Observers assured of free, peaceful polls

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) presidential aspirant Dr Hussein Mwinyi has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to conducting free, fair and peaceful elections in the Isles on Wednesday, assuring international observers that all preparations are complete and the security situation remains stable.

President Mwinyi gave the assurance on Saturday, during a meeting with a delegation from the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) led by former President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, who serves as the Head of Mission.

The meeting took place at the State House in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Dr Mwinyi said Zanzibar is fully prepared for the polls, emphasising that peace and stability prevail across the Isles and that political campaigns have been proceeding smoothly and peacefully.

“Zanzibar today enjoys peace and stability unlike in past election periods when tensions used to rise. We are proud of the progress made in strengthening our democracy,” President Mwinyi said.

He assured the observers that every eligible voter will be able to cast their ballot freely and safely, noting that no major complaints have been lodged with the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) since the campaign period began, an indication, he said, of the country’s growing democratic maturity.

President Mwinyi also highlighted the increased participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and highly educated candidates in this year’s elections, especially within the ruling CCM party, saying this reflects the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality in the political process.

He thanked the African Union for sending the observation mission and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the elections are conducted in line with the principles of openness, transparency and democracy.

“We value the AU’s contribution to ensuring that elections are conducted peacefully, freely and fairly. The government will continue to provide all the necessary cooperation to election observers,” he said.

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For his part, Mr Masisi commended the prevailing calm and cooperation observed in Zanzibar, describing them as essential foundations for credible democratic elections.

“We are pleased with the peace and stability we have witnessed so far. Our mission is to observe the electoral process objectively and ensure that it meets international democratic standards,” he said.

The AUEOM is in the country to observe the 2025 General Election as part of the African Union’s efforts to promote democracy, transparency and good governance among its member states.

The AU delegation was accompanied to the State House by Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.

Earlier, President Mwinyi also held meetings with observer teams from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), led by former Speaker of the Malawi Parliament Richard Msowoya and is scheduled to meet delegations from the East African Community (EAC), led by former VicePresident of Uganda Specioza Kazibwe and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), led by former President of Burundi Domitien Ndayizeye.

So far, four international observer missions have arrived in Zanzibar to monitor preparations and assess the overall conduct of the upcoming Tanzania General Elections, including the Zanzibar polls.