The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Vicent Mnyanyika
15 May 2008
The Government said yesterday the plea for Pemba secession by some elders was an attempt to tarnish the image of the country, which would not be tolerated.
Addressing journalists in his office, Union Affairs minister (Vice President's Office) Mr Muhammad Seif Khatib said the decision by the elders was 'malicious'.
"This secession plea is malicious to say the least. It is being advocated by a very few people in Pemba.
It is a very bad sign of spiteful behaviour that cannot be let to roll. I don't believe they know what they mean by saying they want to form another state," he said.
The minister said not all people in Pemba were happy about breaking away from the union, and would make sure their rights and the constitution were protected.
Seven Pemba elders were reportedly arrested on Sunday night and flown to mainland by security officers.
They had presented the plea demanding Pemba's separation from Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania to the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) resident coordinator Mr Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.
However, Mr Khatib denied reports of the arrests but said should it be true it was a police case.
Three days earlier, the Government had issued a strong warning against the elders' decision saying it amounted to treason. It was also compared to the Comoro islands issue.
The Government said it was not going to let hatred infiltrate the existing unity and solidarity.
Minister Khatib said the constitution clearly states that Tanzania is a union of Unguja, Pemba and the mainland, and anyone trying to reverse that was acting against the constitution.
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