Isles House of Reps picks Maulid as new speaker

Zubeir Ali Maulid

Zanzibar House of Representatives yesterday elected Zubeir Ali Maulid from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as the fourth speaker in the absence of opposition parties which boycotted to contend for the post.

 

For the first time since the reintroduction of multiparty system, an all CCM House of Representatives convened here after the party won all the 54 constituencies of Unguja and Pemba Island in a poll re-run which was boycotted by the main opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

 

Maulid who defeated long serving former House Speaker, Pandu Ameir Kificho in the party’s election becomes the fourth speaker since its establishment in 1995. Maulid won the seat unopposed as no member from the opposition party had picked the candidacy form to contend the post.Speaking during the election, House Clerk, Dr Yahya Khamis Hamad told members of the house that Maulid was the only candidate contending the seat after opposition parties boycotted the process. According to Hamad, Maulid garnered 75 votes of members that were present in the house.

 

“I take this opportunity to announce Zubeir Ali Maulid as the new House Speaker from today,” said Hamad. Maulid then thanked members of the house foe showing faith in him and electing him as Speaker of the House.

 

He urged all representatives to execute their duties diligently regardless of the fact that the house will have to work a one party organ. He added that the aim is to continue preserving peace and harmony in the country to foster development. He was shortly afterwards sworn in.

 

On Sunday Dr Hamad told the press that former Infrastructure and Communication Minister Zubeir Ali Maulid from CCM was the only candidate who picked and submitted forms. He said that they had written to the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to inform parties to submit the names of their candidates to no avail.

 

He said that all political parties were given a timeframe to pick and submit.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN