E-mail from Anonymous Apr,1,1998

ZANZIBAR ELECTORAL COMMISSION CRITICISES FOREIGN EMBASSIES
EASTERN AFRICA NEWS,Mar,26, 1998

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission has accused 10 embassies in Tanzania of interfering with the 1995 presidential elections in the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, the state-owned 'Daily News' reported.

It said the 10 unnamed embassies had issued a joint statement after the elections questioning the fairness of the poll, an action which amounted to "intrusion" and "confusion" over the commission's jurisdiction and rights.

The opposition Civic United Front has refused to recognise the legitimacy of President Salmin Amour, accusing the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi of rigging the vote.


EU WITHHOLDS FUNDS FOR ZANZIBAR PORT PROJECT
EASTERN AFRICA NEWS,Mar,9, 1998

The European Union is maintaining its freeze on aid to Zanzibar because of human rights abuses, and is holding onto money promised for rehabilitation of the port. The European Union helped to create the Zanzibar Port Corporation seven months ago but is maintaining its freeze on financial aid to the Isles government because of alleged violations of human rights.

The head of delegation of the European Commission in Tanzania, Peter Chistriansen, told reporters in Dar over the weekend that there were no immediate plans to assist the ZPC and any new project, except to projects funding already underway.

"The EU will continue funding for projects whose commitment was made before the decision to freeze Zanzibar out of EU aid was made in 1996," he said. The European freeze followed disputed presidential election in October 1995 which sparked protests from the main opposition Civic United Front party.

The new Zanzibari government reacted with a number of repressive measures cited when the EU froze aid in 1996. In support of its goal of an independent port corporation for Zanzibar, the EU had funded improvement projects, beginning with the expansion of the North and South boat landing points at a cost of $ 31.7 million two years ago.


British diplomat blasts Zanzibar over arrests
10:55 a.m. Feb 07, 1998 Eastern
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 7 (Reuters)
Britain's envoy to Tanzania said the arrest by Zanzibar authorities of 17 opposition activists last year on treason charges was probably politically motivated. Alan Montgomery, the outgoing British High Commissioner (ambassador), told Reuters that Britain was very concerned at the arrests -- all involving members of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) party. Those arrested -- including the party's deputy secretary-general Nassor Seif -- have been held since December on sedition and treason charges following a by-election which the CUF won. Treason is a capital offence in semi-autonomous Zanzibar.

Formerly an independent state, Zanzibar -- comprising the twin islands of Unguja and Pemba -joined with mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

``In this day and age, if you are not in a war situation then charges of treason do not carry much credibility,'' Montgomery said. "Frankly, the kind of terms under which these charges are framed lends weight to the feeling these charges are politically motivated.'' Montgomery, who is leaving Tanzania after three years as his post, said the prosecution had so far failed to substantiate the treason charges with any evidence. "These guys are being kept on remand and quite honestly no British court would tolerate the way in which they are being kept,'' he added.

On Tuesday, a Zanzibar High Court magistrate gave the prosecution one month to complete its investigations of the charges and adjourned the case to February 17. Zanzibar's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, under President Salmin Amour, claimed a narrow victory over the CUF in the 1996 elections, but diplomats and international poll monitors questioned the result. Amour has refused to hold another ballot, saying his mandate will extend until 2000. In protest, Western donors have frozen all but essential humanitarian aid programmes on the islands as a result of the dispute.


THREE CUF MPS ARRESTED IN ZANZIBAR
EASTERN AFRICA NEWS,Feb,6, 1998

Three MPs of the opposition Civic United Front(CUF) have been arrested in Zanzibar, according to a Radio Tanzania broadcast monitored here. Speaker of the House of Representatives in Zanzibar, Pandu Amir Kificho, officially announced that the CUF (Civic United Front) members of parliament had been detained and would be taken to court and charged with "threatening to cause trouble". He said the MPs were Sud Yusuf Mgeni of Kitongoji constituency, Hamad Rashid of Wawi constituency and Hamad Masud of Ole constituency.


17 ZANZIBAR OPPOSITION LEADERS ON HUNGER STRIKE
EASTERN AFRICA NEWS,Jan,22, 1998

Seventeen members of the Opposition Civic United Front (CUF) facing treason charges have gone on hunger strike. The state-owned "Daily News " said the opposition politicians declared their hunger strike on Monday when they appeared in a magistrate's court on the Island of Zanzibar.

The magistrate adjourned their case for a fourth time, until 3 February. The 17, charged with having conspired in November to overthrow the government of Zanzibar President Salmin Amour, said their hunger strike was to protest against "delaying tactics" over the handling of their case.


Zanzibar opposition members on hunger strike
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
Tuesday, January 20, 1998 Published at 01:24 GMT World:

Reports from Zanzibar say seventeen members of the opposition Civic United Front, who are in jail on treason charges, have begun a hunger strike in protest at the way their case is being handled.
The accused appeared in court today and were told their case was being adjourned until early February. A correspondent for the BBC said news of the hunger strike spread rapidly, causing anger among opposition supporters.
The CUF has been boycotting parliament because it disputes the results of 1995 elections in which it campaigned for greater autonomy for Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania.

POLITICAL TENSION INTENSIFIES IN ZANZIBAR
EASTERN AFRICA NEWS,Jan,14, 1998

Zanzibari President Salmin Amour has claimed there was an external plot to destabilise the islands and resolving Zanzibar's problems would depend on the people's cooperation. Sixteen members of the opposition Civil United Front (CUF) party were arrested last month, accused of trying to overthrow the government.

Commonwealth secretary-general Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who visited Zanzibar recently, has warned that political tension there could plunge it into civil conflict. CUF disputes the outcome of 1995 election in which it campaigned for greater autonomy saying the polls were rigged.

Zanzibar united with mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

AMOUR STRESSES UNITY, DEVELOPMENT FOR ZANZIBAR

President Salmin Amour of Zanzibar has called on the people to maintain unity and strive to develop the economy. He was speaking at a ceremony to mark the 34th anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.

Severely hit by drought and floods over the past year and the on-going outbreak of cholera and malaria, the Zanzibar economy has been seriously dented. But despite these difficulties Zanzibar's economic growth was estimated at 6.3% in 1997 against the 3.7% recorded in 1996.

Union President Benjamin Mkapa, prime minister Frederick Sumaye, and senior Zanzibar government officials attended the ceremony at Amman Stadium, Monday amid a heavy down pour.

Amour welcomed foreign investments and said his government will try its best to develop the economy including the private sector. But he warned leaders of certain political parties to abide by the constitution instead of inciting antagonism among the innocent people under pretext of promoting democracy and human rights.

Amour also urged government officials to be honest and businessmen to be lawful and corruption to be punished particularly in the sector of foreign investment to guarantee the healthy, sustainable and self-relied development of economy.



Zanzibar donors urge dialogue on rights abuses

02:53 p.m Jan 12, 1998 Eastern
By Maja Wallengren DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 12 (Reuters)

International donors expressed concern on Monday over apparent human rights abuses on the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar and urged the government to enter dialogue with its opponents.

A total of 15 members of Zanzibar's opposition party Civic United Front (CUF) are due to appear in court on treason charges next Monday. The 15, charged with plotting to overthrow Zanzibar President Salmin Amour, were arrested last November in the wake of a bi-election won by CUF over a ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Party of the Revolution-CCM) candidate.

``The situation in Zanzibar seems to have been deteriorating since the Mkunazini bi-elections last November and there have been a number of incidents which are a concern to us,'' said a British diplomat in Dar es Salaam.

``We are concerned by the arrest of the opposition leaders in connection with the bi-elections and we are also concerned with what appears to be a deteriorating human rights situation at Zanzibar,'' he told Reuters.

Donors from a number of Western missions expressed their concern to Reuters in a series of interviews.

Until the 1995 elections donors gave bilateral aid directly to the Zanzibar government. Donors urged dialogue and said they were alarmed that local journalists were barred from court during earlier hearings against the 15.

They also noted that no evidence to the treason charges had so far been made public. Another diplomat described the arrests as ``appearing to be politically motivated.''

Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa on Sunday echoed donor concern and urged a speedy dialogue to start between the two parties at Zanzibar, the state-owned Daily News reported.

Zanzibar's President Salmin Amour was narrowly re-elected in October 1995 in a poll that CUF and international observers said was seriously flawed. A crackdown of CUF supporters followed the election and hundreds were detained. Since the election donors have suspended new aid to Zanzibar which joined Tanganyika in 1964 to form the Tanzanian Union. Under the union Zanzibar has its own semi-autonomous government.

Zanzibar, made up of Unguja and Pemba islands, on Monday celebrated its 34th national revolutionary day. Hundreds and possibly thousands were killed during the revolution.


Zanzibar police ban opposition rally, raid homes
06:19 a.m. Jan 04, 1998 Eastern
By Ally Saleh ZANZIBAR, Jan 4 (Reuters)

Zanzibar police raided journalists' and political activists' homes on Sunday after warning the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) they would use force if the party went ahead with a banned demonstration in Zanzibar town on Monday. Police commander Jaffar Jumanne told reporters that his office had not received an application to hold the rally, and it would therefore be illegal. He said members of the public should not approach the Mkunazini area, where the rally was due to start.

Zanzibar joined mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania after Zanzibar's last Arab Sultan was overthrown in a bloody revolution in 1964. But Zanzibar retains a large measure of autonomy, with its own government and parliament.

CUF sources said the demonstration had been called to press for the resignation of Zanzibar President Salmin Amour, chief justice Hamid Mahmoud, Zanzibar parliament speaker Pandu Ameri Kificho and home affairs minister Ali Ameir because of their consistent denial of democratic rights in the Indian Ocean islands.

Shortly after Jumanne spoke, police raided the homes of journalists and activists suspected of sympathising with the opposition, but many reporters had gone underground to avoid arrest. The government has accused journalists of dramatising political events on the islands, where tension has been high since disputed elections in 1996.

Western donors have withheld aid to Zanzibar over the disputed polls, which the CUF says it won. The government's reaction to concerns raised by political opponents was to launch a crackdown on the opposition that included arrests and restrictions on opposition figures.

The opposition said formal permission for the demonstration had been sought in a letter dated December 12, signed by the opposition leaders in both the Zanzibar parliament and the United Republic of Tanzania parliament.

The demonstration was planned to coincide with the appearance of 14 opposition MPs in court on Monday on charges of treason, which they deny, the sources said. Magistrate Abraham Mwampashe has directed public prosecutor Patrick Biatao to submit evidence to his court on Monday to support Biatao's application to prosecute the 14 in the Zanzibar High Court.


Zanzibar election Diary Oct.19-27,1995
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