By Godfrey Olukya 13-1-2014
Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni has hailed the people of the
Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Pemba and the Republic of
Tanzania for their unity, chasing away bad leaders and for supporting
Uganda to rid it of bad leadership.
The President was yesterday speaking at colourful celebrations to
commemorate 50 years of the Zanzibar Revolution at Amaan Stadium in
Zanzibar.
“I bring you greetings from Uganda and well wishes. Zanzibar,
Tanganyika, Uganda and Congo’s relationship did not start today or
yesterday, it has been here for a long time. In Uganda we never had
cloth, it came from here. We used to exchange it with elephant tusks.
I want to thank you for the support you rendered our country to rid it
of bad leadership with support from Mwalimu Nyerere and Karume,” he
said.
The new government in Zanzibar then led by Abeid Amani Karume, turned
Zanzibar into a short lived People’s Republic of Zanzibar. Karume led
Zanzibar into the union with mainland Tanganyika to form the new
United Republic of Tanzania with Julius Nyerere as Head of State.
The President who was cheered by the crowds when he said he would use
his bad Swahili to address the people instead of the good English
because this is Africa, said unity in Tanzania has ensured that there
are no tribal or religious differences and has contributed to the
unity of the East African Region and the rest of Africa and the
liberation struggle in the whole of Africa.
“Am happy to come here because there has been peace for all these
years without any bloodshed. I want to commend you for the unity,
leadership, education that your leaders have ensured. We wish you well
and hope that you continue with the spirit of our fore leaders,” he
said calling on the region to support a united regional market for
goods and services of its people. President Museveni said while
natural resources are wealth, the richest wealth is the human
resource.”
The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council
Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein said this is a day of remembering the victory
of the people of Zanzibar.
“It is evident that the revolution established the rule of the
oppressed, brought equality and restored human dignity and respect to
workers and peasants. I pray to God to bestow mercy to the commander
of the 12th January revolution the late Mzee Abeid Amani Karume and
his fellow revolutionaries and to give long life to those still
living,” he said.
Dr. Mohammed Shein who gave a detailed state of affairs report since
the revolution emphasized that the celebrations must remind them of
the importance of protecting, defending and maintaining their
revolution as they have done for the last 50 years.
“It is clear that we are celebrating peace and unity. We therefore
must honour and maintain our unity and solidarity which are the secret
of our peace and stability,” he said.
The Zanzibar Revolution by local African revolutionaries in 1964
overthrew the Sultan of Zanzibar and his mainly Arab government.
Frustrated by under-representation in parliament the mainly African
Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) allied itself with the left-wing Umma Party,
and early on the morning of 12 January 1964 ASP member John Okello
mobilised around 600–800 revolutionaries on the main island of Unguja
(Zanzibar Island).
They overrun the country’s police force and appropriated their
weaponry, before overthrewing the Sultan and his government.
The ceremony was attended by the President of the United Republic of
Tanzania Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, The President of the Comoros
Ikililou Dhoinine and a special envoy of President I Jinping of the
Peoples Republic of China Hon. Jiang Weiin the minister of Housing and
Urban-Rural Development. Former presidents of Tanzania and various
local leaders.
END
