Police in Pemba have launched a manhunt for arsonists who torched seven houses in incidents linked to political animosity ahead of the general election re-run here next Sunday.
North Pemba Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Hassan Nassir, said the planned torching of houses in four different areas in the region was carried out at around 2am on Friday night. He said using petrol; the arsonists set fire on thatched houses at Kangagani, Micheweni and Gando.
In a separate incident, a building accommodating the CCM zealots’ branch ‘maskan’ at Tibirinzi was also torched. The latest incidents follow the burning of five houses or ‘barza’ in Pemba, owned by the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), which was reported to the police.
“Fortunately, we have not recorded any casualty in the incidents as all residents escaped unhurt. But the residents lost their properties. We ask whoever has got information that can lead us to the arrest of the suspects to come forward and report to us,” said Mr Nassir. He said that security has been beefed in Pemba, regarded as CUF’s stronghold.
According to the police and government leaders at district and regional levels, some unidentified group are carrying out campaign to ask all voters in Pemba not to turn up to the polling stations for voting.
In an effort to try to control emerging incidents of political acrimony, including arson, booing at nation leaders who visit Pemba and some traders denying to sell commodities to people believed to be pro-government, the regional commissioners (RCs) have threatened to arrest people behind the acts. North Pemba Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Omar Khamis Othman, has banned any assembly, particularly unauthorised meetings at night after 8pm.
He also said that people, who have been secretly issuing threats to discourage voters in the upcoming election, will be punished. Meanwhile, CUF has said that it will continue fighting ‘’for true democracy in Zanzibar even when out of government and isles House of Representatives)’’.
The party’s Deputy Secretary General, Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, said here that they have decided to stay away from the government and Zanzibar House of Representatives because the whole process towards the March 20 polls is unconstitutional and undemocratic.
“We advise our genuine followers to remain indoors on March 20. Avoid violence. Let CCM continue with its elections and form the government alone. We will exercise greater diplomacy outside the government,” Mr Mazrui said.
He observed that ‘it will not be possible for CCM to maintain the Government of National Unity (GNU) because “no political party has the ability of getting at least 10 per cent of the presidential vote and at least a seat in the House to qualify for GNU. It is only CCM and CUF who have the capacity.”
Mr Mazrui argued, therefore, that without CUF in the race, a GNU will not be possible, blaming CCM and the Union government for ignoring the voice of the majority of Zanzibaris who support the opposition.
“We did not rig the nullified October elections as alleged by Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) Chairman Jecha Salim Jecha. The elections were transparent, fair and free.
It is surprising and unfortunate that the polls were illegally nullified and our presidential candidate, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, denied a chance to assume the presidency,” he said. He stressed that although many observers (both local and international) expressed their concern over the nullification, CUF did not rely on external pressure to help achieve its democratic goals.
Our diplomatic struggle only involves Zanzibaris.” ZEC nullified the elections last October, citing ‘massive fraud’ and set March 20 for fresh polls.
Leave a Reply