THE leader of opposition in the Zanzibar House of Representatives, Mr Abubakar Khamis Bakari, plans to table a private motion seeking ‘unanimous support’ from legislators, on the proposal to form government of national unity ‘now.’
“We see bright future for Zanzibar after the recent President Amani Abeid Karume and CUF Secretary General, Seif Shariff Hamad meeting on reconciliation efforts. The House should show support of the reconciliation, by passing a resolution for the formation of government of national unity,” Abubakar said in the press statement.
He also suggests that Zanzibaris should be given opportunity to decide, either through referendum or any other means, the type of the government they want.
“I plan to ask the Speaker of my intention to table my private motion at the session beginning on January 20, this year. I want the House (CCM and CUF), to support the motion for the development of Zanzibar,” said Abubakar who is professionally a lawyer and former Zanzibar Attorney General.
Mr Abubakar’s statement skipped talking about the proposal for the extension of Karume’s tenure and the cancellation of the elections, but it is highly expected that the proposals would also dominate the session’s debate.
Earlier yesterday, the Zanzibar House of Representatives Clerk, Mr Ibrahim Mzee, said a private motion was not among the agenda ‘in-hand’ for discussion in the House.
It was highly speculated that one of the legislators was planning to table a private motion to seek the House’s support for the proposal to cancel the election and to have president Karume’s tenure extended.
If the proposals are accepted, the moves will prompt hot debate towards the amendment of the Zanzibar constitution.
“So far, what is in the 17th meeting of the House timetable to begin on Wednesday (tomorrow) are: The taking of oath by two newly appointed members, the tabling of Zanzibar Energy Policy, two bills and ministers to answer about 118 questions from the legislators,” Mr Mzee said at the meeting with journalists yesterday at his office.
He said his office had not received any notice for private motion, but added: “There is still ample time for any legislator to prepare a motion and present it to the House. According to the House regulations, the Speaker should be notified 48 hours before it is accepted for presentation to check the authenticity of the motion.”
Mr Mzee, a lawyer by profession, said that according to the law, the House can decide to postpone the elections, extend Karume’s tenure and also “Karume is legally empowered to form a government of national unity any time he wishes.”
But, the Clerk said that the extension of president Karume’s term ‘will definitely need the amendment to extend the life span of the House for additional six months. The current constitution allows the extension of the House in an event of war, but the House, which is the voice of Zanzibaris, can make any changes it wishes on the constitution without affecting the Union.”
He said that the amendment on Zanzibar constitution to allow Karume continue serving Zanzibaris after his tenure expires, could not directly affect the union constitution as speculated.
The Bills to be tabled in the House by respective ministers are: “An ACT to amend the Zanzibar Broadcasting Commission Act NO. 7 of 1997” and an “Act to make provision for the institutional establishment and operation of the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).”
The Public Prosecution Bill proposes prosecution policy and guidelines to be followed in handling trial and that “it shall be binding procedures to guide the exercise of the powers of a public prosecutor and in the handling of the relationship between the investigation authorities and prosecutors.”
Mr Mzee mentioned that legislators would witness the swearing-in of Mr Juma Duni Haji and Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, new members from CUF appointed by the president last month, following the on-going political reconciliation between Karume and Seif Sharif Hamad, before ministers answer main questions from the legislators.
According to the Zanzibar constitution, the president is entitled to appoint 10 legislators in the House, in 2001 the constitution was amended following MWAFAKA accord, to allow Karume to appoint the two legislators from the opposition, but delayed to do so because CUF had not recognised him as a legitimate president, in protest against the 2005 general elections results.
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