Zanzibar: Chaos Turn Sectarian

By Henry Neondo

A demonstration by supporters of a radical Islamic group that had been called to press for the splitting of Tanzania over the weekend turned chaotic leading to burning of churches and injuring scores of people.

Chaos first broke out in the commercial and tourism centre of Stone Town on Saturday night and continued until Sunday afternoon

Hundreds of members of the Association of Islamic Awareness and Public Discourse,  known in its Swahili acronym, Jumiki (for Jumuiya ya Uamsho na Mihadhara ya Kiislamu Zanzibar), torched two churches and destroyed other properties worth millions of shillings, including a motor vehicle on Sunday.

Sources said the rioters were agitating for the disbandment of the Union, which would result in cutting off Zanzibar islands from Tanzania Mainland.

Mussa Ali Mussa, the Zanzibar Police Commissioner said on Sunday that seven leaders of the group have been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.

He said the police had to move in after the demonstrators burnt down two churches and damaged properties worth millions of shillings.

Mussa blamed Jumiki leaders of urging its members on the streets, a charge leaders denied.

Zanzibar, with a population of 1 million people merged with mainland Tanganyika in 1964 to form the modern United Republic of Tanzania, but Zanzibar retains its own president and parliament.

The new group appears to be keen on replacing Civic United Front (CUF) party which at one time was the main opposition party which carried the aspirations of those disenfranchised by Tanzania vision especially after the demise of the founding father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.