What does the future hold for Z'bar after CUF boycotts rerun election?

The Civic United Front ( CUF), the largest opposition party in Zanzibar  politics, has said it loud and clear that it will not take part in the anticipated Zanzibar’s rerun polls.

 

The stance, which was made public on Thursday evening after the party’s Governing Council’s meeting, clearly sends a signal that the impasse will deepen.

 

According to CUF officials, the party will not go to the repeat polls slated for March 20 simply because Zanzibaris had already expressed their will in the election held on October 25, last year, and that repeating the polls was tantamount to defilement of democracy. 

 

The opposition party has insisted that the cancelled elections were valid and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission ( NEC) should therefore have finalized tallying of votes before announcing the winner.

 

If CUF maintains this stance CCM is likely to go to the polls alone or, maybe with a number of  other small opposition political parties and, at the end of the day, it (CCM) will form a government that may not be popular due to lack of political legitimacy. 

 

It should, however, be noted that some other small political parties may attempt to fill the vacuum that would be created by CUF by participating in the election. But the question is: Will CCM form the government of national unit (GNU) with any small opposition political party that will emerge second after ZEC announces the final results as the Zanzibar constitution requires?

 

Already CUF have begun campaigning against the rerun polls, including imploring its members and supporters to boycott them, meaning that voter turnout is likely to be very low. 

 

The international community, led by super powers such US and the European Union have, at different occasions, expressed concern over the ZEC decision to annul the elections held on October 25, last year. The consequence of such concern has been communicated to the public and, most likely, to the government as well. 

 

The Tanzania government is very much aware that the US government has, on two occasions, refused to release over Sh1trillion in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funding, citing two reasons –  with the alleged bungled election in Zanzibar featuring prominently.  

 

Basically, no one knows what the impasse may bring, especially after March 20. President Dr John Magufuli appears to have left the matter in the hands of Zanzibaris themselves who, apparently, have failed to reach a consensus.

 

Much as we may wish it otherwise, the repeat election will not resolve the political impasse in the Isles. Instead it is very likely to complicate matters. Since Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, the crisis is likely to have a spill-over effect.  Hence, there appears no light at the end of the tunnel.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN