Seif under attack
Seif: If we rush to conduct elections there is a danger of losing everything we have attained
They accuse him of having a sinister by calling for Karume term's extension
By The Citizen Team
Civic United Front (CUF) secretary general Seif Shariff Hamad yesterday came under fire for proposing that Zanzibar's elections be postponed and President Amani Abeid Karume's tenure extended for two years.
Those disagreeing with the veteran opposition politician's stance read a sinister move in his insistence that Mr Karume be allowed to stay in office longer.
They charged that it was an indication that "some personal agreement" was reached when Mr Hamad met his long-time political foe at State House Zanzibar last November.
But renowned former University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) law professor Issa Shivji supported Mr Hamad�s call, noting that it was an opportunity to solve the Zanzibar political standoff and should be used effectively.
In his open letter issued yesterday, Prof Shivji said that considering the prevailing situation in Zanzibar, holding elections would only create more problems.
But the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ruled out the possibility of extending President Karume�s tenure, arguing that CUF need not fear, as the new leader would carry on the agreement between the two sides.
Secretary general Yussuph Makamba told reporters in Dar es Salaam that CCM would not go against the Constitution, which provides for only two-five year terms for a President.
"Karume himself has shown he respects the Constitution. In fact, we are starting to get worried about the praise from the opposition. If you see your enemy praising you, you should be worried," he said.
Speaking separately, the CCM publicity secretary, Mr John Chiligati, said there was no need to extend Mr Karume�s stay in power because the presidency is institution.
"CUF should not fear because anything agreed on is going to be implemented after Karume's tenure," he said.
A former UDSM political science lecturer, Prof Mwesiga Baregu, said the CUF secretary-general�s stand might be a result of his secret talk with President Karume late last year. He said the extension of the Zanzibar President�s term was not desirable.
He said he hoped the deal between President Karume and Mr Hamad was not about their individual interests, but for their two parties, CCM and CUF.
"If that was case, it is obvious that whoever is elected in the Isles from either of those two parties will maintain the agreement, unless what they agreed was personal."
UDSM lecturer Azaveli Lwaitama wondered why CUF was insisting on the extension of the presidential tenure, while Mr Karume had declared he was not interested in it.
"I am starting to think that these two have not told us everything they discussed and agreed on in their meeting last year," said Dr Lwaitama.
He said President Karume should implement what he had agreed on with Mr Hamad before his term ends.
NCCR-Mageuzi national chairman James Mbatia said there was no need for Mr Karume to stay on.
"Is Karume the panacea for Zanzibar's problems? I don't think so because he has been there for the last nine years. What has he failed to do which he can do in another two years?" asked Mr Mbatia.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) national chairman, Mr John Cheyo, warned against undermining the Constitution.
"We have presidential term limits. The reason given for extension does not hold water. Karume must go after his term ends," he said.
Another opposition leader, Mr Augustine Mrema, said the only solution to Zanzibar's political problems was a power sharing deal, "which does not necessitate the extension of the presidential term".
The Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) national chairman said that since the assassination of President Abeid Amani Karume, "true democracy has been eluding Zanzibar".
He added: "A personal deal between Seif Shariff Hamad and President Karume will not be enough to solve Zanzibar�s political problems," he said.
The US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Alfonso Lenhardt, urged Zanzibar leaders to reconcile and solve their political problems for a better future (See opinion piece on Page 8).
He called for a system that would ensure equity as, "given Zanzibar's history of elections between two parties with nearly equal numbers of supporters, a system that denies the losing side any voice in government leads to tension."
He said political tension impeded development, as the unrest in Zanzibar damaged Tanzania's reputation and discouraged tourism and investment, damaging the economy.
For his part, a prominent lawyer, Mr Mabere Marando, dismissed Mr Hamad�s proposal to extend President Karume's term as "dictatorial."
He told The Citizen: "Hamad is revealing himself to the people of Tanzania and Zanzibar, in particular, as the type of leader who can be prepared to breach the Constitution and serve his interests," Mr Marando told The Citizen in an interview.
He spoke a day after the CUF leader told a symposium on Zanzibar politics that elections "are not as important as consolidating the peace initiative in the Isles".
Urging the House of Representatives to push for postponement of the elections, Mr Hamad also appealed to Mr Karume to agree to an extension of his term to preside over the transition.
On November 5, Mr Hamad and President Karume held their landmark meeting at the Zanzibar State House, which was praised locally and overseas as crucial in forging reconciliation in the Isles.
Though both have not been explicit about what they agreed on at their first meeting in nearly 10 years, it was followed by CUF�s shocking announcement that they had officially recognised Mr Karume as the bona fide Zanzibar President.
Later, President Karume nominated two CUF members to the House of Representatives, which he had not done since the 2005 General Election.
At public rallies by the two leaders in Unguja and Pemba, they explained that they had been motivated by the need to find a lasting solution the political standoff in the Isles.
But yesterday, Mr Marando disagreed with the extension plea, saying the reforms needed "can be carried out any credible leader who takes over from President Karume".
He added: "Reforms do not depend on personalities. The most important thing is that they have established a position which can be continued by any other leader."
He said changing the Constitution just because a leader had started an initiative would set a bad precedent.
Mr Marando, a former a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), said Mr Karume shouldn�t use the pretext for a referendum on the Constitution to remain in power as Niger President Mamadou Tandja and Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni had done.
Reported by Victor Karega, Bernard Lugongo Alex Bitekeye and Bernard James
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