Seif picks up forms in fifth bid for Z’bar top job

Zanzibar. The Civic United Front’s Seif Shariff Hamad yesterday picked up nomination forms for a fifth attempt at the Isles’ presidency and challenged President Ali Mohammed Shein to publicly state that he would be ready to accept defeat in a free and fair election.

Mr Hamad, who has unsuccessfully contested Zanzibar’s topmost political in all general elections since 1995, said he was confident he would triumph this year and said the ruling party’s candidate should promise Zanzibar voters that he would respect the people’s will should they elect him (Mr Hamad) president.

The CUF leader was accompanied by officials from the opposition coalition, Ukawa, including the Chadema Union presidential candidate, Mr Edward Lowassa, and running mate Mr Juma Duni Haji.

Former CCM cadres who have since defected to the Opposition also escorted Mr Hamad to collect the forms. They included former minister Mansour Yusuf Himid, who is his campaign coordinator, and Mzee Hassan Nassor Moyo.

Chadema acting secretary-general Salum Mwalimu represented the party’s chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, at the function that attracted a big crowd and a battery of local and foreign journalists. Representatives of the Frederick Neumann Steiftung from Germany were also present at the party briefing soon after the official function. Zanzibar Electoral Commission chairman Jecha Salum Jecha handed over the nomination forms to Mr Hamad.

He used the opportunity to vent his frustration at ZEC, which he said had not demonstrated a willingness to change and oversee free and fair elections.

Mr Hamad, who is the First Vice President of the Zanzibar Government of National Unity, said it was sad that ZEC had announced new constituencies, but had not yet revealed the reddrawn boundaries of the same.

He also faulted President Shein, saying he had not delivered on his promise when assuming office in 2010, that he would ensure that the inadequacies that affected the smooth operations of ZEC would be dealt with before this year’s elections.

He said it was imperative for all candidates participating in the elections to sign an agreement for fair and open elections and that the people’s voice will be respected.

Mr Hamad promised that CUF and the Ukawa family would run a dignified campaign devoid of insults or underhand tactics. He challenged opponents to also conduct a clean campaign for the sake of democracy and national unity.

“CUF is ready to respect the will of the people, but will not accept results that are cooked up with the aim of robbing it of victory,” he said.

Others who picked up the nomination forms for the presidency are Mr Kassim Bakar Ali of Jahazi Asilia and Mr Abdallah Kombo Khamis of the Democratic Party.

Election campaigns kick off in Zanzibar on September 7.