Zanzibar presidential term limit extension talk sparks condemnation in Tanzania

Unguja. A suggestion by the deputy secretary general of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in Zanzibar, Dr Mohamed Said Dimwa, as regards the extension of President Hussein Mwinyi’s term to seven years was met with widespread condemnation from across the political divide on Monday June 24.

The Zanzibar State House quickly denounced the statement, and it was also condemned by both former leaders from CCM and opposition members.

Speaking as he officiated the closing of the UVCCM district executive council meeting held at the district office in Kiembesamaki Dimani, Zanzibar, over the weekend, Dr Dimwa said the Secretariat Members of the Special Committee of the CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) had endorsed a proposal to extend Dr Mwinyi’s term to seven years from the current five-year term.

According to Dr Dimwa, the decision to extend President Mwinyi’s tenure stems from satisfaction with his effective implementation of the CCM Manifesto for 2020–2025.

He claimed that President Mwinyi has achieved over 100 percent of the set targets within just three years and several months since taking office.

In an interesting turn of events, the Zanzibar State House issued a statement yesterday, castigating Dr Dimwa’s remarks.

Through the statement, which was signed by the director of Communications at the Zanzibar State House and Government Spokesperson, Mr Charles Hilary, Dr Dimwa’s did not portray Dr Mwinyi’s standpoint.

“Recently, there have been opinions suggesting that the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, should have his term extended to seven years instead of the five years stipulated in the Zanzibar Constitution,” the statement said.

“These opinions have gone further to suggest that next year’s general election to elect the President of Zanzibar should not take place. This is neither beneficial nor advantageous to our country and CCM, the party that adheres to democratic principles,” the statement reads in part.

Additionally, the statement emphasised that President Mwinyi is a staunch advocate for upholding the Constitution and the laws of the country.

“We wish to emphasise that these views are neither those of the President nor of the CCM in Zanzibar,” the statement further reads in part.

“In this context, President Mwinyi will continue to respect the established procedures for electing the President every five years. Furthermore, he has urged all those with differing opinions to close this debate,” the statement explained.

Earlier in the day, the opposition party ACT Wazalendo criticised the proposal for term extension, labelling it a sign of panic due to governance failures.

Addressing a rally in Magogoni Kwa Mwarabu, party cadre Mansoor Yusuf Himid emphasised that the true examination of CCM’s achievements in the past three years should be left to the electorate.

Supporting these sentiments, the party’s vice chairman in Zanzibar, Ismail Jussa Ladhu, criticised the term-extension talks, saying they undermine democratic principles.

Former CCM Secretary General, Pius Msekwa, said the term extension suggestion saddened and dismayed him because it undermines the country’s constitution.

Msekwa stressed that the Constitution should not be taken lightly in accordance with the wishes and desires of certain people. It must be respected.

“The national constitution should not be toyed with as certain groups wish. It is something to be respected until there arises a genuine need to amend it through proper procedures,” he said.

He mentioned that attempts to extend presidential term limits in Zanzibar had occurred during Salmin Amour’s leadership but were thwarted in internal CCM meetings.

Msekwa, who also served as the Speaker of Parliament, expressed disappointment that such statements continue to surface despite similar attempts being frustrated in the past.

“It saddens me to see that there are still demands to play with the Constitution instead of respecting it,” he explained.

Nevertheless, he expressed his belief that those with such perspectives would reflect on history and find ways to rectify their stance.

According to CCM Secretary for Ideology, Publicity and Training, Amos Makalla, the party has no plan to extend President Mwinyi’s term to seven years.

He clarified that the budget for financing all elections has already been planned, and that elections will proceed as scheduled.

In a round of interviews he made on radio and television stations yesterday morning, Mr Makalla emphasised that what Dr Dimwa said was just an idea and not a decision.

“In brief, I can say that this matter does not exist,” he told Clouds Radio.

CCM’s decisions are made in proper, constitutional meetings, and the outcomes of these meetings are communicated accordingly.

He explained that decisions within the party are made by the Secretariat led by the Secretary General, the Central Committee led by the National Chairman, and the Special Committee of CCM Zanzibar led by the Zanzibar Vice Chairman.