Tension subsides in Zanzibar as Shein takes oath of office

Unguja. Zanzibar President-elect Ali Mohammed Shein is scheduled to take the oath of office today in a ceremony to be attended by various dignitaries being led by the Union President John Magufuli.

As of yesterday, preparations for the swearing-in ceremony were in top gear as security personnel put final touches on rehearsals for today’s ceremony.

The Amaan Stadium, the venue for the event, was also being decorated as police patrolled the place to ensure security.

Dr Shein is expected to be sworn in by Zanzibar’s Chief Justice Othman Makungu at 10am, but the gates to the stadium would be open from as early as 6am.

On Monday, Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairman Jecha Salim Jecha announced Dr Shein winner of Sunday poll rerun, revealing that the CCM candidate bagged 91.4 per cent of the vote. However, the polls had been boycotted by the main Opposition party, CUF, which insists it won the October 25, 2015 General Election which was annulled by Mr Jecha who cited “massive irregularities”.

The CUF normally boasts nearly 50 per cent support in the Isles, thus it is quite a significant side.

The security situation prior to Sunday was tense, with a few reported incidents of bomb attacks, while at the same time there was massive deployment of security forces in both Unguja and Pemba islands.

The polls, however, took place in a peaceful and calm atmosphere, a situation that prevailed up to yesterday.

There was, however, one incident of violence which was reported in Micheweni Pemba on Tuesday when a group of CCM supporters who were celebrating their victory mocked CUF supporters. Police had to fire teargas canisters to contain the situation.

Yesterday, Home Affairs minister Charles Kitwanga told journalists that the Micheweni incident was not a big issue, “It was a case of celebrations going overboard. My call to all who will be celebrating is that they shouldn’t incite violence in the process. Police will be present but we wouldn’t like to use force.” Giving his assessment on the general security in Zanzibar, Mr Kitwanga said the situation has improved and the presence of security personnel would be cut down in the next few days.

“There were a lot of threats, that’s why we deployed our officers in big numbers, but the polls were conducted in a calm environment. We can’t afford to drop our guard now, but police patrols will be reduced as days pass by and eventually, things will get back to normal.”

Life in the streets of Zanzibar is also getting back to normal as shops and other businesses, which were closed from Saturday to Monday were resuming operations.

The Citizen interviewed some Zanzibaris to hear their voices on Dr Shein’s victory and today’s swearing-in function and they registered mixed feelings. Mr Rashid Kassim Kheir of Michenzani said he was relieved that what he termed an ‘‘election ordeal’’ was done and life was getting back to normal.

“The politics of Zanzibar have always been tense, but this time we went through the biggest trial of all times. I don’t like what happened and I don’t want to be a prophet of doom but it looks like the situation will also be tense in 2020 elections because the current political stalemate has not been amicably resolved,” he said.

For her part, a CCM supporter and resident of Miembeni, Ms Amina Ali Simai, said from today she expects Dr Shein to paick up Dr Magufuli’s development and anti-corruption pace.

“We have won the polls; now it’s time to work to build Zanzibar.

“I believe Dr Shein will hit the ground running just like President Magufuli to make Zanzibar’s economy shine again and ease the burden of poverty on ordinary citizens,” she said.