Zanzibar’s First Vice President calls for strong democratic foundation

Ugunja. Zanzibar requires a strong and effective democratic foundation that respects the decisions of the people in order to build lasting peace, stability, and a good future for its citizens.

This was stated by Zanzibar’s first Vice President Othman Masoud Othman, during a meeting with a delegation from the US Senate, at his office in Migombani, Western Urban Region, Unguja.

He noted that it is clear that the agreements reached when ACT Wazalendo was invited to join the Government of National Unity have not been implemented, which undermines trust among their partners and the majority of citizens regarding the Government and the upcoming elections.

Mr. Othman emphasized the efforts his party, ACT Wazalendo, is making to promote unity and solidarity within the Zanzibar Government of National Unity, while stating that these efforts have not yet reached the required levels.

“Indeed, time has passed; it has been four (4) years since we entered the Government of National Unity in Zanzibar, and the agreements made with our partners have yet to be executed. However, if there is a genuine political will, there is still time to restore the trust of the people of Zanzibar,” Mr. Othman stressed, outlining urgent issues that need to be addressed.

Among these issues, he mentioned the right of citizens to have access to the voter registration list, including the issuance of Zanzibar residency identification, the removal of ghost voters from the voter registry, improvements in the Electoral Commission including transparency in hiring honest staff, transparency in candidate selection, access to ballot papers, free and fair elections, and respect for the decisions of citizens in election results.

Additionally, Mr. Othman urged various stakeholders in democracy to continue believing that ACT Wazalendo is working diligently to seek justice, stability, and lasting peace, emphasising that the islands of Zanzibar heavily rely on tourism for their economy, thus peace is crucial for economic growth.

Furthermore, Senior Officer of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ms. Heather Flynn, stated that the United States will continue to cooperate with Zanzibar on various issues, promising closer engagement as the General Elections in 2025 approach.

She was accompanied by various US officials, including Ms. Andrea Freeman and Mr. Jonathan Howard.