In Our Memory
Election 2005
Zanzibar had a general election on October 30, 2005 and again the ruling party has rigged and manipulated the results. Under the direction of CCM, State security, and other state organs, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Amani Abeid Karume the winner.
Police Fires at Opposition Supporters - 18 injured (October 08, 2005)
At least 18 people have been injured when riot police opened fire on a crowd of supporters of the opposition party, Civic United Front (CUF), heading for a campaign rally in Donge. The incidence happened at Mahonda, about 30 km north of Zanzibar Town.
According to eyewitnesses, police road-blocked buses carrying CUF supporters and fired tear gas cannisters and live bullets when they failed to disperse.
Donge constituency is one of the highly protected CCM enclaves in Zanzibar. Its House of Representatives seat is currently occupied by Ali Juma Shamuhuna, a powerful minister in the current Zanzibar Revolutionary Government. However, CUF claims to have a huge following in the area and their efforts to hold political rallies have been consistently denied by the authorities.
CCM Supporters Injures Opposition Sympathizers in a New Attack (September 25, 2005)
CCM Militia Injures Nine People in a New Attack (April 13, 2005)
About seventy CCM Militias arrived in two trucks at a voters' registration centre in Kinuni and ruthlessly attacked people on the queue injuring nine of them, some in very serious condition. Today's attack was witnessed police officers who did nothing to protect innocent civilians.
Like all the other incidences, no arrest has been made until now. Instead, the Commissioner of Police was heard planning to interrogate the injured and not the culprits whose activities are well known within government and police circles.
CCM Militia Terrorize Opposition Sympathizers (April 04, 2005)
A new wave of violence has flared in Zanzibar where the ruling party (CCM) sponsored militia are terrorizing opposition sympathizers in the on-going permanent voters registration exercise. They have been running a campaign of burning down houses and property belonging to people from the island of Pemba, considered to be the opposition stronghold. They have inflicted bodily harm and injuries to a number of people, including the father of the opposition Member of the Zanzibar's House of Representative, Mr. Burhan Muhunzi.
Fresh Political Violence Erupts in Zanzibar (Mar 07, 2005)
Fresh political violence has erupted in Zanzibar when supporters of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and those of the opposition, Civic United Front (CUF) clashed at Kilimahewa while on their way home from political rallies held at Chumbuni and Kibanda Maiti on Sunday, March 6, 2005.
At dawn, unknown people believed to be members of the pro-government militia, have attacked the house of Mr. Seif Shariff Hamad, the Secretary General of CUF, setting on fire three cars and injuring the guard, one Suleiman Abdallah. In another development, four CUF branches in Mpendae, Migombani, Kianga A and Kianga B, were burned to the ground.
Zanzibar Hit by a Tremor (Jan 15, 2004)
A low-scale earthquake tremor shook Zanzibar at 8:15 am this Saturday January 15, 2005 causing panic among residents. The tremor, that lasted for a maximum of 2.5 seconds, was reported in many areas of the main island of Unguja and in some areas of Pemba.
There are no reports of damages but after the Tsunami catastrophy, that hit a score of countries in the Indian Ocean, there was a great deal of discomfort among residents of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar Celebrates 41st Anniversary of the Revolution
The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar celebrated its 41st Anniversary since coming to power in a revolution that toppled the first government of independent Zanzibar. The event was attended by top Tanzanian leaders and the guest of honour was Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe.
Listen to the speech by the President of Zanzibar here ...
Major Zanzibar News for 2004
Year 2004 showed a good start in Zanzibar but towards the end of the year, the politically motivated killing of a teenager by the members of government sponsored paramilitary, the Coastguards (KMKM) during the voters registration exercise in Pemba, reminds all Zanzibaris of the tough times ahead.
Read the major news of 2004 here ...
Zanzibar's Opposition Looses a Leader
Mohammed Ali Yusuf, the former high-level leader of the Zanzibar's opposition has passed away on December 23, 2004 after long illness. Messages of condolence from Zanzibaris all over the world have flooded the Zanzinet forum in memory of the late Mohammed. For many, he was a leader of his own calibre who showed great maturity and wisdom in tackling Zanzibar's political issues.
Mohammed was a high-level leader of the Civic United Front (CUF), the leading political party in Tanzania's opposition camp. He left politics to undergo medical treatment in India. On his return, it seemed as if he was winning the battle with the illness but the condition worsened and ultimately, he died at the Aga Khan hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Rajiuun!
Pemba Killings (Dec 01, 2004)
A 16-year old boy, Juma Omar Juma, has been killed and two other people seriously injured during the voters registration exercise in Pemba. We have the bullet-riddled picture of the late Juma Omar Juma but cannot post it on the web. If you would like to spread the word in the spirit of respecting human rights, please write to the webmaster for a copy of the picture.
Pictured here is one of the injured people in hospital. Click for a larger picture.
Read press release from the Zanzibar Law Society and more information here ...
Read CUF's press release in Swahili here ...
Zanzibar Killings (Jan 26/27, 2001)
The 2000 Elections
The treason trial of 1972