Mobhare Matinyi, Washington DC
Thursday, 31 May 2012 21:19 The
Citizen, TanzaniaLast weekend our nation was embarrassed by the news of senseless riots that engulfed downtown Zanzibar, ending with the burning of churches, clashes between police and ruthless protesters, and ultimately the arrest of some elements. Luckily, no loss of life was reported.
The police and the general public blamed the separatist Islamist group, “Uamsho,” which literally translates to “the awakening”, but the group’s leadership denied any involvement in the law-breaking incidents. No one expected though that Uamsho leaders would have accepted responsibility despite their recent systematic build up of hatred among Tanzanians.
Thanks to the Union government for taking minimum steps to calm the situation down, but frankly, much tougher and serious measures are required. The mere arrest of the suspected culprits and reading of charge sheets before the court of law will not solve the impending problem in the Isles. We need more than procedural matters, if necessary even enacting new laws to protect our union.
The idea that Uamsho are exercising
freedom of speech is flawed and people should realise that absolute freedom is
anarchy. As a secular and peaceful nation we cannot entertain such stupidity.
Moreover, as a united republic, we should not tolerate treasonous sentiments
against the union.
Yes, we know that Zanzibar is always on the verge of falling into trouble for all sorts of reasons, be they political, social, ethnic, economic, or religious, but we cannot harbour this habit under the irresponsible pretext of people’s voice. The union government ought to act firmly on this matter starting with the issue of the recent Isles constitutional amendments which severely undermined the union.
But what is this movement called Uamsho? There could be many definitions of the group but perhaps the most suitable one is this: a separatist Islamist group that aims at cultivating hatred among Tanzanians under the pretext of union issues.
With last weekend’s incidents, Uamsho has now added another star on their crown, that one of religious violence, and we are looking into the unthinkable here, if the government won’t act decisively. Evidently, the likes of Uamsho are thorns in the flesh of any nation.
Out of misplaced anger some Zanzibaris may sympathise with Uamsho but if one looks at other Muslim-dominated countries around the world, they will not fail to accept the fact that, in the end all Islamist groups end up becoming mayhem to their own populace.
The union in this case is merely a scapegoat, but even without a union these Islamists will never be short of agenda. Yes, we have issues in our union, but we can talk as adults. Perpetrating hatred among Tanzanians, violence, or even proposing a referendum as some opposition politicians mistakenly do while knowing for sure that our people have been pounded with lies for a long time, is unattainable, unsustainable, and a non-starter unless one wants to break the union.
Very unfortunately, some people in Tanzania Mainland have either been taken away by the separatist rhetoric in Zanzibar or are simply trying hard to behave like many Africans do in their countries. Africans, we are the champions of separatist thinking. Regrettably, some Tanzanians, especially the young generation and some misguided intellectuals, seem to be heavily entrenched in this medieval thinking. No! We cannot go that way!
While speaking before the summit of the Organisation of African Unity, in Cairo, on July 20, 1964, the then president of our united republic, Julius Nyerere, while making observations on what had happened in the previous fourteen months since the inaugural of the continental body, said: “Tanganyika has ceased to be an independent entity, and with Zanzibar, is now part of the united republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.”
What Mwalimu was saying is this: the two sovereign states of Tanganyika and Zanzibar are gone and now stands one country, the one we know today as Tanzania. As we all know, the name “Tanzania” came into being in October of that year. Resurrecting “Tanganyika” or calling for any self-determination is simply unpatriotic and should be treated as such.
Zanzibar may choose to call theirs a country just like the Germans call their provinces, or a nation like the Quebecois do in Canada, but we are one sovereign state and so shall we remain. In fact, Zanzibar enjoys more than that, almost the same way Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland enjoy within their United Kingdom. Notably, England has no government within the union in the same way the Mainland doesn’t in Tanzania.
Complaining day and night, lying to each other on virtually every issue, and expecting to get the benefits of the union and the ones outside the union is unrealistic. Yes, we have things to sort out, but we should also be reasonable not to behave like spoiled children.
My fellow Tanzanians, we must preserve, defend and protect our peace and union. God bless the United Republic of Tanzania!
2 comments:
Mr. Matinyi, without do respect i do agree with some of your post but majority of it you went too far or let say you are wrong. I dont think you real understand the Union between these two countries. Some words you have been used in your article is the one make Zanzibaries angry always. I believe deep in my heart no one would like to see our people kill each other. Uhamisho people are excercise their right like the one you do in America. Uhamisho didnt start this two days ago, they have been doing this after allowed to express their opinion same as what you are doing. I think you real dont know the cause and why this misunderstanding between people happen in zanzibar. As a writter is better to do your investigation before you write and undurstand the cause of what happen in zanzibar, Why happen and who started. Zanzibar is part of Union and we respect that but Union is going to far in such away zanzibar is going to be dead in few years to come. Remember what Mh. Mazingo Pinda says at the congress in Dodoma and how Zanzibaries congress women and man reacted when Mr. Pinda says zanzibar is not a country and you are repeating the same thing. Sir, Zaznibar is a country withing the Union. Zaznibaries have the right to express their feeling the same way you do. Majority of zanzibarian need the union article of association to be 11 as it was before. What some people did was wrong for burning churches and some government properties and we should condemn. It was wrong to do that but wasnt wrong for people to express their feeling. I am not a writter like you but i do write what i have sure about it. Thanks
wacheni mambo ya kikaburu hayo wengi wazanzibari hawanufaiki na muungano hebu fanyeni kura ya maoni muwaulize kama wanataka au hawataki Nyerere na Karume ndio walioamuwa muungano sio wazanzibari wenyewe.
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