Dr Ali Mohamed Shein
The Indian ocean archipelago has experienced three anti-government protests so far this year; the latest, in mid-this month, saw one police officer killed, roads blocked and shops closed across the capital, Unguja City.
The group behind the demonstrations, Uamsho (the Association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation), has plastered messages across the capital agitating for the archipelago’s independence. One such message, "if the coat doesn't fit, take it off", refers to disbanding the United Republic of Tanzania, which was born out of the 1964 union of Zanzibar and the mainland area of Tanganyika.
But, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, President and Chairman of the Isles Revolutionary Council, yesterday came out clean, saying his administration would deal decisively with “anyone who breaches public peace”, adding that his regime could no longer condone such meddlers.
Dr Shein issued the stern warning in his speech at an Eid Baraza, during the climax of the Haj celebrations at the Bwawani Hotel.
Noting that government patience had been pushed to the limit, the president is quoted to have made a resolve never to tolerate such religious zealotry.
He said the government is “tired” of current acts aimed at disrupting public order and that his administration would have “no mercy” on anyone behind them.
This is the first time the highest leader on the Isles has directly linked current disturbances in the Isles to the self-styled Islamic revival group, Uamsho, which he also accused of occasioning damage to public infrastructure and vandalism of personal property.
The president also put the killing of a police officer, Corporal Said Abdulrahman, of the crack field force unit (FFU) squarely on the shoulders of Uamsho religious zealots. He stressed that the governmet would ensure – through all means possible – that public security and peace were restored to the Isles.
Above all, the president he would also deal use the same state security institutions to deal with any other disruptive elements in the Isles – emphasizing noe would be above the law.
To date, seven top leaders of Uamsho have been arraigned in court.
Dr Shein has meanwhile made an impassioned plea to the people not to get tempted to join the few individuals out to cause chaos in the country – warning that joining forces with such people was a crime punishable by law. He reiterated his resolve to deal with any such elements in order to protect other law-abiding citizens.
He has assured the general public of maximum protection to individual lives and properties, saying all the security forces were on high alert. He also offered condolences to the bereaved families and people who lost property during the disturbances.
Meanwhile, Mwinyi Sadallah from Zanzibar reports that Zanzibar Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance has advised the government to form a team to probe claims by Islamic Revival Forum leader Sheikh Farid Had Ahmed (41) that he was abducted, to get truth.
The commission floated the advice yesterday after police denounced involvement in the alleged kidnapping of the leader who went missing on October 16 and resurfaced two days later.
Commissioner Zahor Juma Khamis said the probe committee would help get the truth over Sheikh Farid’s claims, including clearing the air about the matter.
He said the allegations over the abduction have attracted the attention of the local and international community, creating feelings of mistrust among the public, especially police and citizenry.
“The commission would like to advise the government to form a probe team to investigate the matter and come up with a report that would be made public,” said Commissioner Khamis.
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