Zanzibar’s top police officer yesterday confirmed the deployment of more Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) personnel in the island archipelago this week, defending the move as a necessary security measure ahead of Sunday’s scheduled general election rerun.
According to Commissioner of Police Hamdani Omar Makame, recent
flare-ups of violence in Unguja and Pemba - including the torching of
offices belonging to both the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and
opposition Civic United Front (CUF) parties, as well as residential
properties - were among major reasons for the security beef-up.
CP Makame stressed that the security forces were not in the Isles
to threaten would-be voters, but to ensure peace and harmony prevail
before and after Sunday’s polls.
“The move to bring in more forces from the Mainland and arm them
accordingly was prompted by the incidents of violence that have been
recurring as the countdown continues towards the election (rerun),” he
said, adding that residents have no need to worry as the security forces
are there to protect them and their properties.
The confirmation came just a day after CUF, the main opposition
party in the Zanzibar election, accused the government of sending
heavily-armed security forces to Pemba Island - the party’s stronghold -
prompting residents to go into hiding in nearby forests or flee to
Mombasa, Kenya.
Without giving details, Makame said the forces have been mandated
to implement all orders from above to ensure a peaceful election rerun.
He said the deployment of more TPDF soldiers in the Isles did not
necessarily mean the police had failed in its duty, but was merely a
precautionary measure due to the increasing violence.
“We (police) usually ask for assistance when such incidents occur
because some people apparently would like to see Zanzibar descend into
unwanted chaos for their own reasons,” the Isles chief said.
He emphasized that security forces as a whole had enough tools to
execute their duties effectively, and vowed that no one would be spared
if found trying to fuel chaos or frighten would-be voters.
“Similarly, no one should blame the police for any massive use of
force if the country’s laws and regulations were violated,” Makame said.
On some Pemba residents reportedly going into hiding or seeking
refuge in neighbouring Kenya, Makame described them as criminals and
said the police would deal with them accordingly.
Meanwhile, Makame also confirmed that unidentified people threw an
explosive device believed to be a bomb onto the roof of his house in
Zanzibar’s Kijichi area on Monday night.
According to the Isles police chief, the incident happened around 11 p.m while members of his family were asleep.
No one was injured but family members were shaken up, he said. Police are investigating the incident.
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