Earlier month, precisely on 12th January 2022; Zanzibar proudly marked its 58th anniversary of the January 1964 revolution, which overthrew Sultan Jamshid Abdullah’s Arab minority government ; and, indeed, “ all men and women of goodwill” joined the President and the people of Zanzibar in celebrating this auspicious occasion.
At different time periods in the records of mankind; some wise men, or gurus, have said the following about history:- “History is about past politics, and present politics is history in the making” (British Historian John Robert Seeley, (1834 – 95); and also that “History is too important to be left to historians alone” (Iain Macleod: British politician 1913 – 70).
At different time periods in the records of mankind; some wise men, or gurus, have said the following about history:- “History is about past politics, and present politics is history in the making” (British Historian John Robert Seeley, (1834 – 95); and also that “History is too important to be left to historians alone” (Iain Macleod: British politician 1913 – 70).
The history of the Arab colonial domination over the African majority people of Zanzibar is a long story, which actually covers several centuries. But because history “is too important to be left to Historians alone”; and notwithstanding the fact that I have narrated this story before in this column and elsewhere in my writings; I believe it is imperative that the story should be retold even now, as we proudly celebrate its 58th anniversary; particularly for the benefit of the younger generation of Tanzanians, and of those others who might not have heard it before.
Arab rule in Zanzibar.
The relevant history books show that for quite a long time, Zanzibar was an Arab colony, initially ruled from Oman as part of the then vast Arab dominated Oman commercial empire in East Africa. But “a war of succession” erupted in Muscat when Sultan Said Seyyed died in 1856, with a strong faction in Zanzibar demanding succession. They were successful with the intervention of the British, under what became known as the “Lord Canning Award” of 1861; when Zanzibar and Oman became separate Sultanates. But the new Sultan of Zanzibar, being apprehensive of possible attacks from Oman, agreed to British protection on February 17th, 1890. This is when Zanzibar became a “British Protectorate”, administered locally by an official called “the British Resident” .
It is this British Administration which arranged and supervised a series of controversial general elections, starting from the first general election of 1957; and followed by others which were held in January 1961; June 1961; and July 1963. The results of this last general election are what were used by the British Administration to grant the instruments of independence to the Arab Sultan Jamshid bin Abdulah, at midnight on 9th December, 1963; whose government was subsequently overthrown, only a month later during the night of 11th January, 1964.
The blatant unfairness of these elections.
The English word “gerrymandering”, means “the act of changing the size and borders of an electoral area, in order to give an unfair advantage to one of the parties in an election”. During the whole of its colonial Administration, Zanzibar has a recorded history of closely fought, highly controversial, and even violent post-election occurrences, after every such election; due to the “politics of hatred and animosity”, which practically divided that country into two warring parties, which were unwilling, or unable, to cooperate and work together.
The Zanzibar electoral process, (the same as that of Tanzania Mainland); started with the formation of political parties, which would compete in the proposed elections. The first such political party to be formed in Zanzibar was the Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP) which was established in December, 1955, whose members were mainly the Arab subjects of the Sultan. On the African side, a union was formed between the “Africa Association” and the “Shirazi Association”, which gave birth to the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP).
For the purposes of the 1957 general election, Zanzibar was divided into six constituencies; in which the Afro-Shirazi party won in five of those six constituencies; while the “Muslim Association (one of the two Indian Associations) won the remaining constituency. The Zanzibar Nationalist party did not win any seat.
The aftermath was a terrible disaster. The “Report of the Provincial Administration for the year 1958” says this:- “This resounding defeat of the ZNP greatly contributed to the rise in the political temperature which, from then onwards, continued to gain momentum. Most notable was the extent to which politics affected every aspect of everyday life in Zanzibar: when traders, peasants, labourers, fishermen, and even housewives; were all affected. Villagers in the rural areas argued among themselves; funerals and religious ceremonies were boycotted by members of rival political parties.
Arab rule in Zanzibar.
The relevant history books show that for quite a long time, Zanzibar was an Arab colony, initially ruled from Oman as part of the then vast Arab dominated Oman commercial empire in East Africa. But “a war of succession” erupted in Muscat when Sultan Said Seyyed died in 1856, with a strong faction in Zanzibar demanding succession. They were successful with the intervention of the British, under what became known as the “Lord Canning Award” of 1861; when Zanzibar and Oman became separate Sultanates. But the new Sultan of Zanzibar, being apprehensive of possible attacks from Oman, agreed to British protection on February 17th, 1890. This is when Zanzibar became a “British Protectorate”, administered locally by an official called “the British Resident” .
It is this British Administration which arranged and supervised a series of controversial general elections, starting from the first general election of 1957; and followed by others which were held in January 1961; June 1961; and July 1963. The results of this last general election are what were used by the British Administration to grant the instruments of independence to the Arab Sultan Jamshid bin Abdulah, at midnight on 9th December, 1963; whose government was subsequently overthrown, only a month later during the night of 11th January, 1964.
The blatant unfairness of these elections.
The English word “gerrymandering”, means “the act of changing the size and borders of an electoral area, in order to give an unfair advantage to one of the parties in an election”. During the whole of its colonial Administration, Zanzibar has a recorded history of closely fought, highly controversial, and even violent post-election occurrences, after every such election; due to the “politics of hatred and animosity”, which practically divided that country into two warring parties, which were unwilling, or unable, to cooperate and work together.
The Zanzibar electoral process, (the same as that of Tanzania Mainland); started with the formation of political parties, which would compete in the proposed elections. The first such political party to be formed in Zanzibar was the Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP) which was established in December, 1955, whose members were mainly the Arab subjects of the Sultan. On the African side, a union was formed between the “Africa Association” and the “Shirazi Association”, which gave birth to the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP).
For the purposes of the 1957 general election, Zanzibar was divided into six constituencies; in which the Afro-Shirazi party won in five of those six constituencies; while the “Muslim Association (one of the two Indian Associations) won the remaining constituency. The Zanzibar Nationalist party did not win any seat.
The aftermath was a terrible disaster. The “Report of the Provincial Administration for the year 1958” says this:- “This resounding defeat of the ZNP greatly contributed to the rise in the political temperature which, from then onwards, continued to gain momentum. Most notable was the extent to which politics affected every aspect of everyday life in Zanzibar: when traders, peasants, labourers, fishermen, and even housewives; were all affected. Villagers in the rural areas argued among themselves; funerals and religious ceremonies were boycotted by members of rival political parties.
Women even pawned their clothes in order to raise transport fares to attend political meetings. Such were the immediate results of the first common roll elections for these formerly peaceful Islands”.
The second general election, January 1961.
For this election, the number of constituencies had been increased to twenty two; and that is when the first gerrymandering activities were carried out in favour of the Arab parties. The tiny Stone Town constituency, a predominantly Arab and Indian residential area with only 1622 registered voters, was split into two constituencies; deliberately ignoring Ng’ambo constituency, a predominantly African residential area with 4,853 registered voters.
However, some positive constitutional changes had been introduced, including the enfranchisement of women; and the lowering of the voting age from 25 to 21 years. The combined effect of these two measures was to considerably increase the voting population, from the previous 39,833 who were registered in July 1957; to 94,310 registered in January 1961.
The second general election, January 1961.
For this election, the number of constituencies had been increased to twenty two; and that is when the first gerrymandering activities were carried out in favour of the Arab parties. The tiny Stone Town constituency, a predominantly Arab and Indian residential area with only 1622 registered voters, was split into two constituencies; deliberately ignoring Ng’ambo constituency, a predominantly African residential area with 4,853 registered voters.
However, some positive constitutional changes had been introduced, including the enfranchisement of women; and the lowering of the voting age from 25 to 21 years. The combined effect of these two measures was to considerably increase the voting population, from the previous 39,833 who were registered in July 1957; to 94,310 registered in January 1961.
And in the meantime, a new Arab party had also been formed, known as the Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party (ZPPP) based in Pemba. The results of this second general election were that the Afro-Shirazi party obtained ten Legislative seats, eight in Zanzibar and two in Pemba. The Zanzibar Nationalist party obtained nine seats, all of them in Pemba; while the newly registered Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party won three seats, all of them also in Pemba.
Two of the ZPPP members joined the Zanzibar Nationalist party; while the remaining member joined the Afro-Shrazi party. This produced stalemate, because each side now had eleven seats. Hence, no side had obtained the required majority which would entitle it to form the government.
The third general election, June, 1961
In these circumstances, a fresh general election was quickly organized, which took place on 1st June, 1961. One more constituency was created in Pemba, on the pretext that “ an odd number of twenty three, would avoid a repeat of the stalemate which had been caused by the even number of twenty-two constituencies”. But in reality, this was another gerrymandering exercise, which was deliberately undertaken in order to give advantage to the two Arab dominated parties, which, as shown by the January election results, had their greatest strength there in Pemba.
The results of the third general election were that the Afro-Shirazi party and the Zanzibar Nationalist party, obtained ten seats each; while th Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party retained its three seats. Its members once again teamed up with ASP and ZNP in the same way as they had done before; thus giving the ASP eleven seats, and the ZNP getting twelve seats.
This gave the colonial Administration precisely what they wanted, in their conspiracy to grant Zanzibar’ s independence to the Arabs, namely an Arab majority (of only one) in the Legislative Council. Thus, the instruments of “Self government” were handed over to the ZNP/ZPPP coalition. But this action produced another disaster, for it was immediately followed by bloody post-election riots, that reportedly “left sixty eight people dead; and more than 350 others seriously injured”.
The Lancaster House constitutional conference.
This was soon followed by a constitutional conference, which was held in Lancaster House, London, in 1962; in order to determine the constitutional way forward to full independence. At that conference, the Sfro-shirazi delegates had insisted on two conditions: One, that another general election be held before the granting of independence; and two, that independence be granted in 1962. The British Government agreed to hold another general election in 1963; thus rejecting the demand that independence be granted in 1962.
The third general election, June, 1961
In these circumstances, a fresh general election was quickly organized, which took place on 1st June, 1961. One more constituency was created in Pemba, on the pretext that “ an odd number of twenty three, would avoid a repeat of the stalemate which had been caused by the even number of twenty-two constituencies”. But in reality, this was another gerrymandering exercise, which was deliberately undertaken in order to give advantage to the two Arab dominated parties, which, as shown by the January election results, had their greatest strength there in Pemba.
The results of the third general election were that the Afro-Shirazi party and the Zanzibar Nationalist party, obtained ten seats each; while th Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party retained its three seats. Its members once again teamed up with ASP and ZNP in the same way as they had done before; thus giving the ASP eleven seats, and the ZNP getting twelve seats.
This gave the colonial Administration precisely what they wanted, in their conspiracy to grant Zanzibar’ s independence to the Arabs, namely an Arab majority (of only one) in the Legislative Council. Thus, the instruments of “Self government” were handed over to the ZNP/ZPPP coalition. But this action produced another disaster, for it was immediately followed by bloody post-election riots, that reportedly “left sixty eight people dead; and more than 350 others seriously injured”.
The Lancaster House constitutional conference.
This was soon followed by a constitutional conference, which was held in Lancaster House, London, in 1962; in order to determine the constitutional way forward to full independence. At that conference, the Sfro-shirazi delegates had insisted on two conditions: One, that another general election be held before the granting of independence; and two, that independence be granted in 1962. The British Government agreed to hold another general election in 1963; thus rejecting the demand that independence be granted in 1962.
The fourth general election, July 1963.
For the fourth general election, eight new constituencies were created, thus making a total of thirty-one Legislative Council seats. The results of the fourth general election were that the Afro-Shrazi party obtained a majority of 54% of all the valid votes counted, but secured only thirteen Legislative Council seats; the Zanzibar Nationalist party got six seats; and the Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party obtained six seats. Hence, although the Afro-Shirazi party had obtained 13,000 more votes than those of the ZNP and ZPPP parties combined; it obtained only 13 seats; while the two Arab dominated parties (with a minority of the valid votes cast), won a bigger total of eighteen seats! A clear demonstration of the naked effects of the British Administration’s gerrymandering foul games.
It is on the basis of these results that the British government unilaterally decided to ngrant the instruments of independence to Sultan Jamshid Abdullah, even against the warning of two wise men: the British Resident in Zanzibar Sir George Mooring; and the President of the Republic of Tanganyika Mwalimu Julius Nyerere; who both warned the British government against granting independence in such controversial circumstances; but their warning was simply ignored by the British government; which just went ahead and granted the instruments of independence to Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah; who thus became the Head of State of independent Zanzibar, at a ceremony held at midnight on 9th December, 1963.
This must have been the “straw that broke the camel’s back” as far as the Afro-shrazi party was concerned; and they quickly began making top-secret preparations to overthrow the Sultan’s government. These preparations culminated in the successful, glorious revolution; which took place during the night of 11th January, 1964.
It is therefore safe to presume that the root cause of this revolution was, primarily, because the Afro-Shirazi party had been continuously frustrated by being denied their rights as winners, at every general election since 1957; mainly as a result of the gerrymandering tactics, and other election malpractices, which were undertaken by the British Administration, aimed at ensuring the success of their favoured Arab dominated parties.
The Zanzibar ‘ insiders’ (such as the late Aboud Jumbe et al,) have narrated that this revolution was planned, directed and effectively managed, by a “Committee of Fourteen”; composed of young, committed, daring and extremely dedicated revolutionary cadres of the Afro-Shirazi party; whose sole objective was “to liberate Zanzibar from the unfairly imposed Arab rule of Sultan Jamshid Abdullah”.
For the fourth general election, eight new constituencies were created, thus making a total of thirty-one Legislative Council seats. The results of the fourth general election were that the Afro-Shrazi party obtained a majority of 54% of all the valid votes counted, but secured only thirteen Legislative Council seats; the Zanzibar Nationalist party got six seats; and the Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples’ party obtained six seats. Hence, although the Afro-Shirazi party had obtained 13,000 more votes than those of the ZNP and ZPPP parties combined; it obtained only 13 seats; while the two Arab dominated parties (with a minority of the valid votes cast), won a bigger total of eighteen seats! A clear demonstration of the naked effects of the British Administration’s gerrymandering foul games.
It is on the basis of these results that the British government unilaterally decided to ngrant the instruments of independence to Sultan Jamshid Abdullah, even against the warning of two wise men: the British Resident in Zanzibar Sir George Mooring; and the President of the Republic of Tanganyika Mwalimu Julius Nyerere; who both warned the British government against granting independence in such controversial circumstances; but their warning was simply ignored by the British government; which just went ahead and granted the instruments of independence to Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah; who thus became the Head of State of independent Zanzibar, at a ceremony held at midnight on 9th December, 1963.
This must have been the “straw that broke the camel’s back” as far as the Afro-shrazi party was concerned; and they quickly began making top-secret preparations to overthrow the Sultan’s government. These preparations culminated in the successful, glorious revolution; which took place during the night of 11th January, 1964.
It is therefore safe to presume that the root cause of this revolution was, primarily, because the Afro-Shirazi party had been continuously frustrated by being denied their rights as winners, at every general election since 1957; mainly as a result of the gerrymandering tactics, and other election malpractices, which were undertaken by the British Administration, aimed at ensuring the success of their favoured Arab dominated parties.
The Zanzibar ‘ insiders’ (such as the late Aboud Jumbe et al,) have narrated that this revolution was planned, directed and effectively managed, by a “Committee of Fourteen”; composed of young, committed, daring and extremely dedicated revolutionary cadres of the Afro-Shirazi party; whose sole objective was “to liberate Zanzibar from the unfairly imposed Arab rule of Sultan Jamshid Abdullah”.
For us people who were following those events on radio the next morning, it was the booming voice of one person, who introduced himself as “Field Marshal John Okello”
that dominated the air waves; when he was giving various orders and military-type commands, pronouncing the range of punishments that anyone who dared disobey such orders, would suffer.
But his name does not appear on the list of members of the “ Committee of Fourteen”, and his actual role in the activities that led to the successful overthrow of the Sultan’s government, remain unclear. He was soon sidelined, and actually pushed out of Zanzibar; and Mhe. Abedi Amani Karume, the President of the Afro-Shirazi Party, was declared President of the Peoples Republic of Zanzibar. May the late President Karume’s soul rest in eternal peace. AMEN.
piomsekwa@gmail.com / 0754767576.
that dominated the air waves; when he was giving various orders and military-type commands, pronouncing the range of punishments that anyone who dared disobey such orders, would suffer.
But his name does not appear on the list of members of the “ Committee of Fourteen”, and his actual role in the activities that led to the successful overthrow of the Sultan’s government, remain unclear. He was soon sidelined, and actually pushed out of Zanzibar; and Mhe. Abedi Amani Karume, the President of the Afro-Shirazi Party, was declared President of the Peoples Republic of Zanzibar. May the late President Karume’s soul rest in eternal peace. AMEN.
piomsekwa@gmail.com / 0754767576.
Chanzo: Daily News and Cde Msekwa.
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