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By In2EastAfrica - Thu Jun 02, 1:02 pm
Civic United Front (CUF)'s Publicity Director Salum Bimani also joined Chadema's Dadi Kombo to express concern about the low turnout
When international leaders and heads of state who come to visit Tanzania don't visit Unguja and Pemba Isles, it belittles the status of Zanzibar as a country and undermines the union.
This was said in a statement by Civic United Front's (CUF) director for publicity and mass communication Salum Bimani in the wake of a recent state visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
According to Bimani, the fact that during his two-day tour of Tanzania the Indian PM never set his feet in the Isles has left many Zanzibaris saddened.
He said Zanzibar enjoys long historical ties with India and, besides, it is part of the union that from the United Republic of Tanzania.
The CUF chief whip argued that when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation fails to put the Isles on a visiting dignitary's itinerary, it is indicative of yet another shortcoming in the union.
According to him, as a former independent country, Zanzibar should be accorded special status. He said it isn't right to treat the Isles as "just another mainland region, like Mtwara of Kilimanjaro."
"His (Indian Prime Minister's) visit could have opened doors for Zanzibar," said Bimani, accusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of relegating the Isles to the sidelines whenever dignitaries visit Tanzania.
He added that on four separate occasions, Zanzibar was left out when a foreign dignitary visited Tanzania, citing the visit by the Chinese president, the Turkish president and that of the former US president George Bush as cases in point.
Source The Guardian
Civic United Front (CUF)'s Publicity Director Salum Bimani also joined Chadema's Dadi Kombo to express concern about the low turnout
When international leaders and heads of state who come to visit Tanzania don't visit Unguja and Pemba Isles, it belittles the status of Zanzibar as a country and undermines the union.
This was said in a statement by Civic United Front's (CUF) director for publicity and mass communication Salum Bimani in the wake of a recent state visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
According to Bimani, the fact that during his two-day tour of Tanzania the Indian PM never set his feet in the Isles has left many Zanzibaris saddened.
He said Zanzibar enjoys long historical ties with India and, besides, it is part of the union that from the United Republic of Tanzania.
The CUF chief whip argued that when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation fails to put the Isles on a visiting dignitary's itinerary, it is indicative of yet another shortcoming in the union.
According to him, as a former independent country, Zanzibar should be accorded special status. He said it isn't right to treat the Isles as "just another mainland region, like Mtwara of Kilimanjaro."
"His (Indian Prime Minister's) visit could have opened doors for Zanzibar," said Bimani, accusing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of relegating the Isles to the sidelines whenever dignitaries visit Tanzania.
He added that on four separate occasions, Zanzibar was left out when a foreign dignitary visited Tanzania, citing the visit by the Chinese president, the Turkish president and that of the former US president George Bush as cases in point.
Source The Guardian