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Zanzibar marks 45th anniversary of assassination of founding leader

Xinhua, April 7, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Zanzibar archipelago off the Indian Ocean coast in east Africa on Friday marked 45 years of the assassination of the founding President Abeid Amani Karume.

Karume was Zanzibar's president from 1964 to April 7, 1972 when he was gunned down by assassins.

Speaking at Zanzibar's headquarters of the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) at Kisiwandui where Karume was buried, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the revolution which was led by Karume in 1964 was aimed at liberating and uniting Zanzibaris and Tanzanians in general.

Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The deal was witnessed by Karume and Tanzania's founding President Julius Nyerere.

"Let's commit this day to be more united," said Majaliwa, adding: "Its high time people shun cheap politics that are likely to break the unity among the people of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania."

Majaliwa said the current Zanzibar government was working hard to ensure that the union between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania thrived for the interests of both sides.

Zanzibar's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Hamad Rashid, said Karume will always remain endeared in the hearts of many people because he always fought for the betterment of poor people.

He said Karume's exemplary leadership made Zanzibaris to have a sense of belonging.

"Whoever goes against the vision of this Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, must know that he/she is downplaying the efforts that were invested by our former great leaders,'' said Rashid.

Rashid asked all political parties to use the platform of multiparty democracy to defend the interests of the union and add value to it instead of tearing it apart.

Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein led government leaders and residents of Zanzibar during a special prayer to commemorate the death of Karume.

Shein laid a wreath on the late Karume's grave in recognition of his efforts in extricating Zanzibar from the hands of colonialists. Endit