Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no
By Leo Odera Omolo recently in Dar
The recent unconfirmed rumours and reports indicating that there could be huge deposits of oil and gas laying under the sea bed along the coastline of the mainland Tanzania could be the source of discontent and stepped up agitation by the Civic United Front (CUF) in the Isles.,I can now authoritatively report.
The yet to be confirmed reports says there existed hugeof oil and gas deposits found in the narrow channel between the isles and the mainland Tanzania.
This is likely to degenerate into a volatile situation which need to be handled with extra caution by the government of the United republic of Tanzania. I could lead to a violent breakup of the union.
Political pundits and observers in both the twin islands of Zanzibar and Pemba say the politicians have launched the most aggressive campaign to have the borders separating the two union states re-drawn a fresh. If it is true there existed oil and gas along the border of the two union states it would have to be re-drawn a fresh once the exploration of the hydrocarbon commences, said one Zanzibar politician who requested for his anonymous in fear of a possible reprisal.
This writer spent three days in Dar Es Salaam last week and conducted some very exclusive interviews with Zanzibar politician as well as the supporters of the CUF and the ruling CCM parties and realized the CUF is rapidly making majorinroads into CCM stronghold in both the twin islands and was rapidly gaining massive support of the population within both islands of Zanzibar and Pemba.
The CUF is secretly circulating leaflets calling for political separation between the mainland Tanzania and the isles a head of the start of the oil exploration to avoid future border disputes between the two union states before the oil revenue began flowing in.
One of such secret leaflets availed to this writer, says in part the CUF is aware of the recent discovery of huge oil and gas deposits laying underneath of the sea bed along the channels separating the mainland and the isles and as such is pressing hard for greater political autonomous if not complete secessions or the breakup of the union.
Last Saturday thousands of CUF supporters braved the heavy downpour and took part in demonstrations in Zanzibar against the recent collapse o f the Mwafaka talks by CCM.
The demonstrators who were clad in red, white and blue vestments marched in the streets with their leaders ,carrying placards, denouncing CCM national executive committee {NEC} for calling for a referendum to determine now how Zanzibar which has remained as part of the Unted Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar since 1964 should be ruled in the future.
The CUF chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba led the demonstration, accompanied by other party officials .The procession which was allowed by the police had started at Maisara near the home of Mama Fetma Karume,the mother of Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume.It was the late founding President Julius Kambarage Nyerere and the late leader of the Afro Shrazi Party Abeid Karume who created the union without having conducted a referendum.This happened soon after the violence overthrowing of the Sultanate century old rule which was considered as being pro-wealthy Arab traders at the expense of the indiginant people.
For many years, the late Dr. Nyerere using his political magnanimity held the union together despite sporadic protests by mainly Arabs CUF members in Pemba.
The demonstrators argued in one of the placards that there is no need for a referendum to determine the future of Zanzibar .It called upon the Zanzibaris to unite “this country is not for exclusive preserve of the Karume family CCM should stop playing with peace in Zanzibar.
Other placards read”conservatives ,you are ruining the country ,future generations will condemn you .We want a referendum on the union Kenya and Comoros your colleagues, Zanzibar is your home.
Some of the placards had messages directed at the Union government President Jakaya Kikwete seeking his personal intervention in the current political stand off.
Seemingly peaceful the demonstrators who had earlier gathered in the morning at Maisara to join the procession ,which passed through Kwa Raju,Miembeni,Komba Wapya and Mwanbeladu to Kibanda Maiti, where a charged public rally was held.
In his electrifying,but brief speech theCUF Secretary General Mr.Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad ruled out a return to the negotiating table with CCM for the Mwafaka talks and vowed that the party would continue its peaceful campaign for justice. CUF he said do not want violence but will opt for democratic means to make sure that it achieves its rights” he said.
Saying that the political stand off could be solved amicably and peacefully but only if the ruling CCM could agree to sign the numerous agreement that had been reached before between the two parties after 14 months of grueling negotiations and talks while pointing an accusing finger at the CCM for reneging on all past agreements.
The radical CUF chief did not mince his word.He made it point blank clear that should the CCM fail to honour all the previous agreements,particularly the Mwafaka accord;then his party would not participate in the next general election scheduled for 2010 and would extend an appeal to the international community to reject the.CCM manulative tactics.
It was immediately reakised that even many CCM supporters in the Isles also took active part in the CUF demonstration sending the danger signal of the high degree of the existing, but mostintriguing dimension the parties of the union were taking.
Chadenna chairman Mr.Freeman Mbowe also addressed the CUF and urged them to clinch their fist and shout loudly saying “enough is enough” as the demonstrators resorting to the shouts of people power.
Observers and experts on union matters have told us that President Jakaya Kikwete should handle the latest waves protests in Zanzibar with extra care when dealing with sensitive matters of the union.
They were expressing the popular fears now persisting that the East Africa region can possibly become the battle ground following the recent discovery of oil and gas while citing the existing tension between Uganda and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo over the oil reserve found in the Lake Albert that has recently witnessedt sporadic exchange of fires between the security forces of the two neighbouring states leading to intensive diplomatic activities in search of peaceful solutions
Meanwhile Tanzania has sered Tshs 1,002 billion (usd 954 million) by substituting imported diesel with locally produced natural gas to generate electricity since the year 2004.
According to the Ministry of energy and Minerals the savings from Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay gas to electricity projects were boosted by the discovery of more gas reserves in the eastern part of Songo Songo island at Nyuni.
This represents a saving of just over Tshs 1 trillion (usd 952.3 million) from the Songo Songo project from its inception by June 2004 to December 2007.and Tshs 2.3 billion (usd 2.19 million) from the Mnazi Bay venture between december 2006 and 2007” said the report.
An Australai multinational oil company Ndovu Resources Limited that has for the past four years been exploring in the area for oil and gas reserves made the discovery.
This form is one of the eleven other currently exploring oil and gas reserves in 12 blocks located along the Indian Ocean coastline from Mtwara to Tanga.
The Songo Songo gas fields is reported to have an estimated 540 billion cubic feet of gas reserves while Mnazi Bay gas project has approximately 400 billion cubic feet of gas reserves.
Perhaps aware of this recent discovery of huge deposits of oil and gas in an area which is laying in the narrow sea channel separating the mainland and the isles, the Zanzibaris and Pemba politicians are out to make aquick kill by pressing for re-drawing of the border between the mainland and the isles .these arguments are based on superficies fears that are the exploration began the mainland could boost its oil revenue at the expense of Zanzibar.
This line of agitation has boosted the support of CUF which hitherto was only popular in Pemba but not in Zanzibar. But now there are reports of big drift of CCM members who are joining CUF not because of the alleged election fraudsof the past but due to a motive of demanding for the break up of the union so that each state can handle its own oil and gas revenue. The situation is so volatile and even some CCM Mps from Zanzibar are said to be secretly supporting CUF radical demand for a complete autonomy.
Ends
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African Press International – api
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