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Police force Zanzibar candidate to end rally
2005-09-24 08:22:53
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
The police in Zanzibar on Thursday forced the Isles Jahazi-Asilia presidential candidate, Hajji Mussa Kitole, to end his campaign rally after exceeding the allowed time for campaigns in the Isles.
Field Force Unit (FFU) with full anti-riot gear, arrived six minutes past the hour set for the Zanzibar presidential candidates to end their campaigns. Regulations require the candidates to end their campaign rallies at 6.00pm.
’’You have exceeded the required time; you have to stop your rally immediately,’’ FFU commanding officer is alleged to have ordered the audience to disperse.
It was reported that at the beginning of the rally which was held at Kisiwandui area opposite the Zanzibar CCM headquarters, the party’s public address system (PAS) speakers announced that they would end the rally at 6.30 pm, claiming that they had started late.
According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the overseers for Union elections, political campaigns should end at 6.30pm, however the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) instructed that the time for Zanzibar candidates to end their campaigns is 6.00pm.
’’The code of conduct signed by all political parties clearly explains when to end political rallies at this period of campaigns. They are supposed not to go beyond 6.00pm,’’ ZEC information Officer Idrissa Jecha told The Guardian.
Commenting on the incident, Kitole said: ”This was a continuation of suppression by the CCM government on the opposition.
I am certain that if it were Amani Abeid Karume speaking no police would dare come near him even if he went beyond the time.’’
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