Hamad visits ICC over Z’bar issues

Dar es Salaam. “The work has begun.” That was all CUF secretary general Seif Sharif Hamad had to say yesterday shortly after he met with a lawyer at The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mr Hamad would not be drawn into commenting further on what was discussed between the ICC lawyer and CUF team, prolonging the anxiety that has come with his much-publicised trip to the West.

The CUF team also comprised director of Foreign Affairs Ismail Jussa, and one of his assistants.

Mr Jussa told The Citizen on Satruday later that given the nature of their visit to the ICC, they were not at liberty to reveal their mission.

“Suffice to say that at 9.30am, the CUF entourage led by Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad arrived at the ICC headquarters at The Hague and was met and held talks with one of the ICC proficient lawyers,” he said.

Before going to the ICC yesterday, Mr Jussa said, on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hamad and his team met with one of The Netherlands prominent lawyers.

“This lawyer and his company have a good record on ICC cases,” said Mr Jussa, noting that CUF had tasked the law firm to prepare and present to the ICC, statements and exhibits on abuse of human rights and acts against humanity which have occurred in Zanzibar since the General Election last year.

The law firm would also present before the ICC, statements on the involvement of various leaders in such acts, either by commission or omission. “Progress report after what happened yesterday and today will be communicated as things unfold,” he said.

Mr Hamad and his team are in The Netherlands as part of their tour of several European countries to brief them on what the opposition party believes was a stolen general election last year.

Before arriving in The Netherlands, Mr Hamad kicked off his tour in the United Kingdom where, among other dignitaries, he met with Commonwealth top leaders, who promised to engage CUF and the government on talks to find a solution to the political impasse in Zanzibar.

From the UK, the team travelled to Brussels in Belgium where they visited the European Union (EU) headquarters and met several key leaders.

On Thursday morning, Maalim Seif and his team headed to The Hague, where they were scheduled to hold four meetings, Mr Jussa said. He, however, refused to give details of what exactly featured in the talks.

In Brussels, the team also met with the director of Africa department in the Foreign Affairs, International Commerce and Cooperation of Belgium, Mr François Cornet d’Elzius.

Later, they visited the headquarters of one of the political parties there -- Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten -- Open Vld (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats) -- where they met with its Foreign Affairs secretary Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, who is also the former president of Liberal International.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamad has been invited by US Democrats who hold their convention to nominate the presidential candidate next month.

Before the Europe tour, Mr Hamad and his team visited the US and Canada on a similar mission. In addition to meeting Tanzanians living in the West, Mr Hamad has also been meeting important people, briefing them about what is going on in Zanzibar.

But back home, the CUF leader has also been in the use after the Police accused him fuelling social strife and the sporadic chaos in Zanzibar.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Ernest Mangu, said recently they had gathered enough evidence to arrest the CUF leader. He strongly denied the allegations.