Hamad eligible voter, ZEC declares
 
2005-04-21 08:56:52
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar

	Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad displays his voter’s identity card after he was allowed to register in the permanent voter register at Kiwanda cha viatu center, Mtoni Kidatu in Zanzibar yesterday.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) finally registered CUF secretary-general, Seif Sheriff Hamad yesterday, bringing to an end the weeklong controversy regarding his eligibility.

Soon after registering, a jovial Hamad told journalists, “I won my appeal and have finally registered. I advise other people who had a similar problem to appeal against ZEC verdict.”

The hearings of Hamad’s appeal on Tuesday and yesterday were heard in camera. ZEC agents were declined to speak to the press.

“I am happy to have registered because it is my right,” Hamad told journalists immediately after registering at Mtoni-Kidatu registration centre.

He arrived at the centre at around 7.30am yesterday morning ready for the hearing and registration.

Hamad, who has declared his interest in the Isles’ presidency on the Civic United Front ticket, was on Thursday, last week, barred from registering as a voter for the October 30 elections by a civic leader (sheha) and the assistant returning officer.

They claimed that Hamad had from “time to time” travelled outside Zanzibar and in the process breached 36-months consecutive stay clause as provided in the Isles’ electoral laws.

However, the Dole constituency returning officer, Haji Abdulrahman, said yesterday that travelling outside the constituency could not prevent one from registering. He made the ruling after consulting with ZEC higher authorities.

Hamad’s controversy attracted both local and international attention, forcing CUF supporters in Dar es Salaam to hold a demonstration last Sunday to protest ZEC agents’ decision to block Hamad from registering.

During the demonstration, CUF presidential aspirant Prof Ibrahim Lipumba warned of “possible” chaos in Zanzibar if Hamad was not registered.

CCM leaders in Zanzibar reacted sharply to the threat, saying CUF was subverting the law.

Hamad said he had been barred under a new law, which says voters must have lived in their constituency for three years.

He said about 32,400 eligible voters had been barred from registering under the same law.

Armed police and Zanzibar special security units were deployed at the Motoni-Kidatu voter registration centre in anticipation of trouble, had ZEC upheld its decision to lock Hamad out of the polls.

• SOURCE: Guardian