Zanzibar:Report on Human Rights ,1996
From
The islands of Zanzibar are integrated into the United Republic's governmental
and party structure; however the Zanzibar Government, which has its own
president and parliament, exercises considerable autonomy. Elections for
the president and parliament of Zanzibar were also held in 1995. International
observers noted serious discrepancies during the vote-counting process,
calling into question the reelection of CCM incumbent Dr. Salmin Amour Juma
as Zanzibar's President. In the period since that election, opposition parties
called for new elections, prompting reprisals by the authorities, and, in
response, most donors halted aid to Zanzibar.
The Government's human rights record did not improve and
problems persisted. Although the 1995 multiparty elections represented an
important development, citizens' right to change their government in Zanzibar
is severely circumscribed. Although new opposition parties were competitive
in many 1995 races and won in some constituencies, police often harassed
and intimidated members and supporters of the political opposition.
There were no developments in the 1993 police killing of
a member of the opposition party Civic United Front (CUF) on the island
of Pemba. After a lengthy investigation, the policeman who fired the shots
was charged with murder without intent and remains free on bail. CUF leaders
complained that the President and Attorney General of Zanzibar blocked the
prosecution of the police officer. Nearly 4 years after the event, the trial
was still pending.
There have been repeated reports from credible sources of
torture, including beatings and floggings by police, in Zanzibar, notably
on Pemba island. The Zanzibar and Union Governments have both denied these
charges.
Since the 1995 election, police in Zanzibar, particularly
on Pemba, have regularly detained, arrested, and harassed CUF members, and
suspected supporters. Despite orders from the Union Government's Inspector
General of Police, officers in Zanzibar continued these activities.
Private radio and television stations broadcast in Dar es
Salaam and in a few other urban areas. On Zanzibar radio and television
are controlled by the Government which also practices a restrictive policy
with regard to print media. Private mainland newspapers are widely available,
and many residents of Zanzibar can receive mainland television.
On January 25, the Government of Zanzibar banned from the
islands the circulation of the privately owned Kiswahili daily Majira on
the grounds that it was carrying antigovernment articles. Also in January,
the local government barred a Zanzibari journalist from further reporting,
charging that he had written articles "aimed at disrupting the peace
and national unity in Zanzibar." The Kiswahili tabloid Heko was banned
nationally in July; the ban was lifted in early October after the managing
editor issued a letter of apology to the Government.
The Constitution provides for the freedom of peaceful assembly
and association, and, except in Zanzibar, citizens generally enjoyed the
right to discuss freely political alternatives. However, the Constitution
and other laws and regulations limit these rights and stipulate that citizens
cannot run for public office unless they are members of a registered political
party.
Political parties must give police 48 hours' advance notice
of rallies. Police have the authority to deny permission for political rallies
on public safety or security grounds, or if the permit seeker belongs to
an unregistered organization or political party. Persons are arrested for
assembling without the appropriate permit. Opposition parties, other than
in Zanzibar, are able to hold rallies. Local government officials there
prohibited the assembly of CUF supporters and use of CUF slogans from the
October 1995 election until August. During that 10-month period, Zanzibar
officials refused CUF applications for permits, citing a threat to public
order. Police dispersed meetings attended by persons thought to be opposed
to the Zanzibar Government.
A number of professional, business, legal, and medical associations
exist. Representatives of the business community and President Mkapa held
three meetings, the most recent of which included the Cabinet and lasted
5 hours, seeking radical changes in the tax and investment codes. The Government,
for more than 2 years, has withheld registration from an NGO called Defenders
of Human Rights in Tanzania (see Section 4). Opposition leaders complain
that the Zanzibar Government is even more restrictive in registering societies
than the Union Government.
The Constitution of Zanzibar allows citizens the right to
change their government peacefully; however, this right has been severely
circumscribed. The 1995 presidential election in Zanzibar was seriously
flawed. Government-owned broadcast media in Zanzibar were biased in favor
of CCM incumbent President Salim Amour Juma. The government party intimidated
and harassed the opposition and did not permit opposition rallies until
2 months prior to the election. Further, registration was limited to persons
who had maintained the same residence for 5 years, which disenfranchised
many voters. CUF party members also were detained by police when they attempted
to campaign in rural areas.
Election observers in Zanzibar were denied access to the
tabulation of votes from polling stations. After 4 days, the Zanzibar Electoral
Commission (ZEC) appointed by the Amour government, announced that Amour
had won by 0.5 percent of the vote. Figures tabulated by the CUF showed
a similarly close victory for its candidate. After efforts by the international
community to reconcile discrepancies in the vote counting, observers concluded
that the official results may have been inaccurate. Critics questioned the
probity of the ZEC chairman who defended the election and its outcome when
soon thereafter he purchased an expensive home. The Zanzibar and Union Governments
both rejected calls to overturn the result and conduct a new election. In
April Zanzibar police raided the home of the CUF's presidential candidate,
citing "the duty of police to maintain law and security."
In the year since the election, government security forces
and CCM gangs harassed and intimidated CUF members on both of the two main
Zanzibar islands, Pemba and Ugunja. Because CUF won all 20 seats on Pemba,
Pembans living on Ugunja were regarded as CUF supporters and as a result
were harassed. CUF members accused police of detaining dozens of its members,
including several local leaders. Many CUF supporters have deserted Ugunja
for Pemba or the mainland. Safety is not ensured in Pemba, where security
forces dispersed gatherings, intimidated and roughed up individuals, and
expelled two tourists in September for their contact with CUF members. Most
international donors have suspended direct assistance to Zanzibar in response
to activities of the authorities.
- E-mail from whom knows Zanzibar condition well.Oct.29.'95
- E-mail from Tanzanian overseas Oct.30.'95
- E-mail from Anonymous Oct.31-Nov.3
- E-mail from Tanzanian overseas Nov.16.'95
- E-mail from Tanzanian overseas Nov.19.'95
- E-mail from Anonymous Nov.25
- E-mail from Anonymous Nov.26
- E-mail from Anonymous Dec.22
- E-mail from Anonymous Jan.16,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous Jan.29,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous Feb.1,1996(in Swahili)
- E-mail from Anonymous Feb.2,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous Feb.9,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous Feb.12,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous March.27,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous May.2,1996
- E-mail from Anonymous May.26,1996
- E-mail from AnonymousJUNE.1,1996
- E-mail from AnonymousJUNE.19,1996
- E-mail from AnonymousAug.22,1996
Zanzibar election Diary Oct.19-27,1995
- U.S.Zanzibar:Report on Human Rights ,1997
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