Zanzibar denies holding opposition leaders

The President of the semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar, Amani Abeid Karume, on Monday denied accusations by the human rights watchdog Amnesty International that the administration was holding political prisoners. Amani invited Amnesty to send representatives to Zanzibar to “witness what was happening for themselves,” according to Tanzanian radio.

During talks at State House, Zanzibar, Amani told the Belgian ambassador to Tanzania, Guy Kurwer: “The law will take its course as regards those who have committed various crimes.” He added that the principles of good governance meant no leader could interfere in the duties of the courts because “in doing so the law would not be upheld as required.”

Amnesty International claimed in June that two “prisoners of conscience”, Juma Duni Haji and Machano Khamis Ali, were being held in connection with the murder of a police officer during violent clashes on Pemba island in late January. Juma and Machano, leading members of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) were thought not to have been on Pemba in January, when demonstrations against allegedly fraudulent elections erupted into violence, Amnesty said. On 28 May, Attorney General Iddi Pandu ordered the release of the two men: “The case should be dropped and the suspects released,” Amnesty quoted Pandu as saying.