Police in Zanzibar have issued a stern warning against any unnecessary gatherings or demonstrations that would be conducted across Zanzibar municipality to protest against the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) decision to annul presidential election results.
The move comes a few days after the Civic United Front (CUF) rejected the ZEC decision, with Zanzibar Urban West regional police commander, Mkadam Khamis Mkadam making the remark in a press conference. He was reacting to unconfirmed reports that there would be demonstrations protesting against ZEC decision.
He said that police in Zanzibar have not granted any permit for protest gatherings and have lined up strategies to take action against any person taking part in such gathering or march as that would endanger peace and national unity.
“We have heard that there are some youths planning to protest on Monday but we want to assure all Zanzibaris that there won’t be any demonstration across the Isles,” he declared.
Tension and anxiety have continued to grip Zanzibar after ZEC decided to nullify the election results under dubious circumstances on Tuesday.
The situation deteriorated after CUF General Secretary and Zanzibar presidential candidate Seif Sharif Hamad issued a three-day ultimatum to the Zanzibar government to proceed with the release of election results or he would let Zanzibaris decide their fate.
Currently the police are holding three people they said had a homemade bomb close to CUF headquarters at Michenzani. However the device was put out of danger by soldiers of the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF).
The police commander urged the public to inform the police in case they see any suspicious object.
In a daunting note, Commissioner Mkadam said that since October 25, the date of the general election, about 38 people have been arrested in the Isles for various offences, which he described as endangered the peace of the country.
He said that police in Zanzibar have not granted any permit for protest gatherings and have lined up strategies to take action against any person taking part in such gathering or march as that would endanger peace and national unity.
“We have heard that there are some youths planning to protest on Monday but we want to assure all Zanzibaris that there won’t be any demonstration across the Isles,” he declared.
Tension and anxiety have continued to grip Zanzibar after ZEC decided to nullify the election results under dubious circumstances on Tuesday.
The situation deteriorated after CUF General Secretary and Zanzibar presidential candidate Seif Sharif Hamad issued a three-day ultimatum to the Zanzibar government to proceed with the release of election results or he would let Zanzibaris decide their fate.
Currently the police are holding three people they said had a homemade bomb close to CUF headquarters at Michenzani. However the device was put out of danger by soldiers of the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF).
The police commander urged the public to inform the police in case they see any suspicious object.
In a daunting note, Commissioner Mkadam said that since October 25, the date of the general election, about 38 people have been arrested in the Isles for various offences, which he described as endangered the peace of the country.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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