Statement on Election re-run in Zanzibar
Statement on Election re-run in Zanzibar
London
The High Commissioners and Ambassadors to Tanzania of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, today issued the following statement regarding the election re-run which took place in Zanzibar on March 20th, 2016:
鈥淲e regret the Zanzibar Electoral Commission鈥檚 decision to hold a re-run of the 25 October 2015 election, without a mutually acceptable and negotiated solution to the current political impasse.
鈥淚n order to be credible, electoral processes must be inclusive and truly representative of the will of the people.
鈥淲e reiterate our call on the Government of Tanzania to exercise leadership in Zanzibar, and to pursue a negotiated solution between parties, with a view to maintaining peace and unity in the United Republic of Tanzania.
鈥淲e commend once again the population of Zanzibar for having exercised calm and restraint throughout this process, and call on all parties and their supporters to re-start the national reconciliation process to find an inclusive, sustainable and peaceful resolution.鈥�