THE First Vice President of Zanzibar, Othman Masoud Othman, has officially announced that he will seek the approval of his party, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT -Wazalendo) for presidential nomination of Zanzibar in this year’s General Election.

He made the announcement yesterday in Unguja while speaking to editors during his New Year’s greetings for 2025.

Othman has made it clear that, regardless of the circumstances, even without a new constitution, ACT Wazalendo will participate in this year’s General Election.

"This is a year of decisions. We will participate in the election. It does not matter what the circumstances are. However it turns out, that is how we will fight," he said.

He listed 11 key reasons driving his desire to pursue the presidency, emphasising his belief that they will rescue Zanzibar from its current state, which he described as "backward in development compared to the resources it has."

The reasons include demanding the rights and authority to enable Zanzibar to utilise its resources to build economic prosperity equal to or surpassing that of other island nations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, and Cape Verde; restoring citizens' right to hold their leaders accountable through free and fair elections; and establishing the foundations of good governance based on transparency and accountability.

Another priority is the need for constitutional and legal reforms to remove what he referred to as "royal powers for the President" and to establish solid foundations for checks and balances, offering more opportunities for citizens to participate in the governance of their country through strong, people-serving Local Government Authorities, rather than being another burden on the citizens.

Othman also highlighted his goal to build true national unity that reflects social cohesion by strengthening equality, citizens' rights, and solidarity; creating an effective and efficient system to combat corruption in all its forms and prevent the misuse of public office and resources; and establishing a robust economic framework that will sustainably utilise Zanzibar’s resources, including productive tourism that protects the environment and leverages Zanzibar’s unique geographical position.

He further stated that he intends to create opportunities for citizens to participate in the economy by safeguarding their land rights and economic resources; enabling those who have attained appropriate professional levels to grow and produce goods and services for both local and international markets; empowering youth to be employed and self-employed; and strengthening social welfare services, including education, healthcare, care for the disabled, and sustainable social security.

Othman, who is also the National Chairman of ACT Wazalendo, said that during his more than 30 years of public service, he has identified the core problems facing Zanzibar as the weak performance of the current system in terms of implementation, policies, and management.

He noted that despite his experience, including holding a top position in the legal profession as the Attorney General, he believes he can lead Zanzibar out of its current problems, emphasising that "it urgently needs saving."

He also mentioned that to achieve all this, it is essential to ensure that there is a free, fair, credible, and transparent election in 2025.

Othman criticised the current electoral system, explaining that it allows the ruling CCM party to have a disproportionate number of members of parliament and representatives in decision-making bodies – both in the national parliament and the House of Representatives – who "fight for their party's interests rather than the national interest."

He urged government and CCM leaders to reflect deeply on the situation in Zanzibar during the election period, stressing that they do not want to see again the chaos and even deaths reported in the previous election.

He continued to criticise unethical conduct in government, referring to the 2022/23 Report by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), which highlights the lack of discipline in the use and management of public funds in both Zanzibar and Tanzania in general.

He stated that this situation persists despite being part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), yet they do not have the authority to hold accountable those who violate laws and procedures, leaving them as mere observers, much like the CAG.

"There is also a major problem of youth unemployment, including university graduates, and there have been reports of obstacles in job provision, where politics has interfered," he said.

Othman also strongly criticised the holding of the General Election over two days in Zanzibar, warning that this time, they will not accept such an arrangement, as they have identified it as an attempt to facilitate the theft of opposition party victories.

He stated that the legal changes which introduced provisions for a two-day voting process, in his professional opinion as a legal expert, have created what he called a "mockery of the law."

He also mentioned that they are continuing discussions with CCM regarding the future of the GNU, hinting that they have identified a lack of intention to implement the agreements made during negotiations that led to the formation of the GNU.

"In the final meeting of the Central Committee, we indeed decided to withdraw from the Government of National Unity, and while discussing this with the other side, there were promises made, and we are following up on them. We have not reached the end of these discussions.

"Our decision remains the same. Even if it is only one day left, we will withdraw if our concerns are not addressed," he said.

Othman also criticised the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Cabinet being led by a chairperson from outside the opposition, which he argued is against the operation of Parliaments in Commonwealth member countries.