Call fresh elections in Zanzibar

Call for fresh elections

ACT Wazalendo is a party that stands firm on democracy and the due process that comes with it, steadfast in ensuring that the voice of the people is heard and adhered too without compromising on the principles of democracy.

What has transpired in Zanzibar has left us both in awe and disgust on how certain individuals can manipulate the system to best suite their crude desire for power. Right after the nullification of the elections in Zanzibar, ACT Wazalendo was firm in its stand that democracy was being toyed with and that the Zanzibari peoples wishes were not respected. It is the party’s firm belief that Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad was the chosen president for the people and by the people.

We raised ten (10) points of caution to President Magufuli; as the custodian of democracy in the United Republic of Tanzania for him to take to task, one of them being the current situation in Zanzibar showing all signs of lacking any democratic decorum. This plea unfortunately fell on deaf ears and the outcome of this negligence was the re-run of the Zanzibar election in March, which to date still bids the question of the legality and mannerism of how it was conducted.

ACT Wazalendo continues its fight for a booming democratic environment in Zanzibar that would foster the growth of new age politicians who are not intimidated by sheer police brutality or the power of the state. With this stand, ACT Wazalendo, has continually denounced the legality of the election in Zanzibar and has chosen not to recognise the current government of Zanzibar in its totality for, if there is ever a doubt that ones rights are infringed the party will not stand by those who infringing the rights of another.

Chaos breeds fear and fear has no part in the struggle to attain justice. Dr. Shein recently has been quoted saying “I am not afraid of Maalim Seif, for he does not have no posses tanks or ammunition”. In hindsight he is right, Maalim Seif does not possess the power and might of the state, after the sabotage that took place in October 2016 he is merely a citizen and former 2nd Vice president of Zanzibar. But let us not forget that he also happens to be the leader of a group of people on the Isles, maybe he does not require military might to be feared all he needs to do is get the attention of his followers. Maybe this was the trigger effect that made the army interrogate the politician when he simply wanted to practice his democratic right to be heard.

ACT Wazalendo cannot condone the words said by Dr. Shein, for one they are beneath him and beneath any self respecting citizen of the United Republic of Tanzania, we were liberated; one half by good diplomacy and the other half by force. It would be wise for Dr. Shein to remember the seat that he is clinging on comes with its own history, and it should be a lesson to him no to mock the people by threatening them with military might, after all the Sultan of Oman, not only had his army but also the backing of the then hegemony United Kingdom, this did not stop those who could not stand injustice to stand up against military might. Words such as those uttered by Dr. Shein only work to remind us that Zanzibar is not a step sibling that we can ignore, that such mishap and insensitivity from a seasoned politician leaves the isle vulnerable to many a thing, we do not want to see our brothers and sisters shed blood…again.

As a party, ACT Wazalendo is fully aware of the hardship that faces the Zanzibar people, the political tension translates to a stagnant economy and a demoralised society. We do understand that there is a need for the people to take control of their state but we firmly believe and have not lost hope that the process be ballot and not bullet. One way of ensuring that the Zanzibari people walk away the winners and not just the politician, is for those who want to serve the people to lower themselves and consider their people first and not self gratification.

If we may, let us restart the clock again for Zanzibar, go to the ballot and ensure that the peoples wishes are respected no matter what the outcome maybe. Some may argue that how can we restart the clock? That at no point in time can a state be without a leader. For this we say, have a transitional government that comprises of members from all political players on the isles, let that government involve people who are respected by all fractions of Zanzibaris.

Possibly the greatest thing for the Zanzibari people  to do is to ignore the blatant attack on their integrity and rights by Dr. Shein, for he may have not known better. Let history be a reminder for him and a point to remember for the people on the isles that throughout oppressors have met an unfavourable outcomes, we do not wish to see the same for Zanzibar no do we wish for their good name to be tarnished.

Zitto Kabwe, MP

Party Leader, ACT Wazalendo

Statement: Vurugu za #Zanzibar

1 .Vurugu za Zanzibar ni ‘unwanted distractions’ katika mchakato wa kuandika katiba mpya.

2. Hakuna namna vitendo hivyo vinaweza kuhalalishwa na kutetewa lakini ni matokeo ya muda mrefu ya ‘superficial attempts at dealing against group  with ulterior motives.

3. Rais Ali MohamedShein aunde kikosi kazi maalum kwa ajili ya kudhibiti vurugu hizo,na kuanza mzungumzo na pande zote.Hiki sio kitendo cha kudharau kabisa.

4. Muungano wetu ni sacred na tumetoka mbali kushindwa sasa kuulinda, ‘not when we are so close at having an everlasting formula’.

5. Waliochoma nyumba za ibada wasakwe na kufikishwa mbele ya sheria mara moja. Tusiruhusu hata kidogo wapuuzi wachache kutuingiza katika vurugu za kidini ili kufikia malengo yao ya kisiasa.

6. Zanzibar Political leaders and public opinion makers must engage the Zanzibaris into a serious and objective dialogue about the future of Zanzibar within or outside the Union.

Taifa Msibani, Umoja wetu na Utu wetu Shakani

Huyu aliyelala ndio Leyla. Alikuwa na dada yake wanarudi shuleni Pemba (Wete) baada ya kula Idi Unguja. Watoto wengi sana na wanawake ndio sehemu kubwa ya waliopoteza maisha.

(Nimeandika makala hii nikiwa katika Benchi la Hospitali ya Mnazi Mmoja hapa Zanzibar. Mniwie radhi kama kuna spelling mistakes kwani nilitaka hisia zangu ziwe as raw as possible – Zitto Zitto and not Zitto a Politician).

Jana asubuhi tarehe 10 Septemba 2011 Taifa liligubikwa na habari za kushtusha za maafa. Mwanzoni taarifa zilisambaa kwamba zaidi ya watu 2000 walikuwa kwenye Boti MV Spice Islander lililopinduka na kuzama mbele kidogo ya Nungwi likielekea kisiwani Pemba. Habari hazikuwa za uhakika sana kwani vyombo vyetu vya habari na hasa Televeshini ya Taifa havikuwa vikitoa habari juu ya ajali hii.

Habari zilisambaa kupitia mitandao ya intaneti na kufuatia uchu wa habari nilianzisha #ZanzibarBoatAccident katika mtandao wa twitter ili tuweze kufuatilia kwa karibu habari zote za ajali hii.

Habari zilisambaa kuwa Televisheni ya Taifa ilikuwa inaonyesha muziki wa Taarab na Baadaye vipindi vingine vya kawaida bila kutoa habari kwa Umma kuhusu msiba huu.

Watanzania waliokoa wakiwasiliana kupitia twitter na facebook walikuwa na hasira sana na kituo cha TBC1 kutoonyesha au kupasha habari juu ya ajali hii. Mpaka saa moja jioni kituo hiki cha Televisheni ya Taifa kilikuwa kinaonyesha watu wakicheza muziki wa Kongo, wanawake wakikatika viuno na hata ngoma za asili.

‘Hallo, washa TBC1 uone Televisheni yenu inachoonyesha’ yalikuwa ni maneno ya Mwakilishi Ismael Jussa Ladhu aliponipigia kuonyesha kusikitishwa kwake na kituo hiki. Mpaka jioni tulikuwa tumepata taarifa kuwa Watanzania wenzetu 198 walikuwa wamepoteza maisha. 570 hivi walikuwa wameokolewa.

Binafsi nilipotembelea Hospitali ya Mnazi Mmoja niliweza kumwona Binti aliyeitwa Leyla, akisoma darasa la Nne huko kisiwani Pemba. Leyla alipona, aliokolewa. Nilimwambia leyla atapona na kurudi Shuleni. Mpaka ninapoandika tumeambiwa kuwa Watanzania 240 wamegundulika kupoteza maisha na zaidi ya 600 wameokolewa.

Napenda kuwapongeza sana waokoaji wetu, wavuvi wa kijiji cha Nungwi na vijiji jirani, wamiliki wa mahoteli waliojitolea vifaa vyao kwenda kuokoa watu na wanajeshi wetu wa majeshi ya ulinzi na usalama kwa kazi hii kubwa ya kuokoa. Kwa kweli tumeokoa watu wengi kuliko ilivyotarajiwa. Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar imejitahidi sana, ilitulia na kuonyesha uongozi thabiti katika juhudi za uokoaji.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania akafuta ziara yake huko Canada, ziara iliyokuwa imeandaliwa muda mrefu na kwa gharama. Lakini Rais aliona ni vema kupata hasara kuliko kuwa nje ya Nchi kipindi hiki. Hakutaka hata kumtuma Makamu wa Rais au Waziri Mkuu. Alifuta. Akatangaza siku 3 za kuomboleza.

Hata hivyo waandaaji wa Miss Tanzania waliona hasara kubwa kuahirisha shindano la Urembo usiku huo. Wangepata hasara! Hata wafadhili wao Kampuni ya simu za mkononi ya vodacom ambao miongoni mwa waliofariki wamo wateja wa vodacom, waliendelea na shindano hili.

Jumatatu, tarehe 12 Septemba 2011 ni siku ya khitma ya kuwaombea marehemu wetu.

Nimeamua kutotumia simu yangu ya Voda kwa siku nzima, sina njia ya kuiadhibu Kampuni hii isipokuwa kugoma kutumia simu yao japo kwa siku moja kuonyesha kutoridhishwa kwangu na uamuzi wao wa kutojali msiba huu kwa Taifa.

Misiba huweka jamii pamoja. Msiba huu uliotokea Zanzibar ni jaribio kubwa kwa Umoja wa Taifa letu. Shirika la Utangazaji la Taifa limeshindwa jaribio hili la kudhihirisha Umoja wetu katika kipindi hiki. Nataraji wakubwa wa Shirika hili linaloendeshwa kwa kodi watawajibika au kuwajibishwa!

Jumla ya Majeruhi na marehemu sasa inafikia zaidi ya Abiria 800! Asubuhi ya jana 10 Septemba 2011 tuliambiwa na Serikali kwamba uwezo wa Boti la MV Spice Islander ilikuwa ni abiria 500 na wafanyakazi 12. Pia tumejulishwa kuwa boti hili lilikuwa la Mizigo na sio la Abiria.

Natumai mara baada ya kumaliza maombolezo haya ya siku tatu Wakuu wa Mamlaka zinazohusika na usafiri wa Majini wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar watawajibika au kuwajibishwa. Mkuu wa Bandari ya Zanzibar Mustafa Aboud Jumbe na Waziri wa Miundombinu Hamad Masoud wanapaswa kufukuzwa kazi mara moja kama hawatawajibika wenyewe kwa kujiuzulu.

Kufukuzwa kwao kazi hakutarudisha ndugu zetu duniani bali itakuwa ni somo kuwa hatutarudia tena kufanya makosa yaliyoleteleza ajali kama hii.

Mwenyezi Mungu atupe subira wakati huu wa msiba mkubwa katika Taifa letu. Alaze roho za marehemu wetu mahala pema peponi na awape unafuu wa haraka majeruhi wetu.

Zitto Kabwe, Mb