Isles First VP calls for maintaining unity

ZANZIBAR First Vice-President Othman Masoud Othman has urged people of Zanzibar to put aside sectarian and political differences, which may drive the public into unnecessary conflicts.

Mr Othman said this on Thursday at the Eid al Adha special reception (Eid Baraza) held at the Ziwani Police Quarters Hall in the City on behalf of President Hussein Mwinyi, who is on a working visit in China. Eid-Baraza is held after Eid Mass prayers in the morning.

“I urge the people of Zanzibar and Tanzanians in totality to put into practice the teachings from Holy Book- Quran and our leader Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Religion and political differences and activism shouldn’t derail us from maintaining peace and unity,” he said.

The First VP emphasised that Eid al Adha teaches Muslims a lot, especially on discouraging discrimination.

“People meet for pilgrimage and pray together regardless of their age, wealth, and political differences,” he said.

He said that a total of  3,069 Tanzanians including 2,133 Muslim from Zanzibar who travelled for the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia this year, are expected back home to make a difference in the society including advocating for good behaviours among members of the community and young people.

“I hope the number of Tanzanians to pilgrimage will continue to increase in the future as both the government of Tanzania and that of Saudi Arabia continue to remove obstacles in making the spiritual journey,” Mr Othman said.

The First Vice-President also encouraged Tanzanians to continue supporting the needy such as orphans, the poor, and people with disabilities.

He praised organisers of the E-id Baraza: Office of the Mufti dealing with Muslims affairs, and the Wakf & Trust Commission.

Wakf & Trust Commission is scheduled for major reforms to better handle Hajji (Pilgrimage) through the Haji Fund, Zakah & charity affairs, and strengthen Islamic tourism.

Mr Othman joined Zanzibar Mufti Sheikh Saleh Omar Kaab to pray for the country, sick people, and people in different difficulties as well as the people returning from the week-long pilgrimage in Mecca, which ended last Tuesday.

The Zanzibar Minister responsible for Religious Affairs Mr Haroun Ali Suleiman also thanked the organisers of the event, which also attracted some non-Muslim and members of the diplomatic Corps.

Muslims around the world observe the Eid al-Adha, one of the most important Islamic festivals in the Muslim calendar.

According to the religion’s teaching, Eid al-Adha commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son on God’s orders and is marked by special prayers and feasts.

The Eid Baraza or reception was attended by Mr Hafidh Ameir husband of the Union President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, Second Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, Retired President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, and Chief Secretary Eng Zena Ahmed Said, Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives Zubeir Ali Maulid among others.