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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General to Witness Signing of Zanzibar Agreement

8 June 1999

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku is to personally witness on 9 June the signing in Tanzania of a Commonwealth-brokered agreement between the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the Civic United Front (CUF). The agreement, which is the result of patient negotiations by Chief Anyaoku and his Special Envoy, Dr Moses Anafu, brings to an end the political crisis which has gripped Zanzibar since October 1995.

Key provisions of the agreement include the reform of the Zanzibar electoral commission, a review of the constitutional and electoral laws in Zanzibar, compensation of those whose property was destroyed during the crisis and the appointment of two new members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives from the opposition CUF. After the signing, an inter-party committee of CCM and CUF members will be established to facilitate the implementation of the agreement. The 14-member committee will work on the basis of consensus and will have two co-chairs. A trust fund is also expected to be created to fund aspects of the agreement.

Commented Chief Anyaoku:

This is a victory for common sense. It is surely in the interests of all to end the political paralysis that has held back Zanzibar for nearly four years. I hope that the spirit as well as the letter of this historic agreement will guide Zanzibar up to and beyond the coming elections.



Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678


99/38 8 June, 1999

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int