Zanzibar House of Representatives yesterday elected Zubeir Ali Maulid from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as the fourth speaker in the absence of opposition parties which boycotted to contend for the post.
For the first time since the reintroduction of multiparty system,
an all CCM House of Representatives convened here after the party won
all the 54 constituencies of Unguja and Pemba Island in a poll re-run
which was boycotted by the main opposition Civic United Front (CUF).
Maulid who defeated long serving former House Speaker, Pandu Ameir
Kificho in the party’s election becomes the fourth speaker since its
establishment in 1995. Maulid won the seat unopposed as no member from
the opposition party had picked the candidacy form to contend the post.
Speaking during the election, House Clerk, Dr Yahya Khamis Hamad
told members of the house that Maulid was the only candidate contending
the seat after opposition parties boycotted the process. According to
Hamad, Maulid garnered 75 votes of members that were present in the
house.
“I take this opportunity to announce Zubeir Ali Maulid as the new
House Speaker from today,” said Hamad. Maulid then thanked members of
the house foe showing faith in him and electing him as Speaker of the
House.
He urged all representatives to execute their duties diligently
regardless of the fact that the house will have to work a one party
organ. He added that the aim is to continue preserving peace and harmony
in the country to foster development. He was shortly afterwards sworn
in.
On Sunday Dr Hamad told the press that former Infrastructure and
Communication Minister Zubeir Ali Maulid from CCM was the only candidate
who picked and submitted forms. He said that they had written to the
Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to inform parties to submit the
names of their candidates to no avail.
He said that all political parties were given a timeframe to pick and submit.
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