Election Safari on Zanzibar

Yesterday saw the politically charged paradise island of Zanzibar going to the polls for the third time since multiparty system democracy was introduced in Tanzania. The last two elections on the island were marred by extreme violence and election manipulation, and many commentators feared that this would be the case again. However, despite some minor incidents involving opposition supporters and the police, and despite a few accusations of minor manipulation, the elections on Zanzibar seem to have been a relative democratic success. It nevertheless remains to be seen how the parties will react to the results that are expected within three days of the poll.

There were some rather ridiculous scenes played out on the island as 35,000 security forces in combination with international observers, journalists, and tourists were all trying to get a piece of the action. As soon as there were reports on problems at a polling station it was flooded by observers. Every organisation apparently needed several representatives at the sight and at the same time buses were passing by with tourists waving and taking photos of the queuing voters.

Despite the relative calm and despite very few accusations of irregularities, the debriefings are currently all about violence and possible election manipulation. One of the basic features of a good election observer is the starting-point that he/she wants the election to go well and no have. This does not seem to be the case here where every little incident is blown up to enormous proportions with every new “expert” on Zanzibar smirking to the words “I told you so”.

(c) Robert Egnell