Isles VP recommends `best` Union structure
United Civic Front (CUF) secretary general Seif Shariff Hamad
10th October 2012
United Civic Front (CUF) secretary general Seif Shariff Hamad has said that key economic problems facing Zanzibar cannot be solved under the current union format of two governments that has been in existence since 1964.
He said he was convinced that a contract type of union would provide solutions to the problems which have been besetting the union for the past half a century, especially with regard to Zanzibar which thinks it has been being denied economic and development opportunities within the current format of the union.
Seif made the remarks at Mchanga Mdogo grounds in Wete district, Pemba, during a public rally organised by his party.
He urged the residents of Pemba island to come out in big numbers and participate in meetings organised by the Constitutional Review Commission so they may express their opinion on a sustainable United Republic of Tanzania government format.
The commission, led by Joseph Warioba, on Monday started receiving opinions from the wananchi in Pemba North and Unguja North regions.
The CUF leader reiterated that he was a staunch believer in a contract union, saying it was the best option as far as Zanzibar was concerned.
He said if the format were to be adopted, then either side of the union would see more increased economic activities compared to the current two-governemnt format that has been there for the past 48 years.
Seif, who is also Zanzibar first vice-president, said among areas that Zanzibar has not been benefiting under the current format was the signing of international development cooperation contracts.
He said even when Zanzibar secured a good development project that might have a big impact in improving the economic well-being of its people, it had to obtain a go-ahead from the union government.
He said the best way forward was for both Zanzibar and Tanganyika to have full internal autonomy under the umbrella of a contract union. He said, this would give either member a leeway in achieving development.
He observed that the set-up will help Zanzibar become more self-reliant, saying it will have a bigger say in running its democratic institutions such as the House of Representatives and the Judiciary, as well as its economic institutions such as the central bank and the ministry of foreign affairs.
He said under the contract union, each side will use its internal resources and therefore eliminate complaints in such areas as exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas, which the Isles is believed rich in.
The vice-president said it was disheartening to see that even though the Zanzibar government has goodwill to help its people, the union government was yet to bless the initiative even though a special proposal had been written and submitted to it fully endorsed by the House of Representatives as a directive to the government.
“As the union government continues to pin down Zanzibar, it is going ahead with issuing permits to international companies to carry out natural gas exploration and extraction, particularly in Lindi and Mtwara regions, without assuring Zanzibar of its due share in the ventures," he said.
“Our colleagues have been exploiting natural gas for the past 14 years, let them tell us how much Zanzibar gets from this. They carry out exploration activities almost on a daily basis, yet we are handicapped. How can we say that there are no problems under this arrangement? There're simply too many problems; that is why we want change in the set-up of the union," he added amid cheers from his audience.
Seif said it would be a matter of great respect for Zanzibari people to see that their president, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, would fly the Zanzibar flag even when on foreign visits.
He assured people that they should not worry about giving their opinions and that they should be proud to use the opportunity to air their views because they will be using their constitutional right.
“If you agree with me on the union format I'm proposing, go out and give your opinions without fear. Feel free ... the era of threats and intimidation is long gone," he said.
Speaking about the decision by former CUF deputy secretary general Ismail Jusa Ladhu to resign from his position, Seif called on members to appreciate the fact that Jusa had done it in good faith for benefit of all Zanzibaris.
He said Jussa will remain as a legislator for Stone Town constituency and will therefore have more time to address problems facing the people.
In another development, CUF national chairperson Prof Ibrahim Lipumba has appointed Hamad Masoud Hamad, who is the Ole lawmaker, to fill in the vacancy left by Jussa.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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