Military

DATE=10/29/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZANZIBAR ELECTION (L)

NUMBER=2-268580

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=ZANZIBAR

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Zanzibar's political opposition has rejected Sunday's presidential elections in Tanzania. VOA's

Scott Stearns reports, the ruling party is facing its biggest challenge ever.

TEXT: Opposition candidate Seif Shariff Hamad told supporters the voting is not free and fair because

polling stations in opposition strongholds opened late and many lacked sufficient ballot papers.

The opposition party has repeatedly questioned the independence of the electoral commission on Zanzibar.

Mr. Hamad condemned the polls after waiting several hours to cast his vote. He will hold a crisis meeting

of the opposition Civic United Front later Sunday to discuss how to respond to the polls. Party officials

have said they will call their supporters into the streets if they believe the ruling party is trying to

steal this election.

The army is out on patrol this election day soldiers with helmets and clubs shifting queues outside polling

stations. Tanzania's Chief of Defense Forces told people to go home after voting and stay there.

While President Benjamin Mkapa looks set to win re-election as Tanzania's national president, the

ruling party candidate for the islands appears to be trailing Mr. Hamad. If CUF wins big as expected on the

sister island of Pemba, party officials believe they will take the presidency if they can split the vote

here on Zanzibar

CUF says the ruling party has ignored the needs of islanders because it is run by people from the

mainland. The opposition party says it wants to "renegotiate" the terms of Zanzibar's 36-year-old

political union with mainland Tanganyika.

The ruling party says such separatist sentiments are dangerous to national stability. President Mkapa is

campaigning on themes of nurturing the country's legacy of peace, unity, and solidarity. On the islands, ruling party officials condemn the opposition CUF as violent radicals who have alienated the electorate

Ten million Tanzanians are registered to vote nationwide. Results are not expected before Tuesday. (SIGNED)

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