A Final Note on Zanzibar And A Preview

As may have been evident in some recent posts, I intend to shift more and more now to an assessment of current events in Africa, with a focus on US policy, especially military assistance programs.

With the Africa Command scheduled to become fully operational on October 1st, 2008, and given the attention I paid to Africa issues while reporting from the Pentagon between 2000 and 2004, I want to draw on my past reports plus documents and statements where appropriate to first trace what I see as the origins of AFRICOM.

So that is what is coming next. There will also be occasional flashbacks.

In the meantime, I would recommend that anyone with an interest in Zanzibar should read former Ambassador Donald Petterson’s book, “Revolution in Zanzibar: An American's Cold War Tale”.

Quoting now from the Google Book Search summary:

“The Cold War came to Zanzibar in 1964 after African rebels slaughtered one of every ten Arabs. Led at first by a strange, messianic Ugandan, the rebels became heavily influenced by pro-Communists, including Cuban-trained gun toters, making Zanzibar (in the eyes of Washington, London, and some African capitals) a potentially cancerous base for the communist subversion of mainland Africa. Exotic Zanzibar -- fabled island of spices, former slave-trading entrepot, and stepping-off point for 19th century expeditions into the vast interior of the Dark Continent -- had succumbed to the terror of 20th century revolution and Cold War intrigue.

“In the vivid, eyewitness tradition of The Bang Bang Club and The Skull beneath the Skin, Donald Petterson weaves an engrossing tale of human drama played out against a background of violence and horror. As the only American in Zanzibar throughout the revolution, Petterson reports with the inside authority of a highly placed diplomatic observer, illuminating how the current troubles in Zanzibar are rooted in the Cold War and the revolution of 1964.”

Whither Zanzibar?

Zanzibar's controversial multi-party elections for a new president and parliament are over. But, the future of the semi-autonomous islands remains an open question. Will the victorious ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party agree to form a unity government with the opposition Civic United Front? Will the two parties be able to work together for the benefit of all Zanzibaris? I visited Zanzibar in October 1995 and reported the rival parties agreed on the urgent need to economically revive the once-fabled spice islands.

Back around the turn of the century, Zanzibar was perhaps the busiest trading center in East Africa. Ships came in and went out, doing a brisk business exporting the islands' cloves and other exotic spices.

But global demand for cloves has long since dwindled and Zanzibaris with their essentially mono-crop economy fell on hard times.

A lengthy post-independence experiment with socialism dealt a harsh blow to the islands, where as recently as several years ago there were regular shortages of such basic commodities as sugar, soap, and toilet paper.

Zanzibar is trying to stage a high-tech comeback that will turn it into the economic tiger of Africa -- like Singapore or Hong Kong in Asia, two role models often cited by politicians and businessmen with an upbeat vision of Zanzibar's future.

Ali Juma Shamuhuna is one such man. He is the executive secretary of Zanzibar's Free Economic Zone Authority, the main island agency behind a multi-billion-dollar free port and export-processing-zone investment scheme. He is a fervent supporter of Zanzibar's new and former president, Salmin Amour.

“Our president has always been saying that he wants to turn Zanzibar to be a Singapore of Africa and I tend to believe in that. Zanzibar can be a Singapore of Africa, partly because of its geographical, strategic position but partly because of its size in terms of land, in terms of population.”

Mr. Shamuhuna says laws and policies favorable to outside investors are already in place -- including lengthy tax holidays and provisions for 100-percent foreign ownership with recapture of all profits. He says what is needed now is political stability and a better education system.

“We have already established a good environment in terms of economic policies, trade liberalization. What we need now is political stability and cultivation of a high-skilled labor force.”

The Zanzibari official points with pride to a number of investment deals which have already been made. There is an industrial park on the main island of Unguja where 17 companies have invested 16-million dollars and employ about one-thousand people. Twelve other companies have applied for plots in the park and Mr. Shamuhuna projects a total investment there of about 30-million dollars by the end of 1998. He says overall employment is expected to double, to about two-thousand.

But his agency's big hopes are now pinned on another project -- the development of a free port at Fumba Bay at the south end of the main island. Mr. Shamuhuna says a consortium of Australian and Indian firms has poured 16-million dollars into the area to develop roads, two 18-hole golf courses, luxury hotels, warehouses and more. He projects the consortium will spend one-billion dollars during five years.

Ultimately, officials see the bay as a place where firms will engage in manufacturing, assembly, and transit trade. They also see it as a major offshore banking and insurance center.

But there is little to show for the money already spent. Diplomats and other recent travellers have found the road to Fumba Bay remains rutted and undeveloped. There is no sign of any construction in the area.

Opposition activists of the Civic United Front suggest the ruling CCM party's plans for the islands are merely that -- plans -- and they say they do not have any faith in them.

So while they may agree for the need for the islands' economic revival, they charge the government is too inefficient and too corrupt to be able to succeed in turning a vision into a reality. As examples, an opposition pamphlet entitled "Whither Zanzibar" criticizes the government for neglecting the development of basic utilities such as electrical power and water in outlying areas, while spending millions of dollars for a presidential jet. They also claim the number of government-owned vehicles far exceeds that of privately-owned ones.

Question: Can anyone out there perhaps tell me and other readers what ever happened to Zanzibar’s effort to become an Asian Tiger like economic powerhouse? I see there are now tourist resorts in Fumba Bay.

Exotic Island Flashback: Zanzibar Ruling Party Wins; Opposition Rejects Results

The opposition party in Zanzibar has rejected the results of multi-party presidential and parliamentary elections, which were won by the ruling CCM party. As I reported from Zanzibar town in late October 1995, tensions rose as the opposition claimed the voting had been marred by irregularities.

A senior official of the opposition Civic United Front says his party will not recognize the results of the elections.

The chairman of the CUF's technical committee, Mohamed Dedes, spoke after hearing from several of the party's polling station monitors. Mr. Dedes said they had reported in some key parliamentary constituencies, more votes had been cast than there were registered voters.

Opposition party officials said the constituencies included key ones on the main Zanzibari island of Unguja which the CUF had hoped to add to its expected sweep of seats on the smaller island of Pemba. Loss of these key constituencies was crucial to the Ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party's projected control of the new 50-seat Zanzibari parliament, as well as its retention of the presidency of the Indian ocean islands.

The Civic United Front's presidential contender, Seif Shariff Hamad, had told reporters his party would abide by the results even if it lost. But Mr. Dedes said the pledge was only intended to apply if the voting had been free and fair -- and Mr. Hamad was quoted as saying the CUF would not recognize nor be obedient to the new CCM government.

Opposition activists said they were considering a boycott of upcoming scheduled voting on Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland for a new president and parliament for their united republic. Those will also be multi-party elections, the first in the 31-year post-independence history of Tanzania.

Disappointed opposition supporters gathered outside the party's headquarters and at other locations around Zanzibar's historic Stone Town, angrily denouncing the election results announced over Radio Zanzibar. Most shops were closed out of fear of violence. Some minor scuffles were reported between police and CUF backers. Opposition leaders were appealing for calm.

Despite the opposition's claims of voting irregularities, international election observers reported no serious problems at any of the polling stations or during the laborious ballot-counting process.

Return to the Exotic Island Zanzibar Vote Series

Vote counting from the multi-party elections for president and a 50-seat parliament in the Indian Oceans islands of Zanzibar was continuing at a slow pace in late October 1995. Partial results announced over Zanzibar radio did not give either the ruling CCM party or the opposition CUF a clear lead in what was expected to be a close race. I was in Zanzibar town.

Anxious groups of ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party supporters huddled around a radio at a popular CCM hangout near the central market throughout the day, listening for the latest constituency results.

A short distance away, at a square, deep inside the stone alleyways of the old town section, impatient young backers of the opposition Civic United Front did the same.

No clashes or other incidents were reported.

The presidential candidates of the two parties, incumbent Salmin Amour of the CCM and Seif Shariff Hamad of the CUF have both appealed for calm.

Police and troops stood by on alert just in case.

International election observers said the vote count was proceeding in an orderly fashion -- painstakingly slow but without any apparent irregularities.

These multi-party elections on Zanzibar will be followed by voting across Tanzania for a president and parliament for their united republic.

Exotic Island Happening: Zanzibar Votes!

Zanzibar residents voted in October 1995 in presidential and parliamentary elections for the semi-autonomous islands, one week ahead of voting across the Tanzanian mainland for a president and parliament for their united republic. These were the first multi-party elections in the post-independence history of Tanzania. I was in Zanzibar Town and had this report.

Zanzibaris thronged to polling stations across the Indian Ocean islands by the tens-of-thousands, defying torrential rains to stand in long lines to cast their ballots.

In Zanzibar Town, they stood outside schools, an abandoned bus station, and an amusement park to take part in the multi-party elections. The crowds were quiet, orderly, and patient, despite what monitors described as a tedious and time-consuming ballot-casting process.

Those waiting took shelter from the rain wherever possible, some even sitting on the horses of a carousel at the amusement park polling place.

Men and women stood in separate lines in keeping with the predominantly-Muslim traditions of Zanzibar. Officials said anyone in line at the scheduled closing time for the polls would be allowed to vote.

Police stood guard near each voting booth, but no incidents were reported. One opposition activist called the rain a good sign, saying it meant peace.

The two Zanzibari presidential contenders were among the early voters. Incumbent President and ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party candidate Salmin Amour and opposition Civic United Front contender Seif Shariff Hamad both sounded confident notes about their prospects for victory.

Most analysts are predicting a close contest. Results will not be known for at least a day.

Next week, Zanzibaris will return to the polls along with voters across the Tanzanian mainland to cast ballots in the first contested presidential and parliamentary elections for their united republic.

Exotic Island Flashback: Final Rallies Before Zanzibar Vote

Zanzibaris go to the polls to elect a president and parliament -- one week ahead of voting across the Tanzanian mainland for a president and parliament for their united republic. I had this election eve report in October 1995.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi, or CCM party, and the opposition CUF, or Civic United Front party, held their final campaign rallies in Zanzibar town. If the turnout alone could dictate the election outcome, then the CCM would be the big winner.

Observers estimated some 10-thousand supporters turned out for the opposition gathering to hear its popular presidential candidate, Seif Shariff Hamad, a former top Zanzabari government minister, call for peaceful balloting.

But 50-thousand or more people assembled for the CCM rally where incumbent President Salmin Amour and his top aides confidently predict a landslide election victory in Zanzibar, which consists of the main islands of Unguja and Pemba and assorted smaller islets.

The ruling party was far better organized for its final campaign event. Party flags, posters, t-shirts, and hats with pictures of Mr. Amour were distributed throughout the huge crowd. An airplane flew overhead and dropped Swahili-language leaflets proclaiming "CCM is number one."

Trucks and buses were sent into the countryside to bring CCM supporters into Zanzibar town for the event.

Both rallies were peaceful and the atmosphere was festive.

There were no reports of any campaign-related incidents.

There have, however, been frequent opposition complaints about widespread electoral irregularities, including the unfair last-minute denial of voter registration to several thousand CUF supporters. A CCM official acknowledged there had been what he characterized as some minor problems. But the official insisted that overall the contest would be free and fair.

International election monitors are predicting a close contest with the opposition still given an edge by many political analysts. The ruling party has campaigned largely on the strength of its long years of experience in power.

But the opposition has argued it is time for new faces in government who will fight corruption and work for the economic revitalization of Zanzibar.

Exotic Island Flashback Time: Zanzibar Votes!

It’s time for a little interlude to go back in time to Zanzibar, specifically to October 1995 as Zanzibaris prepared to go to the polls to elect their own president and parliament. A week after that, October 29, 1995, they were to join voters on the Tanzanian mainland to choose a president and parliament for their united republic. These were the first multi-party elections in the then 31-year-old post-independence history of the country. And as I reported at the time from Zanzibar town, observers were predicting a close contest on Zanzibar between candidates of the ruling CCM party and those backing the opposition CUF.

Under a large shady tree on the grounds of the Victoria Gardens medical clinic in Zanzibar's historic Stone Town, a judge for the island's electoral commission is hearing hundreds of last-minute voter registration cases. It is a painstakingly slow and frustrating process -- especially for officials of the opposition CUF or Civic United Front party.

They claim that in recent days, objections have been lodged against the registration of more than three-thousand of the opposition party's supporters. They charge virtually all of the objections, made by backers of the ruling CCM, or Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, are baseless.

Still, they believe it will be physically impossible for the electoral commission to rule on all the cases before the voting gets under way. To that extent, the opposition says
the last-minute objections have not only been malicious but also effective. They say it could make the difference in a close contest.

CUF presidential candidate Seif Shariff Hamad estimates that while 350-thousand or so voters have been registered on Zanzibar, which consists of the islands of Unguja and Pemba and various small islets, some 25 thousand residents total have been wrongly
denied the right to cast ballots.

Mr. Hamad claims that besides registration and other electoral irregularities, opposition activists have been subjected to harassment and intimidation. He charges the ruling CCM party and incumbent Zanzibar President Salmin Amour have not been sincere in their professed acceptance of multi-partyism.

Despite all this, the opposition contender says he remains hopeful that his party still can win the vote. Even if it does not win, he says it will abide by the results.

That calm acceptance of the Civic united front's fate in the face of its complaints about the electoral process has amazed some of the international election observers gathered in zanzibar this week.

They say it is not unusual for an opposition party in Africa to lodge protests over irregularities in a country's first multi-party elections. What is unusual, they say, is the
constructive and conciliatory approach being voiced by Zanzabari politicians like Mr. Hamad. and they say it gives them hope for the long-term future of democracy here.

Still, there are fears of possible violence once the election results are announced. Frustrated opposition supporters barred from voting may take to the streets in protest over the outcome if the CUF loses. Opposition activists believe there could be even bigger trouble if their party wins, ending the CCM's long monopoly on power.

Zanzibar has a history of violence. Earlier this week, police tear gassed an opposition rally on Pemba island, causing a stampede that left more than two-dozen people injured.

The CCM is asking for a fresh mandate largely on the basis of its long years of experience in government. The CUF says that it is time for new faces who will fight corruption while working for the economic revitalization of Zanzibar and defending its semi-autonomous status.