Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Background

On 5 November 2009 a reconciliation accord was reached between Tanzania’s two largest political parties, the Civic United Front (CUF) and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on the future of the semiautonomous islands of Zanzibar. The accord was designed to resolve the parties’ political differences, and followed a long period of political deadlock which had commenced after the disputed 2000 general elections.

While the CCM emerged as the winner of the elections, it did so with the narrowest of margins. Months of violence followed. Protest marches organised by CUF were brutally oppressed and left dozens of people dead, with many more fleeing the islands. Despite peace talks (popularly known as muafaka) that were meant to provide a framework for ensuring free and fair elections, new violent clashes between CUF and CCM could not be prevented during the 2005 general elections.

Within the international community the accord was perceived as a political breakthrough. Following a motion tabled in the Zanzibar House of Representatives demanding the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zanzibar, a referendum was scheduled for 31 July 2010 to seek the approval of the Zanzibar citizenry.

Referendum festival

Building on this political momentum, NIMD’s partner in Tanzania, the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) organised a music festival to inform Zanzibaris about the referendum. With support from the political leadership of both CCM and CUF, TCD developed two days of festivities: one at Old Gombani ground in Pemba on 18 July 2010 and a second at Kibanda Maiti ground in Unguja six days later.

The hundreds of Zanzibaris who attended the festival days were treated to traditional Zanzibar music and hip-hop beats. The special guest during the festival was Zanzibar Deputy Chief Minister Hon. Shamhuna, who represented CCM on behalf of President Karume. CUF was represented by its National Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Lipumba, and its Secretary General, Hon. Seif Sharif Hamad.

This was the first time Zanzibaris had witnessed political parties (namely, CCM and CUF) holding joint rallies since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in Tanzania in 1992. Their joint message “NDIYO, kwa Zanzibar tuitakayo” (which is Kiswahili for “Vote YES for a Zanzibar that we want”) showed the commitment of the leadership to a positive outcome in the referendum and provided an opening for peaceful cooperation in the future.

The events were covered by a number of broadcasting companies, such as the Zanzibar cable Television, Radio Zanzibar and Voice of Tanzania Zanzibar.

Results of the referendum

The political message “Vote YES for a Zanzibar that we want” was indeed heard by the Zanzibar citizenry. In the referendum held on 31 July 2010 two-thirds of Zanzibaris voted for the GNU. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission formally declared that a total of 284,318 valid votes were cast, with 188,705 (or 66.4%) voting YES. Voter turnout was 71.9%.

This referendum outcome sets the stage for a drastic change in the structure of the Zanzibar government after the October 2010 general elections. The constitution will be amended so that Zanzibar will have a president and two vice presidents. The first vice president will come from the party emerging second in terms of the number of presidential votes cast, while the winning party will produce the president as well as the second vice president.

Ministerial posts will also be shared among political parties, depending on the number of seats gained in the legislative (House of Representatives) elections. The post of Zanzibar Chief Minister will be abolished.

According to Seif Sharif Hamad, who has long been calling upon all Zanzibaris to forget the past and embrace the new spirit of brotherhood, the outcome of the referendum opens a new chapter in the politics of the islands.

View an image gallery from the referendum festival on Unguja.