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Hats off to Karume
2005-11-03 06:49:39
By Editor
For the Isles, the battle is over and history has repeated itself.
Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume has been re-elected and after the glamorous swearing-in ceremony yesterday, he will now lead the Isles for another five years.
Karume swept to victory after defeating his arch-rival Seif Sharrif Hamad of CUF in last Sunday’s elections, which observers described as free and fair.
We would like to congratulate President Karume for battling wisely, peacefully and emerging tops. This wasn’t just a simple race.
Surely, we know that there were other presidential candidates who contested for the top most seat.
However, the actual tussle had pitted CCM against CUF.
At campaign rallies, the supporters of the two parties had sometimes clashed verbally and physically as each claimed to have outwitted the other.
Lest we forget, some people were seriously injured as parties sought to gain popularity.
But as the Swahili saying goes, Asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani, which can roughly be translated as, he who doesn’t accept defeat is not a contestant, CCM has won the election and CUF must accept this fact.
When Hamad threw his hat in the ring, he was aware that, in the end, there would be a winner and a loser.
And it has happened. CCM won and CUF lost. This is what democracy is all about.
CUF members have to come to terms with the wish of the majority.
The jubilation that erupted after Karume was declared the winner, a victory flashed by cameras across the continents by the international press, was a clear testimony that he is indeed the choice of the people of Zanzibar.
We urge the other parties, particularly CUF, to concede defeat, bury the hatchet and concentrate on other important matters of national interest. And the sooner the better.
It is no use bickering on the Isles 2005 elections, which to the best of our knowledge, are now history.
Both parties need to chart out the way forward and show the world that development and not individual interests, is top on the agenda.
The 2000 elections should serve as a lesson to the Islanders.
Their aftermath was dominated by ugly episodes of senseless clashes which made Tanzania a laughing stock the world over. A repeat should never happen.
We commend President Karume for stating clearly, when he was being sworn-in that he would lead the Isles without favour or rancour.
He said he is the entire Isles president and not one for those who elected him only.
A similar gesture ought to come from those who were defeated in the elections.
For, while political parties have different ideologies, visions and missions, the islanders are one people with a common goal.
And theirs is a wish to attain a better life, improved social services, including health and education.
We congratulate the islanders for concluding their elections peacefully and most importantly, for electing Amani Abeid Karume as their president.
With him at the helms, we know peace and prosperity will prevail.
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