Tanzanians commemorate first Zanzibar President on Karume Day

• President of Zanzibar Ali Mohamed Shein on Tuesday led hundreds of people in a memorial to commemorate the death of Abeid Amani Karume, the first President of Zanzibar and first Vice President of Tanzania, who was assassinated on April 7, 1972.

Representing Tanzanian President Jakaya KIkwete, the Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal was among the government leaders who attended the memorial.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe described the late Karume as a dedicated leader who made sure all elements of discrimination do not exist and all the people are equal .

His vision of right and equality among the citizens has enabled Zanzibar to achieve developments in various sectors including education ,agriculture and health, Membe said.

Abeid Amani Karume was born on August 4, 1905. He left Zanzibar in the early years of his life and in the 1950s, he became the leader of the moderate Afro-Shirazi Party.

In 1963, Zanzibar gained independence from Britain as a constitutional monarchy. In the early 1964, the Sultan of Zanzibar was overthrown during the Zanzibar Revolution. The leader of the revolution John Okello invited Karume back to Zanzibar to assume the title of President.

In April 1964, Karume agreed to unite with Tanganyika to form the Republic of Tanzania. Tanganyikan President Julius Nyerere became President of Tanzania, while Karume assumed the title of Vice President. Zanzibar remained a semi-autonomous region within the newly created republic.

Karume was shot dead by four gunmen on April 7, 1972 at the headquarters of the Afro-Shirazi party in Zanzibar Town. The anniversary of his death was designed as a public holiday in Tanzania.

Karume was the first Zanzibar President who introduced free education, healthcare and land distribution to all individuals. 

Source: Xinhua

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