THE Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, has said his government was fully involved in drafting the revised bill for an act to set in motion the constitutional review process, to be tabled during the parliamentary session opening in Dodoma next week.
“It has the input of both the Zanzibar and union governments. We were involved 100 per cent,” the Isles President told a news conference to mark one year in office here on Thursday.
He urged MPs to pass the bill to allow establishment of a commission to co-ordinate the review process, which would collect people’s views throughout the country.
Dr Shein admitted that the previous bill had problems and they did not fully participate in its preparation.
“The appropriate process has been followed right down to the grassroots. The (revised) bill is very well articulated and coordinated.”
The Isles president dismissed claims that Zanzibaris were opposed to the constitutional review process.
“At least (Dr) Shein has no problem with it. It is not true that Zanzibaris are opposed to the bill… don’t put words into their mouths.”
He explained, however, that people were free to express their views on the constitution. “But that will follow after endorsement of the bill to set the debate in motion.”
Meanwhile, the Zanzibar leader clarified that he sits in the union cabinet in his capacity as President of Zanzibar, not as a minister, and that this was provided for in the constitution.
“The union constitution stipulates that members of the cabinet are the Union President, Vice-President, President of Zanzibar, Prime Minister and ministers,” he explained.
He was reacting to claims that his being sworn-in as a member of the union cabinet last month was interpreted in some quarters to be demeaning.
“I was not the first Zanzibar president to be sworn-in as some of you claimed. (Retired president Amani) Karume was sworn-in twice and I have photographs of that,” he pointed out, adding that it was important for the Isles leader to participate in the union cabinet.
“There are some Zanzibari union ministers, but I am the one representing Zanzibar interests in the cabinet,” he explained.
In the wide-ranging discussion with editors and journalists, lasting for about five hours, Dr Shein highlighted achievements by the government of national unity he formed with the opposition Civic United Front.
“There were fears that the unity government would not be efficient, but I think we have started very well. We have laid the foundation to build a prosperous Zanzibar for all,” he said.
The president said they had launched an agricultural modernization drive to raise food production and taken measures to restore cloves as the major cash crop.
A special programme was underway to harness the tourism sector, which accounts for 70 per cent of Zanzibar’s forex earnings.
President Shein dismissed the notion that Pemba island had been marginalized. “Every project carried out in Unguja is duplicated in Pemba. In some cases, such as public health and electricity supply, Pemba is ahead,” he explained.
He said the government plans to build 21 secondary schools by 2015 for each district; but within one year, it has built 16 secondary schools; an impressive achievement. Water shortage in the Isles would be solved in the next two years, he said.
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