The Civic United Front is today holding a major rally in Zanzibar where Secretary General Seif Shariff Hamad is expected to shed more light into his meeting, on Thursday, with President Amani Abeid Karume.
The opposition party has organised for the rally at Kibanda-Maiti, hot in the heels of the state house meeting with President Karume that signaled a major political turn around for the two rival politicians who had not been Seeing Eye to Eye.
Meanwhile the two leaders yesterday won praise from donors and other leaders who described their meeting as a good starting point for Zanzibar and its people to address challenges that have plagued the political scene in Pemba and Unguja.
Among foreign dignitaries who were the first to send their good will messages were from Britain, Norway and the UNDP.
British High Commissioner Diane Corner said of the meting between Karume and Hamad: "This is positive news. We will continue to monitor developments closely".
In a press statement, Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development, Erik Solheim said the successful meeting was a positive development.
I would like to congratulate the two political leaders on this bold step towards a lasting solution to the long standing political difficulties in Zanzibar. I would also like to encourage the parties to continue their dialogue aimed at achieving a successful and sustainable political solution, the Minister said.
The Norwegian ambassador to Dar es Salaam Jon Lomy on his side also congratulated President Karume and Hamad. The Embassy emphasizes the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the longstanding political difficulties in Zanzibar,said Lomoy.
In another statement, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said while the affair was an internal matter bwteen the two parties, the gesture was a welcome move to encourage open dialogue between political parties.
The CUF official were yesterday upbeat on todays meeting expected to be presided over by the partys national chairman Professor Ibrahim Lipumba and other invited dignitaries.
The partys international relations director Ismail Jusa Ladhu however said it was still early to disclose all that was discussed among the two leaders. He said the two have good plans for Zanzibar even though he was not ready to say some of them.
President Karume to meet Maalim is very positive, both are crucial stakeholders to end Zanzibar political impasse, we are sure that both of them are serious on solving the matter, Mr Jusa said ina aphone interview.
Mr Jusa urged international organisations and diplomatic missions to assist Zanzibar end political impasse.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) secretary-general Yusuf Makamba whose party had failed to end power sharing talks with CUF said he was not in a position to comment.
Mr Hamad stepped into the Zanzibar State House for the first time in several years after repeatedly turning down previous invitations by both President Karume and his predecessor, Dr Salmin Amour.
It was not immediately clear who initiated the meeting, which was made public after the two leaders had held discussions behind closed doors.
President Karume had in the past resisted attempts to bring him and Mr Hamad together after the CUF official refused to recognise Mr Karume as the Zanzibar President on the grounds that CUF was robbed of victory in both the 2000 and 2005 presidential elections. Mr Hamad was the CUF candidate and Mr Karumes closest rival in both races.
A brief statement from the State House said the talks between President Karume and Mr Hamad centred on the stability and future of Zanzibar, adding that the meeting was very fruitful.
The two men agreed to put aside their differences and work together to serve the people of Zanzibar.
The two leaders agreed on the need to have peace and mutual understanding in Zanzibar. They have agreed to end existing differences between them, which have played a significant role in sowing divisions among Zanzibaris, the statement said.
During their discussions, the leaders reiterated the significance of sustainable dialogue between them and their political parties, the statement said.
The meeting comes at a time when Zanzibar is in the international spotlight over violence that has marred the registration of voters in Pemba. CUF says its members are being prevented from registering by being denied Zanzibar residency identity cards (Zan-IDs).
Donor countries had condemned the violence, and expressed concern over the insecurity that has hampered the registration. The US recently incensed the Zanzibar government by issuing a travel advisory cautioning its citizens against visiting the isles.
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