Ali Karume: Isles govt not doing well
2009-01-12 11:00:44
By Joyce Kisaka
As Zanzibar celebrates 45 years of its revolution today, Ali Karume, the brother of the Isles president, Amani Karume, has said his brother`s government has not done well on the political terrain although economically it was on a sound track.
Karume, who is the Tanzanian Ambassador to Italy and the second son of the first Isles president, Abeid Amani Karume, told `The Guardian` in an exclusive interview at the weekend that despite the fact that his brother`s government had turned Zanzibar into a centre for tourism attraction it had failed to end the prevailing political logjam.
``There is an increase of tourists and investors today because the government has improved the environment for investment. There has been an increase in the number of tourist hotels and as a result, many employment opportunities have been created,`` he said.
Karume said however that despite these positive achievements, in the political arena, Zanzibar was still painting a bad picture both locally and internationally.
He said it was the duty of the government to ensure that long-lasting solutions were found on the negative image of the Isles` political situation, painted to the world.
``The world knows that Tanzania is a peaceful country, but it still has doubts on the ongoing political impasse in the Isles; and this is a failure on part of the government that is in power,`` he insisted
Ambassador Karume said President Jakaya Kikwete once promised to amicably solve the political impasse in Zanzibar.
He commended Kikwete`s ongoing efforts in addressing the matter, but said the process had taken too long since the accord or `Muafaka` team drawn from the Civic United Front (CUF) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) finalised its work early last year.
According to Ambassador Karume the discussion took 14 months and the two sides agreed to present the decision to their respective parties from which CCM came with the idea of a referendum.
``The issue is while constitutionally referendum is allowed, there are some issues that need referendum but not that one. To me, this is a failure,`` he stressed.
He added: ``What I see is that a power sharing deal in the Isles is the long-lasting solution to the ongoing political impasse.``
When asked whether he agreed with the complaints that Pemba has for a long time been isolated, the ambassador said: ``This is a very wrong perception�. the truth is that Pemba has a different perception of politics.``
He explained that Pemba Island needed to take the three top positions in the Isles government such as the post of Chief Minister and his Deputy.
He, however, said that Tanzania had twice appointed Vice Presidents from Zanzibar, specifically from Pemba during one occasion of which Seif Sharif Hamad was the Isles Chief Minister.
Commenting on the 2010 general elections,he said: ``I expect to vie for the post of Zanzibar Presidency. I am sure I will manage to lead Zanzibar. And people should look at political issues from an individual rather than family basis. We are different people with different abilities.``
He said if he got the chance to become president, he would form a coalition government in Zanzibar.
He, however, said he would be happy when time comes where the President of Zanzibar would come from Pemba Island.
Last week, the outgoing US Ambassador, Mark Green, said that the political climate in Zanzibar would improve if the Isles major party leaders declared that they respected their rivals as patriotic Zanzibaris and Tanzanians.
Green said he had noted the heated rhetoric that some partisans from both sides of the political divide used against their rivals.
``Honest political disagreements can be and should be discussed respectfully between fellow citizens who share a common desire for the well-being of their shared community,`` said Green in his farewell remarks in Zanzibar.
He said that leaders had a duty to teach their supporters the truth and to correct those who put party interests ahead of the interests of the community, adding that responsible leaders denounced irresponsible supporters.
Green referred to democracy as a dialogue that required mutual respect, urging political leaders to discuss, debate and even argue about Isles` policy options by all means, but asking them to remember that their political rivals were not enemies.
He said he was convinced that much of the bitterness in Zanzibar politics stemmed from traditions of political exclusivity whereby, power was exclusively held in the hands of a few.
``I believe that for the Zanzibar society and its economy to flourish, for Zanzibar to begin to tap its potential fully, its politics must come to be characterised by compromise, mutual respect and shared responsibility,`` he said.
Green clarified that once the political competition in Zanzibar was channeled through a structure that reassured all citizens that their rights will be respected even if their rivals are in power, then governance would improve hence full economic potential in the islands would be realised.
``It is a moral thing to do and it is also good business sense since everyone wins, investors and tourists are attracted to well governed, stable regions and they stay away from areas plagued by conflict and poor governance,`` Green explained.
He said the current set of Zanzibar political leaders was capable of reaching a power sharing agreement and implementing it in a sincere fashion that would serve the best interest of all islanders.
``I believe these leaders will agree on an arrangement that gives confidence to all political players so that the 2010 elections in Zanzibar will be free, fair and peaceful.
This is crucial, because Zanzibar cannot afford another controversial and disputed election,`` he concluded.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN
2009-01-12 11:00:44
By Joyce Kisaka
As Zanzibar celebrates 45 years of its revolution today, Ali Karume, the brother of the Isles president, Amani Karume, has said his brother`s government has not done well on the political terrain although economically it was on a sound track.
Karume, who is the Tanzanian Ambassador to Italy and the second son of the first Isles president, Abeid Amani Karume, told `The Guardian` in an exclusive interview at the weekend that despite the fact that his brother`s government had turned Zanzibar into a centre for tourism attraction it had failed to end the prevailing political logjam.
``There is an increase of tourists and investors today because the government has improved the environment for investment. There has been an increase in the number of tourist hotels and as a result, many employment opportunities have been created,`` he said.
Karume said however that despite these positive achievements, in the political arena, Zanzibar was still painting a bad picture both locally and internationally.
He said it was the duty of the government to ensure that long-lasting solutions were found on the negative image of the Isles` political situation, painted to the world.
``The world knows that Tanzania is a peaceful country, but it still has doubts on the ongoing political impasse in the Isles; and this is a failure on part of the government that is in power,`` he insisted
Ambassador Karume said President Jakaya Kikwete once promised to amicably solve the political impasse in Zanzibar.
He commended Kikwete`s ongoing efforts in addressing the matter, but said the process had taken too long since the accord or `Muafaka` team drawn from the Civic United Front (CUF) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) finalised its work early last year.
According to Ambassador Karume the discussion took 14 months and the two sides agreed to present the decision to their respective parties from which CCM came with the idea of a referendum.
``The issue is while constitutionally referendum is allowed, there are some issues that need referendum but not that one. To me, this is a failure,`` he stressed.
He added: ``What I see is that a power sharing deal in the Isles is the long-lasting solution to the ongoing political impasse.``
When asked whether he agreed with the complaints that Pemba has for a long time been isolated, the ambassador said: ``This is a very wrong perception�. the truth is that Pemba has a different perception of politics.``
He explained that Pemba Island needed to take the three top positions in the Isles government such as the post of Chief Minister and his Deputy.
He, however, said that Tanzania had twice appointed Vice Presidents from Zanzibar, specifically from Pemba during one occasion of which Seif Sharif Hamad was the Isles Chief Minister.
Commenting on the 2010 general elections,he said: ``I expect to vie for the post of Zanzibar Presidency. I am sure I will manage to lead Zanzibar. And people should look at political issues from an individual rather than family basis. We are different people with different abilities.``
He said if he got the chance to become president, he would form a coalition government in Zanzibar.
He, however, said he would be happy when time comes where the President of Zanzibar would come from Pemba Island.
Last week, the outgoing US Ambassador, Mark Green, said that the political climate in Zanzibar would improve if the Isles major party leaders declared that they respected their rivals as patriotic Zanzibaris and Tanzanians.
Green said he had noted the heated rhetoric that some partisans from both sides of the political divide used against their rivals.
``Honest political disagreements can be and should be discussed respectfully between fellow citizens who share a common desire for the well-being of their shared community,`` said Green in his farewell remarks in Zanzibar.
He said that leaders had a duty to teach their supporters the truth and to correct those who put party interests ahead of the interests of the community, adding that responsible leaders denounced irresponsible supporters.
Green referred to democracy as a dialogue that required mutual respect, urging political leaders to discuss, debate and even argue about Isles` policy options by all means, but asking them to remember that their political rivals were not enemies.
He said he was convinced that much of the bitterness in Zanzibar politics stemmed from traditions of political exclusivity whereby, power was exclusively held in the hands of a few.
``I believe that for the Zanzibar society and its economy to flourish, for Zanzibar to begin to tap its potential fully, its politics must come to be characterised by compromise, mutual respect and shared responsibility,`` he said.
Green clarified that once the political competition in Zanzibar was channeled through a structure that reassured all citizens that their rights will be respected even if their rivals are in power, then governance would improve hence full economic potential in the islands would be realised.
``It is a moral thing to do and it is also good business sense since everyone wins, investors and tourists are attracted to well governed, stable regions and they stay away from areas plagued by conflict and poor governance,`` Green explained.
He said the current set of Zanzibar political leaders was capable of reaching a power sharing agreement and implementing it in a sincere fashion that would serve the best interest of all islanders.
``I believe these leaders will agree on an arrangement that gives confidence to all political players so that the 2010 elections in Zanzibar will be free, fair and peaceful.
This is crucial, because Zanzibar cannot afford another controversial and disputed election,`` he concluded.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN
