Zanzibar bans rallies

2005-03-26 19:03

Dar Es Salaam - Police on Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar have banned all political and religious rallies because they lack the time to ensure security at such events, officials said on Saturday.

The decision, taken late on Friday, follows a large-scale clash between supporters of rival political parties on Zanzibar earlier this month ahead of national general elections throughout Tanzania set for October.

"The police force is now busy with other assignments, including maintenance of peace during Easter holidays," Zanzibar Urban-West Regional Police Commander George Kizuguto said.

In addition, he said police would be otherwise occupied in the coming weeks overseeing security when voter registration for the October 30 election begins on April 2 at various sites on the island.

Kizuguto also urged the public to inform police about people they suspect to be troublemakers as part of an operation launched in the wake of the March 6 riot between members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM - Revolutionary Party) and opposition Civic United Front (CUF).

That fighting, in which more than 25 people were injured, took place after the CCM and CUF held rallies in adjacent areas on Zanzibar.

Police blamed the rioting - which appeared similar to violence on the island in the run-up to elections in 2000 - on political leaders inciting their supporters to extremes to boost support ahead of the polls.

The CCM and CUF blamed each other for the unrest with each alleging the other was intent on sabotaging the so-called "Muafaka Accord" they signed in 2001 to prevent a recurrence of the earlier troubles.

The CUF had planned to hold a rally in Zanzibar's Kibanda Maiti area on Sunday. It was not immediately clear if organisers would seek to go ahead with the gathering after the police ban on demonstrations.

- AFP