Why nine parties have yet to launch their Zanzibar election campaigns

By Jesse Mikofu

Unguja. Two weeks since the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) opened the official campaign period on September 11, most opposition parties are still struggling to get their campaigns off the ground.

Of the 17 presidential hopefuls who collected nomination forms, 11 were cleared to contest. Five failed to return their forms, while a CUF candidate was disqualified after missing endorsements in one of the five regions.

So far, only Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and ACT-Wazalendo have mounted full-scale campaigns. Other parties have barely gone beyond a single launch rally.

NCCR-Mageuzi, for example, plans to kick off its campaign on September 28 at Kibandamaiti grounds. Its candidate, Ms Laila Rajab Khamis, said the party was waiting for national leaders to officiate.

UPDP launched on September 14 at Garagara grounds in Mtoni Kidatu, while NLD and TLP have also staged single rallies.

TLP candidate Hussein Juma Salum said his party expects to hold its second rally at the end of the month but maintained the slow pace was strategic.

NLD’s candidate, Mfaume Khamis Hassan, said his party would hold a second rally on September 24.

Parties that have managed two rallies include Ada-Tadea, ADC, AAFP and Makini.

Some candidates defended their cautious approach, describing it as “scientific” campaigning.

Makini candidate Ameir Hassan Ameir said he has chosen to meet voters directly in markets such as Mwanakwerekwe.

“Campaigns are about strategy. It is not always about rallies—you can go directly to the people,” he said. Financial constraints

Analysts say financial shortages and weak public appeal are behind the sluggish campaigns.

Mr Abdi Juma Issa noted that smaller parties lack both funds and supporters.

“It is difficult to run daily campaigns when the expected returns are so minimal,” he said.

Mr Salim Mfaume added that campaigns require more than transport and fuel.

“Logistics must create a supportive environment where rallies are held,” he explained.

Policy pledges

Despite their struggles, smaller parties have been making big promises on jobs, industrialisation, clove production and civil servants’ pay.

The UPDP, Candidate, Hamad Mohamed Ibrahim, pledged to build clove-processing factories and ensure 80 percent of exports are processed locally.

He also promised government-funded dowries for young couples and proposed nuclear energy plants to solve power shortages.

The AAFP Candidate Said Soud Said vowed to raise clove prices to Sh50,000 per kilo and scrap high port charges.

“Clove farmers cannot even afford bicycles while buyers arrive in Prado vehicles. This is exploitation,” he said at a September 18 rally in Malindi.

As for the TLP Candidate Hussein Juma Salum, the focus will be on strengthen the economy through technology, support farmers with subsidised inputs, and protect democracy while his Ada-Tadea counterpart, Juma Ali Khatib priority will be vocational training and invest in modern fishing fleets.

The NRA Candidate Khamis Faki Mgau promised to raise the minimum salary for certificate-level teachers to Sh1.5 million whereas his ADC counterpart, Hamad Rashid Mohammed pledged to slash rice prices to Sh1,500 a kilo within 100 days by cutting import taxes. He also promised free inputs for rice farmers to boost production.

While their platforms are ambitious, the slow pace of campaigns highlights the uphill task smaller parties face in challenging CCM and ACT-Wazalendo’s dominance in the Isles.