Vice-President Ali Mohammed Shein's nomination to vie for the Zanzibar presidency in the October 31 General Election has been welcomed as the first step towards securing lasting peace and unleashing the Isles' economic potential.  Although Dr Shein, who was picked by the ruling party's National Executive Committee (NEC) in Dodoma on Friday, will first have to claw his way past the main opposition party, CUF's, candidate, a cross section of leaders, prominent personalities and some ordinary Zanzibaris were upbeat on their new government.

Many were looking forward to a leadership that would exceed the achievements of outgoing President Amani Abedi Karume, whose second and final five-year tenure is coming to an end. Those interviewed by the Sunday Citizen said they hoped the new leader would ascribe to the people's general aspirations. Ordinary citizens, traders, entrepreneurs and politicians spoke of the need for peace and unity among the people of the twin islands of Unguja and Pemba. They said they expected the new leader to relentlessly fight poverty, and rekindle a spirit of patriotism under the anticipated government of national unity.

The seventh phase government, they added, should also lay emphasis on reviving the Isles' economy and continuing the new political dispensation of peace and reconciliation ushered in last year, following a landmark meeting at State House, Zanzibar, between President Karume and Civic United Front secretary general, Seif Shariff Hamad. The chairman of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI), Mr Simai Mohammed, said: "The maintenance of peace and stability will create a conducive environment for economic growth and wealth creation that Zanzibar has been dreaming of for years."

Mr Simai told the Sunday Citizen by telephone from Dodoma that the Zanzibari political leaders must now work to realise the ideals of a government of national unity irrespective of the outcome of the General Election. "We have all been in gruelling campaigns for our candidates. I supported Aboud (Mohammed), but I have now fully embraced Dr Shein because he has the qualities to steer Zanzibar well. All the camps should now direct their energies towards securing victory for him to deliver on his promises."

The director of the Zanzibar Legal and Human Rights Centre, Mr Is-haq Ismail Shariff, said the reconciliation efforts must be kept alive. "The mere act of Karume meeting with Hamad saw the incidence of abuse of people's rights drop sharply," he said.  The installation of a government of national unity (GNU) would guarantee good governance, he added. Mr Ismail and Mr Simai said the next government should pick up from where President Karume has left. "Karume did well on infrastructure development, but his successor should deepen economic growth by looking for alternative sources of revenue instead of over-relying on tourism alone. The idea of a free port and conferencing should be on the agenda," said Mr Simai.

Mr Salum Rashid, who was the first secretary of the Revolutionary Council and a graduate of the prestigious London School of Economics, said the people of Zanzibar had "very high expectations of the GNU because they believe it will enable the country to recover economically, and socially and create employment". He added: "The political instability that has persisted for half a century has brought the economy to near total collapse. The people expect the next government to revive the economy and they want quick results."

Former Zanzibar Attorney General Himid Mbwezeleni, who is currently in private practice in the Isles, said the new leader must "cut the escalating cost of running the government, revive small and large scale industries that once existed in Zanzibar and give agriculture the priority it deserves". Mr Mbwezeleni added: "Today, a kilo of meat costs between Sh5,000 and Sh6,000. This would not have been the case had the Makurunge Ranch in Bagamoyo that was given to the Zanzibar by the second phase Union Government been functioning."

The next government should also revive the collapsed sugar factory and small-scale industries so the people of Zanzibar could earn a living throughout the four seasons of the year instead of depending only on tourism. "We should now put politicking behind us. What we now need is economic development," he said. A renowned political scientist, Prof Mwesiga Baregu, said the next government must pursue as a priority the reconciliation of the "much divided Zanzibaris". The former long serving University of Dar es Salaam lecturer who now teaches at St Augustine University's Graduate School in the city said: "The seventh phase government must continue the reconciliation process and make it more inclusive so that the can people realise that differences in politics do not mean war."

Another big challenge, he said, would be the Union question, especially the status of the Isles, its role in the East African Community, and the Articles of the of the Union, which had been increasingly raised in the recent past. "I hope the new leader will have sufficient courage to address these issues," he said. Prof Baregu also said that given the fact that recent statistics indicated that more than 50 per cent of Tanzanians were in favour of the participation of independent candidates in elections, the next President of the Isles would also have to address the issue.

Nominated MP Ismail Jussa said the next government would have to exercise financial discipline as part a strategy to fight the widespread poverty in Zanzibar. Mr Jussa who is a senior CUF official, praised the Karume government for fighting poverty, building infrastructure such as roads, enhancing electricity supply, and improving social services. "The next government must build on these foundations, which are aimed at reducing poverty and also seek to boost economic growth and create wealth for the people of Zanzibar," he said. Drug abuse, he said, wrecking the working force and must be arrested to ensure economic development.

In the streets of Unguja, ordinary Zanzibaris interviewed by the Sunday Citizen said they hoped the incoming government would create jobs and lift them out of poverty. "That is why we are eagerly waiting for the referendum this month to give the seal to a government of national unity that will listen to all of us. We are tired of divisions and rivalries that do not help the poor but only enrich a few in the ruling class," said Mr Salum Abdallah, a native of Pemba.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and not do necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.

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