CCM: No need for JK`s help on Z`bar stalemate

tibwilitibwili · 2008-03-04T13:06:32+00:00

2008-03-04 09:59:30 By Lydia Shekighenda and Correspondent Felister Peter Chama Cha Mapinduzi Secretary General Yusuf Makamba has said the ongoing peace talks between his ruling party and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) are on track and do not need a push from President Jakaya Kikwete. He has also ruled out the possibility of concluding the negotiations by the end of this month as recently demanded by the CUF youth wing. He said in an interview with this paper yesterday that CUF was going too far in seeking the president`s intervention in the negotiations ``because the committee formed to work on the issue has not failed to accomplish its task``. Makamba noted that all issues related to the Zanzibar political impasse were being ably handled by the committee, which comprises six members from either side and is co-chaired by the two parties` secretaries general. ``We are proceeding well with the talks, guided by the five terms of reference we were given when we started. We are not stuck and therefore see no logic of involving President Kikwete in the negotiations at this stage,`` he said. He further explained that the two rival sides have worked closely together in handling ``this highly delicate and sensitive matter``, with members of the committee normally updating their parties on whatever progress is made or problems experienced. ``We will only ask for President Kikwete`s intervention when we see that we are surely heading for failure,� stated an upbeat Makamba. He said the committee was working without a timeframe ``largely because we are expected to discuss each agenda item thoroughly and keep our respective parties posted before proceeding with other items``. ``There is just no possibility of concluding these complex negotiations by the end of this month because they were dealing with an issue that involves an entire nation and not merely the CCM and CUF secretaries general and members,`` he added. Members of the CUF youth wing at the weekend gave President Kikwete one month to resolve the Zanzibar political impasse, saying they would otherwise seek ``popular intervention``. However, Makamba said the ultimatum came from people ignorant of what was actually going on. ``As I speak, the negotiations are going on in Zanzibar. We appeal to CUF members and the Tanzanian public to be patient. We are right on course, as far as our talks are concerned,`` he pointed out. Contacted for comment on the matter, CUF Deputy Secretary General Wilfred Lwakatare reiterated his party`s stance and called on President Kikwete to intervene and resolve the deadlock ``with minimum delay``. However, he gave no ultimatum. He explained that he saw no reason for delays in �putting this drawn-out impasse behind us when this is actually a matter that can be resolved within no time``. ``The point is that people want to get satisfactory feedback on what is being discussed because it has taken too long,`` added Lwakatare, noting that the country was approaching the next (2010) general elections while still dealing with a problem relating to the 2000 general election. A section of the opposition camp and members of the public have recently been calling on President Kikwete to employ the ``same magic`` he used in helping bring the bloody post-election crisis in Kenya to a swift but peaceful end in similarly ending the deadlock in Zanzibar. The stalemate revolves around long-running claims by CUF, the major opposition party in the Isles, that CCM massively rigged the multiparty general elections in Zanzibar in 2000 and 2005. However, the ruling party has always vehemently denied ever stealing votes. SOURCE: Guardian

Thread starter tibwilitibwili
Start date Mar 4, 2008

tibwilitibwili

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CCM: No need for JK`s help on Z`bar stalemate

tibwilitibwili

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