Zanzibar opposition Chief says, 'peace can prevail where there is justice'

By Osoro Nyawangah, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

Zanzibar chief opposition leader, Seif Sharrif Hamad has reiterated his call to the government of Tanzania to maintain human rights throughout general election slated for October 2020 for peace to prevail.

Addressing Tanzania’s main opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) national delegates conference Tuesday August 4, the long-time politician said that peace can prevail where there is justice.

Hamad who is the national Chairman for another opposition party, Alliance for Change and Transparency – wazalendo and presidential aspirant for Zanzibar presidency said that twin-opposition parties are organized, civilized and cannot cause unrest in the peaceful country.

“It is the government and its institutions that cause chaos in this country by denying citizens’ their constitutional rights, as today in Zanzibar almost 50,000 citizens have been denied right to vote simply because they support opposition party.” He said noting that every citizen have equal constitutional rights.

"Let us not cheat ourselves that the current Electoral Commissions will fairly manage the elections, we don't have independent electoral commissions; we need to organise ourselves as opposition to safe-guard our victory at all cost." he insisted.

He called upon Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Societies and Faith-based Organizations to raise their voices and push the government to provide fair grounds for all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a conducive environment.

Hamad who is commonly known as ‘Maalim’ further called for unified opposition in their bid to unseat decades-long ruling party. “United we can win the election, we have vast experience of dividing votes amongst opposition in past general elections; let’s come to our senses and uproot this ‘thing’ called CCM.” He stressed.

On his part, the Chadema national Chairman Freeman Mbowe reminded the Registrar of Tanzania Political Party’s office to regard all political parties as equal. “All political parties have equal right before laws, I call for your office to stop biasness in regard to provision of right to both opposition parties and the ruling party.” Mbowe said adding that being in opposition is constitutional right and not a sin.

He told registrar’s representative, Sisty Nyahozya, to give all political parties their lawful right to participate effectively in the country’s politics without favour or fear.

According to the 2020 Human Rights Report, Tanzania’s human rights record has continued to deteriorate under current regime.

The government lifted some restrictions on the publication of independent statistics, but continued to restrict media and critics of the government, deregister civil society groups, arrest journalists, restrict civic space, and undermine the rights of women and of children.

The government has continued to restrict the political opposition. In January 2019, Parliament passed amendments to the 2002 Political Parties Act, which granted broad powers to the Registrar of Political Parties to demand information from political parties, to suspend individual members of political parties, and required institutions or individuals to get approval from the Registrar to conduct civic education, or face criminal sanctions including imprisonment or fines. - Africa