PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has commended Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume and Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary General, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, for their recent meeting that shed more light in resolution of protracted political tension in the Isles.
The Directorate of Presidential Communication said in a statement yesterday that President Kikwete, specifically hailed CUF for recognising President Karume and his government as legitimate authorities elected into office in October 2005.
The president's remarks comes hardly a week after Mr Hamad and Mr Karume met at the State House in Zanzibar, last Thursday (November 5), where the CUF leader declared his party's new position on the Isles' government.
"This is a major step in the right direction, particularly in the ongoing efforts to resolve protracted political tension and mistrust among Zanzibaris and other Tanzanians in general," the statement sent from Cairo, Egypt, quoted President Kikwete as saying. The president is in Egypt on official tour.
"I profoundly commend the two leaders for their decision that seeks to address interests of the people of Zanzibar and Tanzania in a broader perspective," he added.
President Kikwete has urged Zanzibaris, all Tanzanians and the international community to encourage and support the two leaders in their historic mission to find lasting solutions that had for long bedevilled the Isles.
"The two leaders need to be encouraged in order to step up efforts in bringing about the desired outcome," Mr Kikwete said.
He further urged Tanzanians to ignore all those who undermine and disparage good, patriotic and unselfish efforts being made by the two leaders.
"We hope their efforts will lead to our (Tanzanian) goal...where people live in love, peace, unity and solidarity...and no one has fears of any political retribution," the president stressed.
CCM and CUF have since January 2007, been engaged in dialogue in pursuit of lasting solution to political tension and mistrust among Zanzibaris, particularly supporters of the two rival parties.
ZANZIBAR President Amani Abeid Karume has said his recent talks with the Civic United Front Secretary General, Seif Sharrif Hamad, have opened a new chapter in the Isles.
Mr Karume said following the discussion, conflicts should not be entertained any more and must be replaced by hard work and commitment to develop the islands.
“Zanzibar has a long history of observing peace and stability as inherited from our grandparents. Therefore, there is a strong need to maintain it,” President Karume said in a statement released by the State House here yesterday.
He said that all people including development partners who love to see Zanzibar flourish "will definitely be happy with our efforts to unite Zanzibaris."
President Karume observed this after his meeting with the outgoing South Africa ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Sindiso Mfenyana, who commended President Karume and Mr Hamad for burying their differences, noting that the gesture should be learned by leaders in other African countries in conflicts.
“Putting behind your political differences means political, economic, and social development in the islands. I commend you for the big move to unite the people,” Mfenyana was quoted as saying when he met President Karume at State House yesterday.
President Karume and Mr Hamad opened a new chapter when they met behind closed doors at State House in Zanzibar last Thursday followed by a dramatic move by CUF leadership announcing recognising Mr Karume as president after four years of friction.
Meanwhile, Mr Hamad has received support from other party leaders such as Mr Ismail Jussa for advocating patience and tolerance after party declaration to recognise Karume last Saturday.
The leaders have conducted a series of meetings with leaders at lower levels trying to clear doubts from a section of CUF supporters who at the beginning did not welcome their leader’s decision.
“We need every CUF supporter and Zanzibaris in general to accept our decision of burying our political differences.
President Karume and Hamad are now committed to see that we live together as one family with no conflicts,” said Jussa to the party youths’ wing in Zanzibar yesterday.
On the other hand, Mr Hamad said that they decided that nothing would come out of sabotaging one another and that Zanzibaris now need to work together to save the “people from the suffering they have gone through since the beginning of struggle for independence in late 1950
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