Othman Masoud appointed as new First Vice President of Zanzibar

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania

Zanzibar’s President Hussein Ali Mwinyi on Monday, March 01, 2021 appointed Othman Masoud Othman to be the new First Vice President in the Isles.

Othman is replacing Seif Sharrif Hamad who died on February 17, 2021.

Article 40 (1) of the Zanzibar Constitution 1984 as revised in 2010 requires that in case the First or Second Vice President dies, the successor would be picked within 14 days.

A statement from the State House in the Isles said on Monday, March 1, 2021 that the appointment of Masoud, who is a member of the opposition ACT-Wazalendo, was in accordance with Article 9 (3) of the Zanzibar Constitution which requires the President to maintain the spirit of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

“And following powers vested on him through Article 39(4) of the Zanzibar Constitution of 1984 and after consultations with ACT-Wazalendo, the President of Zanzibar and chairman of the Revolutionary Council Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has appointed Othman Masoud Othman to be the First Vice President,” reads part of the press statement.

Speaking during an interview with a local media earlier on today, the leader of opposition party ACT-Wazalendo Party Leader, Zitto Kabwe said the name of the person to succeed the late Hamad had been submitted to President Mwinyi who is the appointing authority.

“The candidate conforms to the party's criteria of advocating reconciliation and unity,” he said.

Hailing from Pandani village, Wete district in Pemba, Othman is a renowned lawyer who has been appointed to various government disciplines.

He was appointed as Zanzibar Attorney General by President Ali Mohamed Shein in 2010 and dismissed in 2014 following disagreement on formation of three governments in the Tanzania Union government during proposed new Union constitution reform debate.

During the heated debate, he was whisked out of debating chambers and later dismissed by the appointing authority.

He and Hamad believed that for the Tanganyika and Zanzibar union to live longer, the union requires formation of three governments namely Tanganyika government, Zanzibar government and Union government.

Before appointment as Attorney General, he was appointed by former Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

After his dismissal from the AG post, he joined Seif Sharrif Hamad who was then Secretary General of opposition party, Civic United Front (CUF) and thereafter joined ACT-Wazalendo, where he worked as sole advisor of the party leadership. - Africa