Leaders: Let’s honour Karume by promoting peace, love
Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein lays a wreath at the grave of Zanzibar’s first President, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, during the commemoration of the 47th anniversary of his death in Zanzibar yesterday. Story on Page 2. PHOTO | ZANZIBAR STATE HOUSE
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Thousands of government leaders and representative of religious institutions gathered at Kisiwandui area in Unguja, Zanzibar to commemorates 47 years of anniversary of the death of the late Abedi Amani Karume, the first president of Revolutionary government of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar. Various leaders from both the Zanzibar and Union governments said yesterday that Zanzibar’s first president, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, would forever be remembered for promoting peace and love.
They made remarks during prayers held to commemorate 47th anniversary of the death of Sheikh Karume’s death. Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein led the commemoration at Kisiwandui in Unguja.
A Christian leader in Zanzibar, Michael Hafidh, said Sheikh Karume stood for peace, adding that it was important for the current generation to continue honouring what he did as part of supporting his philosophy.
Mjini Magharibi Regional Commissioner Ayub Mohammed said Sheikh Karume’s philosophy should be honoured through the promotion of mutual respect in Zanzibar and beyond.
He said Sheikh Karume had a vision of developing Zanzibar and recalled the construction of 72 residential blocks in Unguja from 1970 to 1975.
The Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr January Makamba, said some of the fruits of Sheikh Karume’s legacy was the growth of trade between Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland and the stability of the Union.
“Apart from being the central figure in the Revolution, Sheikh Karume was also one of the founders of the existing union from which people from both sides are benefiting,” he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, said Karume Day commemorations were not only for the people of Zanzibar, but all Tanzanians because he was the first vice president of Tanzania.
Mr Ali Karume, a son of Sheikh Karume, said his late father stood for equality and that was why he led the 1964 revolution.
CCM deputy secretary-general (Zanzibar) Abdallah Juma Sadallah said the commemoration symbolised Sheikh Karume’s legacy as a man of the people.
The Mufti of Zanzibar, Sheikh Saleh Omar Kaabi, said Sheikh Karume died in 1972 but his legacy lives on.
