This former teacher - hence his name, Maalim, meaning "teacher" in Swahili - would attract both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, to his rallies. They would all be clad in party regalia, chanting political slogans. But they regarded him as more than a politician. They saw him as a fatherly figure who relentlessly fought for their rights.
And they were loyal to him rather than to his party, which was evident last year when Mr Hamad decided to leave the Civic United Front Cuf , in which he had served as general secretary since its formation in His departure was over an internal wrangle and thousands of his supporters followed him to the ACT-Wazalendo party. He started his political life as a member of the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi CCM party, but was expelled in after falling out with the leadership.
While with CCM, he served as Zanzibar's chief minister between and The position was later renamed vice-president. In opposition he ran unsuccessfully for president of Zanzibar six times. Some of the polls were marred by irregularities and gross human rights abuses. The worst post-poll violence was in January where more than a dozen of his supporters were shot dead in the island of Pemba as they were protesting against results of the election.
Nevertheless, it was obvious that time was running out as illness and age were both taking their toll on Mr Hamad. Search Search. Home United States U. Africa 54 - November 11, VOA Africa Listen live. VOA Newscasts Latest program. VOA Newscasts. Previous Next. The Zanzibar government said it joined the Conference by mandate of its own constitution in order to achieve greater economic benefits. Tanzanian President Mwinyi publicly endorsed the Zanzibar decision, but the opposition was incensed and demanded his impeachment.
Zanzibar was later forced to withdraw from the OIC. Mwinyi has been accused of favoring Muslim and Zanzibari interests. He has repeatedly affirmed the secular nature of the state, but has done little to curb a growing fundamentalist attitude among some Tanzanian Muslims. Democratic Party leader Christopher Mtikila was arrested after rioting by hundreds of his supporters. The DP was legalized last year along with other political organizations, however it has not been granted legal status as a political party.
Zanzibari President Salim Amour urged the opposition to remain peaceful during the transition to pluralist politics. Opposition parties demanded that the government resign over its ineffectiveness in curbing secessionist sentiment on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Tensions between the islands has occasionally surfaced as has Muslim-non-Muslim sentiment on the mainland.
The Tanzanian government banned the Muslim fundamentalist group Balukta for inciting violence after its supporters went on a rampage smashing shops which sell pork. Thirty-eight were arrested in the incident, including the leader of Balukta Sheikh Yahya Hussein. Zanzibar President Salmin Amour told opposition parties to carry their arguments to parliament if they win any seats in the next general elections.
Parliament unanimously adopted a motion calling for a constitutional revision to permit the establishment of a separate government for the mainland. It has the backing of Union President Mwinyi and would create a third government in addition to the Union government and the government of Zanzibar. Mainland opposition leader Christopher Mtikila was released on bond pending charges of sedition and making violence. He had been in police custody for two weeks. His Democratic Party remains unregistered and advocates the separation of Tanzania from Zanzibar.
He has gained popularity among the urban poor who support his racial attacks against Asians and Arabs. With the opening up of the country to multiparty politics, the issue of secession for Zanzibar has again surfaced in Tanzania.
Zanzibar has a population of , and is dominated by Muslims. Most islanders would prefer secession. Tensions between Christians and Muslims and between Africans and Arabs and Indians remain high throughout the year, though there were no major incidents of violence.
A group of parliamentarians on the mainland continued to challenge the CCM's longstanding policy on the Union's framework and criticized Zanzibar's representation and influence in state institutions. The Muslim community claims it is discriminated against in terms of its representation in the civil service and government run industry while Christians accuse Union President Mwinyi, a Muslim, of favoring Muslims in his government.
The National Assembly rescinded the motion that established a third government in Tanzania to oversee the mainland. About 20 people were killed in Ngorongoro district in ethnic clashes between Maasai and Sonjo tribesmen.
The government deployed riot police to quell the disturbances. The CUF favors a three-tier system of government with looser ties to the mainland. Calls for greater autonomy for Zanzibar grew louder as the country's first multiparty election approached. Anti-Islamic sentiment grew on the mainland. Police tear gassed an opposition rally on the island of Pemba causing a stampede that injured 27 people.
Violence erupted in the capital Zanzibar when protestors hurled stones at police when the first results of island elections pointed to a clear victory for the CCM. Polling itself was relatively peaceful, and declared free and fair by independent observers. However, the vote counting was declared fraudulent. The electoral commission delayed the release of the final results of the poll for several days.
The CCM demanded the whole general election be nullified and called for a complete re-vote in months and for a new electoral commission.
The CUF threatened civil disobedience unless there was a recount of the presidential ballots. It said it would boycott the vote on the mainland if the Zanzibar Electoral Commission remained in charge.
Eleven Western countries issued a curt statement after the Zanzibar elections demanding a recount. International observers said the CUF probably won the elections. Final results gave the CCM the presidency with On the island of Pemba, the CUF won all 20 parliamentary seats. Pembans living on Unguja island were regarded as CUF supporters and were harassed after the elections. After the elections, police regularly detained, arrested and harassed CUF members and suspected supporters.
Dar es Salaam was tense as residents awaited the results of a High Court ruling on an opposition petition to have the mainland elections declared null and void. Elections turned sour when a shortage of ballot papers, especially in the capital, prevented large numbers of people from voting. The vote in the capital was canceled and rescheduled for 12 November. In the end, the CCM gained of elective parliamentary seats and its presidential candidate Benjamin Mkapa won
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