Zanzibar: Campaign process

See also Tanzania: Campaign process.

Extracted from: Grant Masterson 2009 "Chapter 13: Tanzania and Zanzibar" IN Denis Kadima and Susan Booysen (eds) Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa 1989-2009: 20 Years of Multiparty Democracy, EISA, Johannesburg, 534.

The ZEC is responsible for announcing the campaign period for elections in Zanzibar, although campaigning for the Union elections is permitted outside of the ZEC's campaigning periods, if, as was the case in 2005, the Union elections are suspended (in this instance, due to the death of the Chadema vice-presidential candidate). However, all campaigning for the Zanzibar presidential, House of Representatives and local authority seats must take place within the period specified by the ZEC. The campaign period ends 24 hours before the election date, and all rallies and gatherings in Zanzibar must have the written permission of the local police commissioner in order to be considered legal. This has been a point of contention during campaigning periods, in particular for the opposition CUF, which has repeatedly alleged that the police and security forces arbitrarily deny their candidates permission to campaign during the run-up to elections. The campaigning period has historically been characterised by violent clashes between rival supporters of political parties, and between supporters of opposition parties and the police and security forces, in particular prior to the 2000 elections, as well as some reported clashes during the 2005 campaign period (EISA 2005; Commonwealth Observer Group 2005.

References

COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP 2005 Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania - 30 October 2005: Report, [www] http://www.thecommonwealth.org/document/39079/ 152078/147130/zanzibar__united_republic_of_tanzania.htm [PDF document, opens new window] (accessed 23 Feb 2010).

EISA 2006 Electoral Observer Mission Report to the 2005 Zanzibar Elections [PDF document].