Inside Salmin Amour’s failed bid for a third term in Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam. In the run-up to the year 2000, Zanzibar was gripped by one of its most dramatic political episodes—a behind-the-scenes campaign by the then-President Dr Salmin Amour to amend the Constitution so he could run for a third term.

Although the 1984 Zanzibar Constitution limits the presidency to two consecutive five-year terms, Dr Amour’s supporters began lobbying within Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to remove that restriction.

Their push, however, triggered heated internal resistance, both on the Isles and the Mainland, ultimately ending in failure.

The campaign behind closed doors

The campaign to extend Dr Amour’s stay in power began quietly. A group of his supporters, known as Ukija Usiulize ("Don't Ask When You Come") or informally as the "Campaigners for President of Zanzibar," publicly declared that Zanzibaris still wanted Dr Amour as their leader and that external actors—especially from the Mainland—should not interfere.

The formal proposal to amend the Constitution was introduced at a CCM meeting in Zanzibar by then Minister of State in the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr Idd Pandu Hassan. The proposal suggested modifying constitutional language to allow a president to seek re-election beyond two terms.

According to Mr Hassan, the two-term limit had been relevant under the one-party system, when voters had no choice but to approve or reject a single presidential candidate. In the multi-party era, he argued, parties should have the right to nominate any candidate—including a former president—if the people still wanted them.

A divided party

On February 5, 2000, during CCM’s 23rd anniversary celebrations, Dr Salmin publicly stated that he was still strong and that constitutional changes were necessary to reflect a new political era.

Eight days later, on February 13, CCM convened a special meeting in Zanzibar to deliberate on the proposed changes. The meeting, initially chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohamed Bilal, became contentious and ran for days, eventually being taken over by Dr Amour himself—a move that drew sharp criticism.

Some party elders questioned why the constitutional amendment proposal had been introduced by a minister instead of following standard party channels. Others took issue with the presence of individuals they felt should not have attended the meeting, including retired Union President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Union Vice President Dr Omar Ali Juma, and CCM Secretary General Philip Mangula.

A stormy debate

Tensions flared further when some CCM elders from Pemba and parts of Unguja were reportedly denied entry to the meeting.

The debate reached its climax on February 15, when the meeting split into two factions: one supporting constitutional changes and the other firmly opposing them. The deadlock forced the matter to be deferred to CCM’s Central Committee.

Among the proposed changes was the removal of Article 30(1)(b) of the 1984 Constitution, which barred any individual from serving more than two consecutive presidential terms. The proposal’s critics argued it was being tailored to serve one individual rather than national interests.

Mainland CCM leaders were particularly opposed to the idea. A group of 52 CCM Members of Parliament wrote a letter to Dr Amour urging him to drop the plan. In response, 28 CCM members from Zanzibar issued a counter-statement backing the constitutional amendment.

Former University of Dar es Salaam law lecturer Dr Harrison Mwakyembe was among those who voiced strong disapproval, saying:

“It was like allowing an accused person to chair a panel of judges in his own case.”

Lobbying intensifies

As the debate raged, both camps launched behind-the-scenes lobbying. Anti-amendment MPs sent emissaries across the Mainland to lobby members of CCM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to block the proposal. At the same time, Dr Amour’s allies in Zanzibar reportedly assembled a team tasked with swaying NEC members to support the change.

On February 17, with no resolution in sight, the 74-member meeting forwarded the issue to the Central Committee. It was agreed that if the CC also failed to reach consensus, the matter would be escalated to the full NEC.

On February 18, new allegations emerged that a trio of wealthy Zanzibaris were financially backing the push to amend the Constitution, seeking to entrench their influence by keeping Dr Amour in power indefinitely—provided he continued winning elections.

The endgame

The debate continued through four days of marathon sessions at CCM’s Kisiwandui offices. Despite reports that some members supported the amendment, others warned that allowing a third term would be a step backward for democracy in Zanzibar.

Eventually, the Central Committee and NEC rejected the proposal, putting an end to Dr Amour’s third-term ambitions. The decision reaffirmed the constitutional two-term limit and marked a significant moment in Tanzania’s political history—an instance when internal party democracy prevailed over individual ambition.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on official CCM records, statements made at the time, and retrospective analysis from political observers. It is part of The Citizen’s archival series exploring key constitutional moments in Tanzania’s political development.