Dr Shein advocates for peace as General Election draws closer.

Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein.

Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein yesterday underscored the need to strengthen peace in the country especially during this time when the nation prepares for the General Elections.

Dr Shein made the statement when speaking to Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) youths at the party headquarters in Kisiwandui. 

The youths held a peaceful demonstration yesterday to commemorate the late founding father and first President of Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume.

The demonstration started at Mwera-Kiongoni village where Karume was born to Kisiwandui where he was buried.  

He said since the country is heading towards General Elections later this year, it wasn’t right for an individual or group of people to disrupt the existing tranquility.  

According to Dr Shein, many admired and loved late Karume because of his patriotism and efforts to strengthen peace and unity.

“I would like to advise you to follow what the late Karume and Julius Nyerere did in uniting people…you should embrace the Union by strengthening it,” said the President.

In the same vein, he however urged the youths to vote ‘YES’ during referendum for the proposed new constitution. 

The late Sheikh Karume, who was an architect of the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964 that ended centuries of oppressive Omani-Arab sultanate in the isles, was gunned down by counter-revolutionaries 43 years ago as he was playing a game of 'bao' at the headquarters of the then Afro-Shirazi Party.

He earned acclaim among the people for his remarkable zeal in ensuring rapid people's development.

After his death, a succession of governments led by different presidents followed starting with Mzee Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi; followed by Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the late Idris Abdul Wakil, Dr Salmin Amour Juma, Amani Abeid Karume and incumbent Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN