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’Verdict on independent candidates not for Isles’
2006-05-08 08:15:54
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
The High Court’s verdict that allows independent candidates to run for the presidential and parliamentary seats does not bind Zanzibar, the Isles government has said.
Zanzibar’s Deputy Attorney General Omar Makungu, who also doubles as assistant chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, said yesterday that the judgment does not bind Zanzibar in principle because the Isles has its own Constitution.
He said that, whereas it is true the High Court’s verdict is a constitutional matter and that Zanzibar is an integral part of Tanzania, it is also equally true that Zanzibar is a political entity with its own constitution.
Makungu made the remarks in response to the landmark judgment that has elicited a lot of interest in Zanzibar.
Last Friday, the High Court okayed independent candidates to run for the presidency and parliamentary seats and directed the government to put in place mechanisms between now and the next general election to enable the electorate to know that ’’no-party’’ candidates can run for seats.
The decision came in respect of a petition filed by Rev Christopher Mtikila, the national chairman of Democratic Party.
However, Makungu said Zanzibar could uphold the verdict if and when need arose, especially in the event of a constitutional amendment of the Zanzibar Constitution by the House of Representatives.
’’The High Court verdict does not alter Zanzibar’s election laws that require every contestant to be a member of a political party,’’ Makungu said.
In his own views, however, he said, the decision will enhance democracy in the country although it may result in heavy financial constraints to potential candidates.
Since its pronouncement, the judgment has dominated political debate on the Isles, with most Zanzibaris expressing support to the High Court verdict.
Zanzibar, although a member of the Union, is semi-autonomous and runs its own general elections.
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