it is over.”

He had urged Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete “to facilitate a smooth transition’’. Police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse Hamad’s supporters who had gathered to celebrate on the island of Pemba.

Source:Daily News:Hamad: I have high hope in Magufuli in solving Isles woes