Zanzibar — The Civic United Front (CUF) leadership in Zanzibar met in Pemba yesterday in what officials said were consultations on the stalling of the Mwafaka talks.

However, there was no official word on whether the Opposition party was going to issue a statement on an appeal by CCM national chairman President Jakaya Kikwete for talks between the two parties to resume.

All CUF MPs and members of the House of Representatives attended the meeting in Chake Chake, which took place as CCM and CUP traded accusations over the stalled talks aimed at ending the intense and sometimes bloody rivalry between the two parties.

The meeting also took place just two days after seven Pemba elders were released after being held for five days in connection with calls for Pemba to secede from the union with Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania.

Reports from Pemba said Wete MP Khalifa Suleiman Khalifa chaired the meeting that was said to have dwelt on the current political situation in Zanzibar and events that have taken places since the collapse of the Mwafaka talks.

The leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, Mr Hamad Rashid Mohamed, told The Citizen that CUF also wanted to use the opportunity to brief its leaders at the grassroots on what had been agreed between the party and CCM.

"It is true we are having a meeting to review the delicate political situation in our country," he said from Pemba.

The Chake Chake meeting also coincided with a call yesterday by CUF's deputy director for human rights and public communication, Mr Salim Bimani, who declared that the party's patience had run out, and urged its supporters to demand their right by all means.

"I urge you to rally behind your leaders nothing should hold you back as the days of waiting for someone to bring you your rights on a silver platter are long gone. We will not enjoy our rights unless we are ready to fight for them and defend them," Mr Bimani told a public rally attended by hundreds of CUF supporters at Nyarugusu grounds in Fuoni constituency, Unguja.

Other reports separately indicated yesterday that unknown people had dropped leaflets, asking people from Pemba to leave Unguja, one of the twin islands comprising Zanzibar.

The leaflets story, which was aired by state-owned Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, was, however, quickly denied by a top Zanzibar police officer.

Addressing the Nyarugusu rally, CUF's acting secretary-general, Mr Juma Duni Haji, declared that the party did not see any reason to resume talk with CCM, and reiterated the party's official position that they would only return to the negotiating table if President Kikwete would chair the next round of meetings.

The party's top hierarchy has made it clear that for the negotiations to bear any fruits, CUF secretary-general Seif Shariff Hamad must hold direct talks with Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume.

The two parties have sharply differed over the procedure to pan out a power-sharing deal, with CCM appearing uncomfortable with the idea before the 2010 general elections while CUF wants to be immediately drafted into a government of national unity as preparation for the next elections.

The official claimed President Karume was the stumbling block to peaceful resolution of the Zanzibar crisis, saying he has treated the Island as property for a few while remaining insensitive to the needs of Pemba people.

In Pemba, Mr Mohamed would not budge to reveal more details about their deliberations but other sources revealed that the leaders discussed a warning by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Saidi Mwema, on Friday that more arrests could follow over the move by the Pemba elders to call for cessation after the collapse of Mwafaka talks.

Mr Mwema while addressing Journalists before the Zanzibar police set free the seven suspects, linked their move to politics and the apparent stalemate in talks with CCM. He categorically said the elders were CUF supporters and hinted they may have been incited. The statement was immediately interpreted to mean even some CUF officials could be among those targeted for questioning.

Asked about this yesterday, Mr Mohamed said even though Pemba is a CUF's stronghold, the party did not ask anyone to forward the controversial memorandum to the UN. While handing over their petition, the elders accused President Karume's government of ignoring Pemba's development needs and marginalising them politically.

The leader of opposition however said he had been made aware that during interrogation, some of the elders could have mentioned names of some CUF leaders and officials.

"It is possible that under duress some of these elders who have never landed in the hands of police mentioned some names. However those who were arrested were from Pemba and the matter is not CUF's agenda," said Mr Mohamed.