THE TANZANIAN opposition
party, ACT Wazalendo, has issued a warning to its newly elected grassroots
leaders about the infiltration of dirty money, which aims to undermine the
party's vision for an empowered Zanzibar.
Without explicitly naming
the source of the external financial interference, both the party’s National
Chairman, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, and the Vice Chairman (Zanzibar), Mr Ismail
Jussa Ladhu, highlighted several attempts to use illicit funds to infiltrate
ACT Wazalendo’s hierarchy.
Speaking to party
grassroots leaders from Kaskazini A and B in Mkokotoni, Unguja, on Saturday,
May 18, 2024, Mr Othman noted that the tactic is aimed at weakening the party,
especially with the 2025 general election approaching.
He underscored the
distinction between ACT Wazalendo and other parties, emphasising that their
mission is driven by national interests rather than personal gain.
"They seek
positions; now, if we allow these elements to come to us, we'll have trouble,
and we'll have betrayed the elders who initiated these movements," he
said.
Mr Jussa stressed the
need for a thorough enumeration of party members through a house-to-house
census, emphasising the importance of identifying and supporting ACT members.
Mr Jussa urged regional
leaders and branches to complete the census exercise in the next two months in
their respective areas of jurisdiction.
"Let's get to every
household to know who is who, who belongs to ACT, and who belongs to other
parties. Once ACT members are identified, other details, including possession
of the Zanzibari ID card as well as whether they are registered as voters,
should be collected. If they haven't, find out where the problem lies," he
said.
He said the work being
done by the party under the leadership of Mr Othman would no longer allow
anyone to be denied their rights, noting that the party was preparing to
liberate Zanzibar in the 2025 general election.
"The first test to
overcome is greed. We are fighting to restore the country back into the hands
of Zanzibaris, so some people may come and try to deceive you. It's very
important to watch out for this," he said.
Furthermore, Mr Jussa
warned them against factionalism.
“Furthermore, when
election time arrives, the fight over parliamentary and representative seats
causes people to lose perspective and forget their goal of fighting for a fully
empowered Zanzibar,' he said."
"Greed and
factionalism will persist, but it is crucial that we remain organised to ensure
we complete our journey effectively," he added.