Baadhi ya Dondoo za Uhuru wetu kwa Kutimiza miaka 49 Maneno ya mzee huyu tuyaamini Vipi? Karume alikataa kuunda serkali na ZNP na alikua na nia kweli ya Kuunda serikali ya Mseto zaid iya kuwasweka Jela Wapinzani wake ! President Amani Abeid Karume's unity government idea is being viewed in some quarters as being ultimate fulfillment of his late father's dream. The first President of Zanzibar, the late Abeid Amani Karume, believed in unity government but died before forming one, it has been said. It was Kwame Nkrumah in 1958 who first advised the late Abeid Amani Karume, the leader of the then Afro Shiraz Party (ASP), and Ali Mukhsin Barwani of the Zanzibar National Party (ZNP) to work together, win elections together and win independence together, revealed Mr Salum Rashid Maulid. Hitoria ya Wanaomkumbuka Waziri Mkuu wa Kwanza wa Zanzibar ilio huru Mohammed Shamte ! Even other politicians had their benefactors in people like Akber Rajpar and Mustafa Jaffer. Some exploited the situation and gained riches. Mustafa Songambele who became the Area Commissioner of Dsm was once the driver of ‘Walji & Alibhai’. Nassor Moyo (father of the once Minister Hassan Nassor Moyo) and Mtoro Rehani (Mayor of Zanzibar) operated printing machines at ‘Samachar Printing Press’ in Zanzibar. When the editor of ‘Samachar’, the late Roshan Master, was jailed during the tumultuous days of the Revolution Mtoro Rehani lent a helping hand. The irony of time had turned the scene. President Karume was said to provide a helping hand to many of his old acquaintances. One of them being my Zanzibar neighbour Abdulrasul Ladak’s (Abhu Ladak) son Kasu (Kasu Nahoza) who was President Karume’s best pal in the struggling days of their youth. From personal experience I want to relate this particular incident that would etch on my mind for ever. It was the year 1973 and at that time I was working with NBC’s Jamhuri St. Branch (now Mnazimoja Branch) and heading Savings Dept. It was the month of Ramadhan and around Eid time. There was a big rush at the bank and customers stood in a queue waiting to see me. The savings regulation of not permitting to draw amount exceeding certain figure unless authorized by officer in charge had prompted the queue. As Eid was approaching the requirement was quite high. The customers would come, sit before me and present their case. If satisfied with their explanation then I’d authorize payment. It was a very busy day and I did not even raise my head to see who I was talking to. One by one the customers came. Then all of a sudden I found on my table a ‘savings withdrawal voucher’ with a very familiar name and the bearer murmuring something. The name had a startling effect on me. Immediately I got up from my chair, momentarily did not know what to speak and then mustered up all the courage to greet him with courtesy. I even apologized to him if he’d to wait in the queue. Instantly I authorized his voucher and personally went to the cashier to collect cash for him lest he’d to wait any further. All along he was so humble with his benign smile and kept saying “Na shukuru”. It made me feel very sad. The customer was none other than Zanzibar’s former Prime Minister (of the pre Revolution Government) Mohamed Shamte. We never know what destiny holds for us.