Army explains deployment in Zanzibar

The Department of Defence and the National Defence Forces have clarified the arrangements being made to dispatch members of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) to Zanzibar, Tanzanian radio reported on Tuesday. In a statement, the army said that the move was in line with “its constitutional responsibility” to improve peace and security in the country during the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary general elections period. The statement further said that the army had increased its forces and equipment in order to fulfill this obligation.

The department denied reports by the opposition parties that the army was taken to Zanzibar to “increase the number of voters” to help one of the parties win the elections. It said the army was not involved in helping or harassing any political party, and that it would provide security for all, irrespective of political affiliation or belief. On Tuesday, the opposition CUF members said that the alleged transportation of 3,000 TPDF soldiers to Zanzibar was to register them as voters. Another party, the National Convention of Construction and Reform - Change (NCCR-Mageuzi) - said the offloading of tanks and other weapons in the island was intended to “create fear” among Zanzibaris.