Uchaguzi Mkuu Zanzibar na mwangwi wa Maalim Seif

Uchaguzi Mkuu Zanzibar na mwangwi wa Maalim Seif

Dar es Salaam. Mwangwi wa Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad bado unasikika Zanzibar, visiwa hivyo vinapoelekea kwenye Uchaguzi Mkuu mwaka 2025, ukiwa ndio wa kwanza bila kuwepo kwake tangu mfumo wa vyama vingi uanze nchini.

Vilevile, chama chake cha ACT – Wazalendo nacho kinatazamiwa kushiriki uchaguzi huo, bila mwanasiasa huyo anayetajwa kama alama ya demokrasia ya vyama vingi na ushindani katika siasa za visiwa hivyo.

Pamoja na uhalisia huo, Katibu Mkuu wa ACT Wazalendo, Ado Shaibu anasema misingi iliyojengwa na Maalim Seif imebaki kuwa silaha ya ushindani kwa chama hicho Zanzibar.

Maalim Seif alifariki dunia Februari 17, 2021, akiwa makamu wa kwanza wa Rais wa Zanzibar, wadhifa aliokalia kwa miezi mitatu tangu alipoapishwa Desemba 8, 2020.

Maalim aliteuliwa kuwa kushika wadhifa huo kuunda Serikali ya Umoja wa Kitaifa (SUK) visiwani humo, baada ya kuibuka mshindi wa pili katika matokeo ya urais wa Zanzibar mwaka 2020.

Katika uchaguzi huo, Maalim Seif aliyegombea kwa tiketi ya ACT Wazalendo, alipata kura 99,103, nyuma ya Dk Hussein Mwinyi wa CCM aliyeshinda kwa kura 380,402, sawa na asilimia 76.27.

Tangu zianze siasa za vyama vingi mwaka 1995, Maalim Seif ndiye aliyekuwa mshindani mwenye nguvu katika chaguzi zote visiwani humo, kuanzia alipokuwa CUF na baadaye ACT Wazalendo.

Safari ya kisiasa ya mwanasiasa huyo ilianzia CCM miaka ya 1980 hadi aliposhika wadhifa wa Waziri Kiongozi kabla ya kuondolewa na hatimaye kufukuzwa uanachama.

Katika uchaguzi wa kwanza wa vyama vingi mwaka 1995, Maalim Seif akiwa mgombea wa CUF, alishika nafasi ya pili kwa kupata asilimia 49.76 dhidi ya asilimia 50.24 alizopata Dk Salim Amour wa CCM.

Matokeo hayo, yalifungua ukurasa wa ushindani wa mwanasiasa huyo katika siasa za Zanzibar, na tangia hapo kila uchaguzi alishika nafasi ya pili, ingawa hakuwahi kukubaliana na matokeo.

Katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2000, Maalim aliwania urais kwa tiketi ya CUF dhidi ya Amani Abeid Karume wa CCM na matokeo yalipotangazwa, Maalim Seif alipata asilimia 32.96 huku Karume akitangazwa kushinda kwa asilimia 67.04.

Matokeo hayo yaliwatia hasira wafuasi wa chama hicho na Januari 28, 2001 waliandamana kupinga matokeo katika tukio lililosababisha mauaji na baadhi ya Wazanzibari kukimbilia nje nchi.

Hata uchaguzi wa mwaka 2005 aliibuka wa pili nyuma ya Karume; sawa ana ambavyo ilikuwa mwaka 2010 na 2015 nyuma ya Dk Ali Mohamed Shein. Baada ya uchagizi wa mwaka 2010, ndipo Maalim Seif aliteuliwa makamu wa kwanza wa Rais chini ya Dk Shein hadi 2015.

Kutokana na matokeo ya uchaguzi mkuu wa marudio 2015 ambao Maalim Seif aliususia baada ya ule wa awali kufutwa, Maalim alibaki nje ya SUK hadi mwaka 2020 aliposhiriki tena, safari hii akiwa ACT Wazalendo.

Katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2020, ACT-Wazalendo pamoja na timu yake, Maalim Seif aligombea tena na kama kawaida akaibuka wa pili, nafsi iliyompa fursa nyingine ya kuwa makamu wa kwanza wa Rais.

‘Ametujengea msingi’

Akizungumzia uchaguzi huo bila Maalim Seif, kwenye mahojiano maalumu na Mwananchi, Katibu Mkuu wa ACT Wazalendo, Ado Saibu amesema mwanasiasa huyo alijenga msingi wa kupendwa kwa chama hicho visiwani Zanzibar, kupitia kampeni yake ya ‘Shusha Tanga, Pandisha Tanga, Safari Iendelee’.

Kwa mujibu wa Shaibu, katika kipindi hicho chama kilipokea wanachama wengi na hatimaye ACT Wazalendo ikachukua nafasi ya CUF katika visiwa hivyo.

“Maalim amekwenda akiwa ametuachia msingi imara, tuna wanachama, tuna wapenzi na tuna imani ya Wazanzibari,” amesema.

Baada ya mwanasiasa huyo, Shaibu amesema kwa sasa amekuja Othman Masoud, ambaye kuingia kwake ndani ya chama hicho kumefananishwa na mpango wa Mungu.

Amesema Othman atakwenda kufanya shughuli ya umaliziaji akianzia pale alipoishia Maalim Seif na anafahamika kwa misimamo yake.

“Anasimamia anayoyaamini na unakumbuka alipokuwa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali ya Zanzibar alisimamia haki ya Zanzibar katika mchakato wa kuandika Katiba mpya bila kujali gharama ya kupoteza nafasi yake,” ameeleza.

Shaibu ameeleza tayari Masoud ameweka wazi msimamo wake, kuwa iwapo haki ya Wazanzibari itaporwa katika uchaguzi wa mwaka 2025, hatawarudisha nyuma wananchi wa visiwa hivyo katika kupigania haki yao.

“Watu watarajie mapambano makali, watu watarajie Wazanzibari wakimalizia pale ambapo Maalim Seif aliishia kujenga,” amesema Shaibu.

Amesema Masoud ndiye mwanachama pekee aliyetia nia ya kugombea urais wa visiwani humo kwa tiketi ya ACT Wazalendo tangu chama hicho kulipofungua pazia la kutangaza nia.

Chachu ya siasa itapungua

Wakati Shaibu akisema hayo, mwanazuoni wa utawala bora, Dk Lazaro Swai amesema mwanasiasa huyo ndiye aliyekuwa chachu ya siasa za ushindani visiwani humo.

Ushindani huo, amesema hakuuonyesha kwa upande wa Zanzibar pekee, hata alipokuwepo bara, akihutubia alionyesha mikikimikiki.

Kwa kuwa uchaguzi utafanyika bila kuwepo kwake, amesema ile chachu iliyosababishwa naye itapungua na hakutashuhudiwa mikikimikiki wala mihemko ya kisiasa.

“Haiba yake ilibeba zaidi ya ule upepo wa kisiasa na mioyo ya watu wa Zanzibar. Wengi walimuona kama jemedari na hata wangetaka jambo liingie kwenye mabadiliko, basi Maalim Seif alitazamwa kuwa anafaa kuliongoza,” amesema.

Kwa mtazamo wa Dk Swai, lile joto la siasa za Zanzibar lililokuwa likishuhudiwa enzi za Maalim Seif halitakuwepo tena, badala yake kutakuwa na ubaridi.

Kwa sababu hiyo, ameeleza kwamba kunahitajika juhudi za vyama vya upinzani kuhakikisha anapatikana mwanasiasa mwenye kaliba ya Maalim Seif, angalau kuamsha ushindani katika visiwa hivyo.

Act yajiandaa na uchaguzi

Sambamba na hilo, Shaibu amesema msimamo wa chama hicho kuhusu kushiriki uchaguzi iwapo sheria hazitabadilishwa, utatolewa baada ya kikao cha Halmashauri Kuu kitakachofanyika Februari 23, 2025.

Hata hivyo, amesema anaona kuingia katika uchaguzi mkuu bila mabadiliko ya sheria, ni sawa na kubariki yajirudie yaliyotokea katika uchaguzi wa serikali za mitaa.

Pamoja na mtazamo huo, amesema chama hicho kitaendelea kushinikiza mabadiliko ya sheria, bila kuacha kujiandaa kwa uchaguzi.

“Tunachofanya tunalenga kuhakikisha mabadiliko yakifanyika yatukute tumeshajiandaa, tusiwe na wa kumlaumu. Utasema sijiandai napambania mabadiliko ya sheria, kwa mfano yakifanyika karibu na uchaguzi wakati hukujiandaa utatafuta wa kumlilia,” amesema Shaibu.

Pia, ameongeza kuwa chama hicho kinaendelea kuratibu ushirikiano na vyama vingine katika safari ya kudai mabadiliko ya kisheria, sera na Katiba wanapoelekea, katika uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka huu.

Source: mwananchi.co.tz

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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.

While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher

Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).

“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.

Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.

Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.

The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.

“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.

She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.

“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.

Cross-border transmission

The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.

The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.

Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”

The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.

The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.

Transparency urged

Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.

“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.

“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.

The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Source: allafrica.com

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