Zanzibar set for March 20 election re-run

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has set March 20 as the date for a re-run election following disputed elections last year.

According to the electoral commission, they will hold presidential, legislative and local government elections on the same day despite African and other international observers calling on them to resolve the stalemate.

“There will be no campaign rallies…the same candidates who were picked in the previous polls will stand in this election,” ZEC chairman Jecha Salim Jecha was quoted by Reuters.

The semi-autonomous island had its general elections of October 2015 nullified due to alleged irregularities.

Early on, Zanzibar’s main opposition party protested the decision to hold fresh elections as the key candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad declared himself the winner before tallying was over.

The party has now said they will deliberate if they will take part in the polls, citing the move as ‘unfair’.

The government has already set aside 3.4 million US dollars for the election re-run.

Ali Mohamed Shein of the ruling party continues to serve as president despite his term ending last year.