Dr. Shein touts for two tier government structure

THE Zanzibar President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein has said that, the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar which has existed for 50 years, is the last benchmark in Africa.Dr. Shein who is also the Chairman of the Revolutionary government of Zanzibar said this during the inauguration ceremony to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the union government which was on Saturday last week at Salama Bwawani in Zanzibar. The celebrations to be marked on 26^th April this year ( two months ahead from now), carries the message titled, “Our Tanzanian ship is our union, let us defend, consolidate and make it firm”. In his speech, Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein noted that, Africa union was not successful because some of the African leaders had no clear vision with full commitment which would pave their way into building a unified continent just like what the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Abeid Aman Karume had. “This union is a proud of Africa that is a clear example which must be emulated by other countries in Africa in their struggle to bring a true African unity” he said. However, he added that, if Africa could have strong leaders committed with strong leadership such as the late Mwalimu Nyerere and Abeid Aman Karume, now they could be planning of the African federation for the next 60 years. But for a one step forward development, East African countries have started the process of establishing a complete political federation for the East African regional states, he said. He mentioned some other African countries like Gambia, Egypt, Senegal and Libya which at a different time tried to unite themselves and at long last their union didn’t succeed to last longer. 

Zanzibar President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein

He also noted that, there are some countries in the world which tried to unite with a view to build a common interest for the benefits of their people, but their efforts ended up in vain. He further clarified to his audience that, the long lasting union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar has been existing due to the fact that, it is a union of the people of the same race who have same traditional beliefs, politically and culturally speaks the same language. He said that, the tradition of staying together, doing things together and share the emerging challenges and finds ways to curb them on the basis of solidarity while insisting peace among ourselves, has actually increased moral efficiency. He mentioned big two challenges which have not been found a solution up to now, is how to contribute effectively on union matters and also the issue of oil and gas. However, Dr. Shein is optimistic that in future the solution to such challenges would be attained, he mentioned the implementation of the Zanzibar laws on human rights, the ability to facilitate internal and foreign loans as well as loan exemptions from financial institutions such as the IMF. Others are the implementation of the commercial marine Act in the United Republic and the ability of Zanzibar government to join the International Maritime Organization (IMO). He reminded his audience that, the union government has made two sides of the governments to build a closer cooperation than as it was before. “Everybody is free to live in either sides of the union government without harassments with the concepts of building their two nations and conduct an economic life for the nation building. In the whole issue of consolidating the union, Dr. Shein affirmed that, there were some changes made in the current constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania at different time and now the country is in the process of constitutional review process for which he is sure members of the Constituent Assembly would work it more effectively for the development of two nations.