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America renews travel advisory to Zanzibar Isles
2005-10-08 07:37:20
By Guardian Reporter
The Tanzania travel alert announcement by the United States will remain in place until November 30, 2005, according to www. travel.state.gov.America government’s State Department website.
The alert cautions Americans to the potential for disruptive demonstrations leading up to and following the October 30 Tanzanian elections.
’Americans are advised to review carefully any plans to visit Zanzibar during late October and early November 2005,’ reads the alert statement saying ’previous elections generally have been peaceful on the Tanzanian mainland but on Zanzibar (both Unguja and Pemba), violent demonstrations followed the 2000 elections and many people were killed’.
However, it clarifies that the demonstrations were not directed at tourists and no foreign visitors were hurt.
It says tensions are already rising on Zanzibar during the run up to the October 2005 elections.
Opposition party leaders have threatened to stage massive demonstrations if their conditions for a free and fair election are not met.
The opposition is calling for peaceful demonstrations, but demonstrations can turn violent with little or no warning.
If these demonstrations do occur, they are not expected to target foreign tourists.
However, they could disrupt normal transportation and communication systems, reads the statement.
American citizens travelling to Zanzibar during this period are advised to maintain a high level of security vigilance at all times and to avoid political rallies and related public gatherings, says the statement.
’Americans living or travelling in Tanzania are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration web site, travelregistration. state. gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Tanzania,’ says the statement.
It tells Americans without Internet access to register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam.
’By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency,’ says the statement.
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