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Tendwa:Team up in search for Isles peace
2006-09-01 10:12:35
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Registrar of Political Parties John Tendwa has said he will never leave President Jakaya Kikwete to be the sole seeker of solutions to Zanzibar’s longstanding political problems.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, Tendwa said that he had decided to reinstate the Joint Commission formed after the CCM/CUF Accord in 2001 as the starting point for negotiations to end the Zanzibar question.
Tendwa was speaking at a press conference in Zanzibar after holding talks with representatives of 18 political parties.
He said the Joint Commission on CCM-CUF Accord was an important instrument for enhancing democracy and upholding peace and unity in the country.
”I’m the bridge between the government and political parties in our political system. It is therefore my responsibility to work with all political parties in finding a lasting solution to Zanzibar’s political problems,” he added.
He said although the political climate in Zanzibar is calm, there were still divisive problems resulting from administrative issues with roots in the last general election.
He said due to political problems arising from elections, there was an urgent need to amend the Elections Act so political parties are legally bound to the Code of Ethics.
Tendwa said when he met leaders of political parties, he received many complaints, some of which had threatened democracy on the Isles, especially in Pemba.
Some leaders had complained that some CUF leaders had blocked other political parties from running political affairs in Pemba.
”There is a need for legal enforcement of Code of Ethics for Political Parties because CUF has been blocking other political parties from conducting their activities in Pemba,” Tendwa said.
He said he had received suggestions on how to end political problems, including the formation of a government of national unity as a lasting solution.
Tendwa also called for civic education programmes in Zanzibar to enable people to know their civil and political rights.
”Many leaders have confidence in President Kikwete’s approach to tackling political problems in Zanzibar,” he said.
In the run up to the last general election, CUF complained that CCM had put in place, a mechanism to rig the elections.
It therefore vowed not co-operate with the Zanzibar government.
However, when President Kikwete addressed the Union Parliament last January, he promised he would fast-track Zanzibar’s political problems.
The government formed a special commission to tackle Union problems following his address to Parliament.
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