| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Africa Subsaharan | |
| New Zanzibar president sworn in, first albino MP elected | |
| 2010-11-04 | |
| [Daily Nation (Kenya)] The newly elected seventh Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, was sworn yesterday in at a well-attended ceremony held at Aman Stadium in Unguja Island. He solemnly pledged to serve Zanzibar as expected of him before his predecessor Aman Abeid Karume handed over the Union and Zanzibar constitutions to him. Ummm... That might not be a bad tradition to establish in our own country... It was at 9:47am when Zanzibar Chief Justice Hamid Mahmoud presided over the swearing in ceremony that was escorted by a 21-gun salute from armed forces and a five-minute opportunity for Dr Shein to inspect the guard of honour for the first time. Calm disappeared amid prayers when Islamic, Anglican and Roman Catholic Church leaders were given about 15 minutes to say their prayers. The Zanzibaris, who attended the ceremony, suddenly cheered after the RC Bishop Augustine Shao of Zanzibar Diocese mentioned the Civic United Front secretary general Seif Shariff Hamad in his prayers. Hamad vied for the hotly contested presidential post, but he was edged by Dr Shein by a one-per cent margin. The new Zanzibar President took to the podium at 10:30 to give his address, hinting that he would only extend his gratitude to voters and political parties involved in the election in his brief speech. Of the long list of the election stakeholders he thanked included female food vendors popularly known as Mama Lishe in Kiswahili for serving meals during campaign rallies. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Tanzania's first elected albino politician said yesterday the result was a breakthrough for albinos in the country where scores have been murdered for their body parts used in sorcery.
"In the past, people did not believe that an albino or any disabled person could have such an opportunity without sympathy or being favoured. Now they believe that we are capable without sympathy." Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete in 2008 nominated an albino woman to parliament at the height of ritual albino killings. Winnng the seat did not however come easy for Bar'wani, who stood as a candidate of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) in Sunday's election. His opponents urged their supporters to reject him, saying he could not think properly because he was an albino, he said. "My opponents ridiculed me and residents here were infuriated by that. They said albinos lack vitamin C and therefore they do not have the ability to think. "They told supporters not to chose an albino because of this," he added. The head of the Tanzania Albino Society, Ernest Kimaya, welcomed Bar'wan's election. "We are happy to get one albino MP this year. It's very good. ''It shows our importance in the community," Kimaya told AFP. Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe, from the same region as Bar'wani, said his election showed an "acceptance of people with disabilties." "As an MP in Lindi region I pledge to give him due support despite (his) coming from the opposition," added Membe. Bar'wani said he would work to address problems facing albinos. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 solemnly pledged to serve Zanzibar as expected of him Ummm... That might not be a bad tradition to establish in our own country... Fred, Zero is serving the US pretty much as I expected of him.... with fava beans and a (cheap) chianti. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-11-04 09:43 |