Despite the fact that the Electoral Commission of Zanzibar has nullified the presidential election due to what it termed as gross irregularities, residents of the semi-autonomous Archipelago, whose two main islands are Unguja, often referred to as Zanzibar, and Pemba, maintained peace especially on the 25th October, the electoral date and even thereafter.
According to Rev. Father Cosmas Shayo, Parish Priest of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish in Zanzibar, residents voted peacefully without any violence or riot.
“Both Muslims and Christian turned out in good numbers and voted peacefully. Tension only occurred at the counting stations when the results were being announced. However, there was no violence reported and since the electoral commission nullified the results, people have gone back to their daily business as they await what will happen next,” Father Shayo told AMECEA Online News on Phone from Zanzibar.
He said that according to the constitution, following the annulment of the results, it will take ninety days to hold another election. However, it is unclear if and when new elections for Zanzibar's president and parliament will be held or what will happen next.
According to media reports on Monday, the main opposition candidate for the post of Zanzibar president, Maalim Seif Sharrif Hamad, declared himself the winner. His announcement attracted sharp rebuke from the governing Chama Cha Mapunduzi (CCM) Party, which called it illegal. The Electoral Commission Chairman in Zanzibar made the shock announcement that he was scrapping the poll because it was full of gross irregularities.
The semi-autonomous territory maintains a political union with main land Tanzania, but has its own Parliament and President.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News