ACT Wazalendo National Chairperson Othman Masoud Othman has urged the government to lift restrictions on political party public rallies in Zanzibar, arguing that the move is inconsistent with the Isles' long-established political traditions and legal principles.
Speaking on Sunday during an internal party meeting in Nyamazi, Mjini Region, Othman criticised the decision by Minister for Home Affairs Patrobas Katambi to prohibit public political meetings, saying the planned rally had to be replaced by an indoor meeting as a result of the directive.
"The Minister for Home Affairs should understand that he is making a mistake by fearing those who promote peace," Othman told party leaders from across Zanzibar.
He said while the government has a responsibility to maintain public order, restrictions should not target political actors advocating peaceful dialogue and reconciliation.
"When you confront those who are working to build peace, it suggests that the country is being governed by discretion rather than the rule of law. A country should be governed through laws and established procedures that apply equally to everyone," he said.
Othman cited Zanzibar's legal history, saying the Isles have long been governed under established laws. He referred to legislation dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, arguing that respect for legal processes has been a defining feature of Zanzibar's governance.
He also maintained that despite the enactment of Tanzania's Political Parties Act in 1992, Zanzibar has retained political traditions that should be respected when regulating political activities.
"We organise meetings to engage citizens and promote peace, not to create unrest," he said.
Othman also provided an update on political dialogue between ACT Wazalendo and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), saying the two parties had reached agreement on several areas of institutional and electoral reform aimed at resolving Zanzibar's long-running political disputes.
According to him, the proposals include reviewing the Zanzibar Constitution, reforming the electoral management system including the Electoral Commission, its secretariat and election officials—scrapping the early voting system, strengthening local government structures and reviewing the Zanzibar identity card framework.
The talks form part of broader reconciliation efforts announced by the two parties earlier this month.
ACT Wazalendo Zanzibar Vice-Chairperson Ismail Jussa said the party remained committed to implementing the agreements reached during the dialogue process, describing them as an important step towards lasting political stability.
"We are committed to implementing everything we agreed upon and will take the lead in honouring those commitments," Jussa said.
Former ACT Wazalendo national chairperson Juma Duni Haji expressed confidence that the agreements would strengthen unity among Zanzibaris and urged citizens to remain patient as implementation progresses.
He also proposed the publication of explanatory documents to help the public understand the content of the agreements.
ACT Wazalendo Vice-Chairperson for Mainland Tanzania, Is-haka Rashid Mchinjita, called on Zanzibaris to support the reconciliation process, saying national unity should take precedence over political differences.
Meanwhile, the party's Zanzibar Deputy Secretary-General, Omar Ali Shehe, said the progress made in the talks reflected the leadership's commitment to dialogue as a means of fostering lasting unity.
National Executive Committee member Mansour Yusouf Himid said the objectives of the Zanzibar Revolution were rooted in national unity and social cohesion rather than division.
"Our tradition is to remain united and work together. That is the foundation of our society," he said.
The Minister for Home Affairs had not publicly responded to Othman's remarks by the time of publication.
