Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein lays a wreath on the grave of the First Zanzibar Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume at Kisiwandui in Unguja yesterday on the occasion of Karume Day.
President for Zanzibar Dr Ali Mohammed Shein yesterday led the citizenry in special prayers to commemorate the founding father of Zanzibar, Sheikh Abeid Aman Karume who died on April 07, 1972.
The prayers were attended by hundreds of religious, union and isles government and political leaders and the citizenry in general.
However Shein did not give any speech but only led the citizenry and later laid a wreath on the tomb of the founding father.
Dar es Salaam regional sheikh Mussa Salim who presided over the prayers applauded leaders for Zanzibar for enabling the establishment of the Government of National Unity.
He said there was a big difference between Zanzibar of yesterday and Zanzibar of today whereby peace did not prevail because of the political climate by then.
“The Government of National Unity is something that we should be proud of since there is peace in Zanzibar. Leaders have an obligation of maintaining the peace since the day of resurrection every person will be judged according to one’s deeds and not on political affiliation,” said Mussa.
The sheikh applauded the founding father of Zanzibar, Mzee Abeid Aman Karume, due to his enormous contribution of uniting Zanzibaris regardless of one’s religion, colour or ethnicity.
Speaking in an interview with this paper shortly after the ceremony, Bishop for Anglican Church in Zanzibar, Michael Hafidh said Karume left the foundation which brought socio- economic development of Zanzibar regardless of religion.
He said the foundation needs to be honoured and cemented so as to ensure unity between the people of various religions.
The widow for the founding father, Fatma Karume, told this paper that Zanzibar has continued to register a lot of economic developments.
She said it was therefore important the unity is sustainable and that the youth should avoid conflicts which can destroy the prevailing peace that Zanzibar had enjoyed for years.
The former First Lady said that the Government of National Unity needs to be honoured for mutual understanding.
Deputy Civic United Front (CUF) General Secretary, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, said the intention of Karume was to unite Zanzibaris.
He said there is a need to ensure that Karume is honoured by ensuring unity.
For his part, deputy Secretary General for Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Vuai Ali Vuai said soon after multi party politics people started to be divided.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Bernad Membe said one of the great Karume’s contributions was uniting the Isles and Tanganyika to form what is now Tanzania.
Membe said Karume together with Tanganyika’s founding President Julius Nyerere stood for uniting the people of the two countries for the benefit of the present and future generation.
The late Sheikh Karume, who was an architect of the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964 that ended centuries of oppressive Omani-Arab sultanate in the isles, was gunned down by counter-revolutionaries 43 years ago as he was playing a game of 'bao' at the headquarters of the then Afro-Shirazi Party.
He earned acclaim among the people for his remarkable zeal in ensuring rapid people's development.
After his death, a succession of governments led by different presidents followed starting with Mzee Aboud Jumbe Mwinyi; followed by Mzee Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the late Idris Abdul Wakil, Dr Salmin Amour Juma, Amani Abeid Karume and incumbent Dr Ali Mohamed Shein.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
