Fliers distributed in Z’bar fault unity government

BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER

25th October 2012
  VP Seif Idd: Enough. CUF: It`s sad

People believed to be members of Zanzibar’s Islamic Revival Group, Uamsho, have distributed leaflets in the Isles claiming that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has failed to maintain the unity hatched in November 2010.

The flyers, one of which read “A Declaration of the Peoples of Unguja to CCM Members in the House of Representatives from all constituencies of Unguja”, were distributed at various gatherings, while some were fixed on residential houses’ doors.

“The government of national unity has failed to maintain and protect peace and the unity of the people of Zanzibar,” others read.

The flyers give three conditions, one asking the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to review its tenth constitutional amendment which mandated the formation of the GNU.

The fliers also call for the sacking of all leaders mandated to oversee justice, including Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister following the fracas initiated by Uamsho in the Isles.

According to some of leaflets, Members of the House of Representatives from the ruling CCM should take to the front and ask to be shown the Union contract between Pemba Island and Unguja even if it has been sent to the United Nations Security Council.

“It is amazing to see violence that involves the burning of churches, bars and shops take place in Unguja alone ….and not in Pemba. It is also surprising to learn that there are not people in Pemba who talk against the Union. Also there is no violence of any kind there,” read some of the flyers.

The leaflets further said that the aim of the GNU is to consolidate the existing peace and unity in the Isles, but to the contrary some of the government leaders within the it have failed to live up to their responsibilities as the Zanzibar Constitution stipulates.

People who do not want the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar to persist should leave Unguja Island because the Union came about as a matter of the 1964 Zanzibar revolution, another leaflet said.

Commenting on the incident, Civic United Front director of human rights and mass communication Salum Bimani said his party was saddened by the act distributing the leaflets, calling on security organs to take action on those involved in polluting peace in the Isles.

“These acts are the ones that spearhead violence in Zanzibar. The police force must arrest the suspects,” Bimani said.

Long time politician Mgaza Othman Mgaza, for his part, called on the government to deregister Uamsho saying it was going against its registration policy of spiritual propagation and was harbouring political motives.

Deputy CCM Secretary General Vuai Ali Vuai said the GNU must take punitive measures against all involved in violence to end the squalid acts. Since the constitutional amendments were effected to form the GNU, he said, the unity has started weakening giving room to some few to destroy the existing peace in the Isles.

Meanwhile the leaders of Uamsho are expected to appear in court here today.

Already the government has stated to show that it will have no mercy on anybody trying to undermine the GNU.

Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi was quoted as saying enough was enough. “The government will no longer tolerate the Uamsho group,” the second Vice President said.

The government will use all its security organs and hunt all the ring leaders of the violence crippling peace in the Isles.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN