SEVENTEEN of the 18 political parties that signed the code of ethics for the upcoming October General Election in Zanzibar have now nominated their presidential candidates.

The candidates have begun collecting their nomination forms from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) office in Maisara, a key step toward formalizing their campaigns.

On September 1, five candidates officially collected their forms, speaking to journalists afterward about their priorities for the future of the island.

The first to collect her form was Naima Salum Hamad of the UDP, who is running on a platform centred on social welfare. She pledged to prioritise the rights of women, children, and people with disabilities, with a focus on improving access to clean water, energy, quality healthcare, and education. Hamad emphasized her commitment to empowering women to take on leadership roles.

Ameir Abdallah Ameir of the Makini Party presented a platform based on direct financial benefits for citizens. He promised to provide every Zanzibari with a stipend of 500,000/- on the day after his inauguration and to set a minimum salary of 1.5 million for workers. Ameir stated that his campaign will detail how these ambitious pledges will be funded, asserting that "All Zanzibaris must enjoy good living conditions, not just a few."

Hamad Mohammed Ibrahim of the UPDP outlined a radical restructuring of the government. He proposed a leadership system with a President, a Chief Minister, and   Deputy Chief Minister. Ibrahim also promised a major industrialisation push, including the creation of two nuclear power plants for electricity and a nuclear facility for national defence to combat rising crime.

Hamad Rashid Muhammed of the ADC, a three-time presidential candidate, focused on food security and economic self-sufficiency.

 He noted that Zanzibar currently imports about 75 percent of its goods and pledged to boost local food production, increase rice cultivation, cap beef prices, and provide resources to farmers, fishermen, and livestock keepers.

Finally, Shafii Hassan Suleiman of the DP highlighted peace and stability as his top priorities, arguing that without them, development is impossible. He also promised to create jobs, increase income, and establish more markets and industries to benefit farmers. 

He confirmed his party's support for early voting to allow election officials to cast their ballots.