Although campaigns have been peaceful there is a growing tension in Zanzibar over fears of violence in the October elections.
The semi-autonomous Zanzibar Islands’ residents are weary of the upcoming general elections with some storing food and water to cater throughout the elections period and after.
Zanzibar’s Unity government President Ali Mohamed Shein and vice-President Seif Sharif Hamad will be facing each other in the general elections as 500 000 registered voters elect the national president, Zanzibar’s president and also cast their ballots in parliamentary and local polls.
The archipelago has had its fair share of sectarian and political tensions in recent years with a grenade explosion that slowed down main economic activity in the Islands, tourism.
Zanzibar’s union with the mainland, Tanzania caused some division when the opposition political parties in the Island wanted total independence.
There are at least 14 contesters for Zanzibari’s presidential seat with the most popular being the ruling President of the ruling party of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and current vice-president from the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), who are currently sharing power in a unity government.
Campaigns are centred on the release of 40 Muslim leaders accused of links to Islamist extremists from jail and issues surrounding the union between the archipelago and the mainland. The Candidate from ruling CCM has promised to maintain the status quo while the CUF assured of a campaign to give the Islands full autonomy.
Clashes between supporters of the rival parties during campaigning and talks of rigging, violence and intimidation have aroused the fear of violence during the elections.
While on the national scale, the long-ruling CCM candidate John Magufuli seems to be most likely winner in the presidential race. The 55 year old is facing stiff competition from 62 year old Edward Lowassa ex-Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition parties. The current president Jakaya Kikwete has served his two term constitutional limit leading to his stepping down.
