Friday, 25 June 2010

THREE MORE VUVUZELA CANDIDATES PICKED NOMINATION FORMS

Three more members of the ruling CCM yesterday picked nomination forms for president of Zanzibar in the forthcoming general election slated for October 31, this year.

They are minister for Education and Vocation Training Haroun Ali Suleiman, famous businessmen Mohammed Raza and Mohammed Yusuf Mshamba, a retired senior Foreign Affairs officer.

The three aspirants, who are seeking to succeed Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume after the expiry of his tenure later this year, collected the forms from CCM’s Isles headquarters at Kisiwandui between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.

Speaking to party members who support his bid after collecting the forms, Suleiman promised to maintain and protect the union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika, which led to the birth of the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964.

He also promised to give equal opportunity to all Zanzibaris, regardless of race, colour, religion and ideology.

“I will continue to unite all Zanzibaris who are in the country and those who are outside the country and ensure that they also contribute to the development of this country,” he emphasized.

Raza, on the other hand, promised to bring development, unity and solidarity among Zanzibaris. He also underlined discipline and political tolerance in the leadership process.

“Once elected president, I will stop doing business and concentrate on politics because these two things cannot go together,” said Raza.

He also promised to empower small-scale businesspeople and ensure that tax is efficiently collected.

Raza said he would do all he could to look for investors to re-establish industries, which in turn would boost the economy and create jobs for the poor majority, especially youths.

The number of CCM members who have so far picked the nomination forms has now reached 11. They include Vice-President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, Tanzania Ambassador to Italy Ali Karume, Deputy Chief Minister Juma Shamhuna and former chief minister Mohamed Gharib Bilal.

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