Government says donor freeze violates human rights

The Zanzibari government last week claimed that an aid freeze imposed by donors was a violation of human rights that they urgently needed to reconsider. Tanzanian radio quoted Information Minister Isa Mohamed Isa as saying the action - taken by donors after President Salmin Amour’s dubious victory in 1995 elections and the subsequent trial on treason charges of 18 opposition CUF leaders and members - had also hindered Zanzibar’s development. The EU has said it would not resume its assistance to Zanzibar until the government resolved its political problems, especially with regard to the CUF treason trial. The government has continually insisted it has committed no human rights offence, media sources in Zanzibar told IRIN on Tuesday. “The case is in court and we can do nothing” has been Isa’s line all along, they added.

Meanwhile, five members of the Civic United Front (CUF) who were arrested last week have been released on bond, the media sources added. The five, arrested following police raids in Magongoni and Magomeni areas on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, were charged with “laziness” and “loitering” and were released on a bond of about $266 each. Their cases are scheduled to be heard on 18 June.