Zanzibar votes on 'peace government'

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, July 31 AFP - Zanzibar held a referendum Saturday aimed at forming a coalition after upcoming polls in a bid to neutralise the blood and hatred that have blighted the Tanzanian islands' politics for decades.

The referendum got under way peacefully on the semi-autonomous territory's two islands of Unguja and Pemba, and the principle of a national unity government following October 31 polls was expected to be widely endorsed.

"Voting has started in a peaceful environment and we expect it will end peacefully," said Aziz Juma, police spokesman for the Zanzibari capital of Stone Town.

The referendum seeks approval for an amendment to the constitution that would create two vice-president positions to be split between the parties that come first and second in parliamentary polls.

Ministries would be allocated on a proportional basis.

"Vote 'yes' in the referendum so that we remain united. We need to work together and heal hatred caused by unnecessary political conflicts after every general election," Zanzibar President Amani Karume told a gathering this week.

Zanzibar declared independence on January 12, 1964 after a bloody revolution that ended several centuries of rule by Arab sultans.

Three months later, it merged with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but maintained a semi-autonomous government with its own president, constitution, flag and national anthem.

The CCM has won all subsequent elections in 1995, 2000 and 2005, sparking protests by the opposition, which repeatedly charged that results were rigged in favour of the ruling party.

Some 400,000 voters were called to polling stations around the Zanzibar islands and many started queuing early to seize what they saw as an opportunity to bury the blood-stained political hatchet.

"I am happy. I have voted for peace, stability and unity. Voting means peace," Khadija Hassan, who woke up at dawn to be first in line at her polling station in Stone Town, told AFP after casting her ballot. Zanzibar is home to around 1.2 million people and is known around the world as an idyllic travel destination with spices, palm-fringed beaches and a rich history that inspired famous writers.

But at least 30 people were killed in January 2001 during clashes between police and CUF supporters and almost every other election has been marred by violence, tarnishing the archipelago's image and slowing foreign aid.