Zanzibar has no authority over oil, gas exploration, says ACT

Unguja. Opposition Party ACT Wazalendo said yesterday that the promises of Zanzibar exploring its own gas is an illusion because the isles does not have that jurisdiction given the fact that it is Union matter that was passed in 2015.

The conference was convened to hand over the party’s brand promise to the youth, whom the party said are the true bearers of its vision of Zanzibar under the tag “Mimi na Zanzibar, Zanzibar na Mimi”.

Addressing the youthful audience at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Unguja, the party’s Vice Chairman and First Vice President of Zanzibar, Othman Masoud Othman, among other issues, said whoever is promising Zanzibar that they can sign exploration deals should first read the law in its entirety.

"The first thing that any explorer will seek to know is where your jurisdiction ends before they can embark on such an expensive venture; therefore, as of now, Zanzibar does not have such powers," he told the hundreds of youth in attendance.

Responding to some of the questions the youth had put forward earlier, which included issues regarding judicial independence and unemployment, he admitted that the administration of the judiciary in Zanzibar is problematic.

"As we all know, the courts are where justice is supposed to be delivered, but when you go to court and you are not guaranteed that justice, it becomes discouraging, which is why some investors cannot come here," he said.

He added that the justice system is the way it is because it was never established to serve the interests of the people.

In his assessment, Zanzibaris should never expect the same people who created this anomaly to willingly rectify it.

"Under the current mindset, Zanzibar cannot prosper to serve the interests of its people," he said.

He said it was from that background that they at ACT see the need to have a government that can take Zanzibar where it belongs, therefore making the issue of full autonomy not negotiable.

"We want to have a government that protects you instead of one that hunts you down like some animal, because the basic goal of any government is to protect its citizens," he said.

Addressing the gathering, which had youth from all the constituencies of Unguja and Pemba, Mr Ismail Jussa, a key figure in the party’s hierarchy, highlighted some of the issues that they would task their party’s administration with after 2025.

"Should we be voted into office, we want our president after 2030 to emerge as the founding father of modern Zanzibar and not one that works for the gains of a certain clique of people," he said.

He further added, Our President will be someone who is trustworthy and a reformist who will build institutions.

Speaking earlier, Mr Mansour Yusuf Himid called on the youth to stand up for their rights because whatever they are struggling for today belongs to the youth who will lead tomorrow.

He said their past tribulations were because of a bad constitution; therefore, nothing should be taken for granted given the recent precedent.

"Just having a good president who believes in the rule of law like Samia Suluhu Hassan is not enough; a new constitution that guarantees our freedoms and rights is the key, without which we should forget about some of the things that we are talking about today," he said.

Responding to one of the questions, Mr Himid said the current Government of National Unity is not representative because it is only at the top.

"It was Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad’s dream in 2015 to form a government that was more encompassing from the Shehia to the top."