The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
12 November 2009
President Jakaya Kikwete has welcomed last week's meeting between Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume and CUF secretary-general Seif Shariff Hamad.
In his first public response to the meeting, President Kikwete pledged his support for the two leaders' initiative to resolve the long-running political crisis in the isles.
He said in a State House statement that Mr Karume and Mr Hamad had his personal support as well as that of the Union government and the ruling CCM "so that they can conclude what they have started".
President Kikwete, who is also the national chairman of CCM, added that the reconciliation between the two leaders was a positive development.
President Karume and Mr Hamad surprised political observers by meeting to discuss the "stability and future of Zanzibar". The Zanzibar State House issued brief statement on the meeting and a picture of the two men shaking hands and smiling broadly.
Meanwhile, Zanzibar's Revolutionary Council issued a separate statement yesterday, commending President Karume for holding talks with Mr Hamad.
In another development, the Norwegian ambassador to Tanzania, Mr John Lomoy, met Mr Karume in Zanzibar yesterday, and pledged his country's support for the reconciliation process.
Last week's meeting continued to draw mixed views, with some Zanzibaris expressing their scepticism, and others saying the talks and whatever was agreed were a step on the right direction.
Some said the truce should mark the start of a push by Zanzibaris "to reclaim our rights which have been trampled upon since Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964".
In his statement, President Kikwete, who was in Egypt attending the 4th Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum when the Zanzibar meeting took place, said he was delighted and wished Mr Karume and Mr Hamad well in their endeavours.
He said CUF's decision to recognise the Zanzibar government and its President was a "bold and commendable" step, which would go a long way in creating trust and enabling the two leaders to work together.
The Head of State said he believed the decision would give earlier efforts to reconcile the political rivals in Zanzibar a fresh impetus.
"This is a major and important step in efforts to build unity, peace and tranquillity in Zanzibar and Tanzania in general," he said, adding:
"President Karume and Maalim Seif should be congratulated for their wise decision, which shows that they have the wider interests of Zanzibar and Tanzania at heart."
He asked Tanzanians and the international community to support and cooperate with the Zanzibari leaders as they sought to resolve their differences.
President Kikwete also urged Tanzanians to ignore people bent on disparaging efforts initiated by President Karume and Mr Hamad.
Efforts to find a lasting solution to the Zanzibar political stalemate hit a snag after CCM's National Executive Committee called for a referendum to sanction the formation of a unity government agreed during talks between CUF and CCM.
The Zanzibar Revolutionary Council yesterday praised Mr Hamad for his "bold" decision to visit President Karume at State House, adding that talks augured well for the future of Zanzibar.
"It is the government's intention to support and cherish this move with a view to ensuring that all Zanzibaris benefit from the development that will come out of this decision," the council said in a statement issued by State House.
Meanwhile, Mr Lomoy told President Karume that Norway had been encouraged by developments in Zanzibar, adding that he hoped the people of Zanzibar would benefit from the reconciliation.
The ambassador said Norway was ready to facilitate the reconciliation process and lay the ground for sustained development in the isles. For his part, President Karume said no meaningful development could be attained amid disunity and chaos.
He said leaders should embrace dialogue instead of preaching disunity and hatred, adding that these were not the goals of the founding fathers. President Karume said Zanzibar appreciated donors' support of various development projects in the isles.
Meanwhile, Zanzibaris living in Denmark and Britain have welcomed talks by the two leaders.
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