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Chaos in Kenya causes ripples in Zanzibar
2008-01-02 08:40:42
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Scores of Tanzanians originating from Pemba Island are said to have been fleeing to Zanzibar by dhow from urban areas on Kenya`s coastline following the ongoing post-election chaos in that country.
Kenya`s President Mwai Kibaki won a second five-year term on Sunday in an election whose results are fiercely challenged by an opposition led by his archrival and former ally, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement.
The chaos has led to riots that have resulted in the killing, mostly by shooting, of an estimated 200 people.
Pemba North Regional Commissioner Faki Dadi Faki confirmed yesterday that the Tanzanians had been fleeing Kenya since last Saturday and included whole families.
``Yes! They have been crossing over through Pemba and a number of territorial border points. Most are Tanzanians of Pemba origin who had been living in Mombasa and Kisumu,`` he said.
These reports follow a survey made at Msuka, Kiuyu Minungwini, Makangale, and Shumba villages in North Pemba, explained the RC.
``We are still closely studying the trend to see if the number is increasing. For now, these people are hosted by their relatives and we are yet to establish any refugee-type camps for them,`` said Faki, adding: ``However, if their numbers keep rising, the government will be forced to come up with more proper resettlement plans.``
Some Pemba residents interviewed by this paper in the last few days said they had received phone calls from their relatives in Shimoni, Mombasa, in Kenya, asking that they help them with transport back home.
Contacted for comment, North Pemba Regional Police Commander Ali Omar said no Kenyan had officially reported to them asking for refuge.
However, he explained that the local regional security committee recently discussed the political developments in Kenya ``only to find that some non - Tanzanians were entering Pemba in curious circumstances and being hosted by their relatives and friends``.
``Other measures will be taken later on as the events unfold. We are keenly monitoring the situation in collaboration with local government leaders, with a view to identifying foreigners entering the Isles and drawing up appropriate accommodation modalities,`` said the RPC.
Civic United Front legislator Hamad Rashid Mohammed, who is also Leader of the Official Opposition leader in the National Assembly, advised the government to devise an appropriate strategy for hosting the Tanzanians fleeing Kenya.
In special New Year’s Day remarks, the MP also asked African leaders to observe the principles of democracy and respect public opinion ``to rescue the continent from political crises similar to the one that has engulfed our neighbours to the north``.
Investigations by The Guardian over the last two weeks have revealed that some Kenyans of Asian origin had put up in tourist hotels in Zanzibar shortly before and after Kenya’s general elections on Thursday in circumstances widely believed to be related to the holding of the poll.
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