ACT Wazalendo will only join Zanzibar’s Government of National Unity (SUK) after it is satisfied that the political agreement underpinning the arrangement has been fully and properly implemented, party chairman Othman Masoud Othman has said.
Mr Othman, who previously served as Zanzibar’s First Vice President, said the party’s decision to participate in the unity government would depend on the establishment of credible mechanisms to oversee implementation of the commitments agreed by the signatories.
He made the remarks on August 24, 2026, in Shangani, North A District, Unguja.
He said the immediate priority should be the formation of a joint committee with equal representation from the political parties that signed the agreement.
The committee would be responsible for setting out how the agreed issues would be implemented and determining the key priorities.
The parties should then establish a joint commission, operating within the law, to monitor implementation and provide a framework for sustaining the agreement ahead of the 2030 General Election, he said.
“After that, we will join our colleagues in running the government to bring development to the people of Zanzibar. Other matters will be addressed while we are in government through procedures we agree on,” Mr Othman said.
Mr Othman said ACT Wazalendo did not enter the agreement to secure political positions, but to advance what it considers the rights and interests of Zanzibaris.
He said the party had earlier been expected to submit names for the First Vice President and ministerial positions following the election, but declined because it did not recognise the election as having been conducted legitimately.
“After all that, we put the interests of Zanzibar first. That is why we met our colleagues to seek what is in the best interests of the people of Zanzibar,” he said.
Mr Othman said implementation of the agreement could help address some of Zanzibar’s longstanding political and socio-economic challenges.
He argued that continued political disputes were not sustainable if Zanzibar was to achieve meaningful development.
“If we had gone into the agreement demanding that all our things be returned and they were returned, would that mean we had solved the problem? No,” he said.
The ACT Wazalendo chairman said the party would continue pushing for reforms aimed at addressing what it describes as longstanding injustices, including ensuring that electoral outcomes are respected and the winner of an election is officially recognised.
Mr Othman identified public perceptions surrounding the agreement as one of the challenges that could affect its implementation.
He said the agreement should not be viewed as a favour granted by CCM, but as a national commitment intended to protect Zanzibar’s broader interests.
He urged political leaders to stand together in demanding implementation of the agreed measures.
“It is our right to demand the implementation of what we agreed,” he said, urging party members not to be discouraged by those seeking to undermine confidence in the process.
ACT Wazalendo Zanzibar Deputy Chairman Ismail Jussa Ladhu said the rising cost of living was putting increasing pressure on households.
He said many Zanzibaris were struggling to meet basic needs as the cost of essential goods and services continued to rise.
“No one is living a comfortable life because the difficult situation has worsened, leaving some citizens unable to afford even one meal a day,” Mr Jussa said.
He said improving citizens’ livelihoods was among the key reasons for pursuing political unity, arguing that political agreements should ultimately translate into better living conditions.
Mr Jussa also said Zanzibaris should take greater responsibility for determining the future of their country rather than leaving the matter to the international community.
“We cannot lose hope because we are seeking what belongs to us, which is our right,” he said.
He called on ACT Wazalendo leaders and members in North A District to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures and remain focused on its political agenda.
Mr Jussa further urged Zanzibaris to maintain their position on constitutional matters and continue advocating for what they consider to be the legitimate interests of Zanzibar.
Former ACT Wazalendo chairman Juma Duni Haji urged party members to remain patient and focused despite criticism and conflicting messages surrounding the political agreement.
“You will hear many things in the streets about what we signed, including discouraging messages. But remain calm and listen to us, your leaders,” Mr Duni said.
He said the agreement was not about sharing government positions, but about addressing issues of dignity, political stability, unity and the wider interests of Zanzibaris.
The comments highlight the continuing debate over the implementation of Zanzibar’s political unity arrangements, with ACT Wazalendo insisting that clear mechanisms, legal oversight and measurable progress must precede its full participation in the Government of National Unity.
