ACT says CCM bigwigs ready to collaborate for opposition victory in Zanzibar

Unguja. Opposition party ACT-Wazalendo has claimed that some CCM party bigwigs are ready to work with them to deliver victory to them in the 2025 General Election, because they have lost trust in the leadership.

The collaboration jibe is one that is likely to rattle feathers within the ruling party CCM’s ranks which was meeting a few kilometers away at its headquarters at Kisiwandui, Zanzibar.

In a cryptic message delivered by the party’s vice chairman Ismail Jussa Ladhu, the party did not name the so-called big wigs within the ruling party CCM who are ready to collaborate against their own party.

“When the right time comes they shall be known, but that doesn’t mean that we can now lay on our laurels because we are getting an extra hand from elsewhere. On our own we have the muscle to deliver the victory, we just have to keep on with the hard work,” he said.

He added: We succeeded in 2015 because we were a closely knit unit that worked tirelessly despite the fact that we were robbed of that victory.

In another development, the party has said it is awaiting a meeting of its leadership committee to assess the performance of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to decide whether to continue or step aside.

Speaking to newly elected party leaders at Majid Hall in Unguja on Sunday, May 18, the National Chairman of ACT Wazalendo, Othman Masoud, said that as long as they remain within the GNU, people believe that things are going well.

"We entered the GNU with faith and agreement for implementation, but we did not expect them to be ignored, and so far we see no commitment," said Othman, who is also the First Vice President of Zanzibar.

He said that staying within the GNU is to reassure the citizens and the world that things are going well, unlike how they seem.

He said that after seeing things go contrary to their expectations, a leadership committee was formed and several issues were identified and presented to their counterparts (whom he did not mention) for implementation.

According to Othman, the issues presented include ensuring that everyone entitled to a birth certificate receives one, everyone entitled to a Zanzibari identity card (Zan ID) receives one, and everyone entitled to voter registration is registered.

Others include reforming the electoral system, amending electoral laws and the secretariat, and eliminating the two-day voting process.

"These are fundamental issues that need to be addressed quickly to ensure that every citizen gets their basic rights," he said.

He said that after presenting their demands, they were told to give them time to discuss. However, he said they do not have time to wait any longer; within this month of May, they will convene a meeting of that leadership committee to assess and make a decision.

"So many were wondering whether we're going this way or that way, the answer is no, we are not going along with the status quo.

Othman said the difference between his party and others is that his party is for the country's interests, while others are for personal interests.