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Isles opposition asks Karume to borrow a leaf from...
2008-02-11 09:03:12
By Mwinyi Sadallah, Zanzibar
Opposition leaders in the Isles have urged the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to borrow a page from the current unfolding political situation in the Union government of dealing with graft in a move to eliminate corrupt elements within its system.
The Civic United Front (CUF) deputy director of propagation and Information, Salum Bimani said in an interview here yesterday that the confidence that Members of Parliament from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) have shown in the House should be emulated by members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
Bimani claimed that there are so many projects that do not show any progress and some of them vanish without being implemented and that no actions were taken by the government against those behind the projects.
He mentioned the rehabilitation of Zanzibar airport and the Malindi port as some of them.
He also talked about the importation of food that that is unfit for human consumption, which he said had become a chronic problem in Zanzibar adding that no business persons involved had been taken to court despite their putting of people`s lives in danger.
``Zanzibar should borrow a page from President Kikwete by taking action against leaders who do not work for the interest of their nation,`` said Bimani.
Recently, Mkanyageni constituency Representative (CUF), Haji Faki Shaali was suspended from attending House session after he was accused of lying the House over importation of 2,900 tonnes of substandard rice.
Isles Chadema Secretary-General Hamad Mussa Yussuf, said that political differences in Zanzibar were caused by CCM and CUF members who concentrated much in their parties` interests instead of the citizens`.
He said the Mainland had taken a major step forward towards separation of powers between the legistalture and the executive, adding that Zanzibar had a chance to learn from them.
Yussuf said the resignation of the former Prime Minister Prime Ministe Edward Lowassa, was a clear act of political maturity of the Union House even though the case did involve him directly.
For his part, the National League for Democracy (NLD) deputy secretary general, Rashid Ahmed Rashid, said what President Kikwete has done should be supported by all citizen because it has given the country a good profile in good governance.
Rashid emphasised that the administration of the government depends much on the the cabinet, adding that most citizens seem to have faith in the new Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda following the number of votes he got in Parliament.
``Our request to President Karume is that he should fill the two vacant sits in the House of Representatives with CUF members,`` said Rashid.
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