Although the candidate’s forms were received on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in North and South Unguja, district election officials initially did not verify ACT’s sponsors due to the absence of physical party membership cards
Unguja. ACT Wazalendo has completed verification of sponsors for its Zanzibar presidential candidate, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, following instructions from the Chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), Judge George Joseph Kazi.
Although the candidate’s forms were received on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in North and South Unguja, district election officials initially did not verify ACT’s sponsors due to the absence of physical party membership cards.
The party’s Chief Legal Officer, Mr Omar Said Shaaban, clarified that this was not due to a lack of sponsors.
Election officials declined to accept members’ information through the system because the membership cards were electronic.
In response, Judge Kazi directed ZEC Director, Mr Thabit Idarous Faina, and the party’s chief legal officer to review and verify the information together, with the task to be completed by 9:00 a.m. today, Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Speaking to Mwananchi Digital at his office on Thursday, September 11, 2025, ZEC Director of Elections, Mr Faina, confirmed that the information has been verified and that the candidate now meets the requirement of 200 sponsors in each region.
He said information and communication technology (ICT) experts from ACT Wazalendo and ZEC officials jointly reviewed the forms.
“For North Unguja, 250 members were listed as sponsors. During verification, 11 members were found to have inaccurate information as their membership card numbers did not match their names,” he said.
He added, “For South Unguja, 207 members were listed. During verification, six members were found with inaccurate information as their card numbers did not match their names,” added Mr Faina.
He further stated that the next step is the nomination, scheduled to take place today, September 11, 2025, at 5:00 pm.
In a statement from the party’s chairman of the victory team, Mr Ismail Jussa Ladhu, it was noted that the verification process is complete.
The party is now preparing for its campaign launch, set for September 13 on Pemba Island.
