Cablegate: Zanzibar/Pemba: Donor Joint Statement

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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHDR #0531 2251524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131524Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8759
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1395
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3469
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1335
RUEHMS/AMEMBASSY MUSCAT 0077
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0291
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 0298
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0845
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0129
RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA//J3
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000531

SIPDIS

AF/E TREADWELL, INR EHRENREICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM TZ
SUBJECT: ZANZIBAR/PEMBA: DONOR JOINT STATEMENT

REF: DAR ES SALAAM 517

1. Embassy released the following text to media August 13, on
behalf of Canada, Japan, and Norway. Sweden, on behalf of
the EU Heads of Mission, issued a statement with identical
substance.

Begin text:

Statement by Heads of Mission in Tanzania of Canada, Japan,
Norway and the United States of America on the Voter
Registration Process in Zanzibar.

We, the undersigned Heads of Mission, would like to underline
that the right to vote is a fundamental democratic principle.
It is the responsibility of the Government of the United
Republic of Tanzania to ensure that all Tanzanians will have
the possibility to exercise this right in the 2010 elections.

The Heads of Mission are seriously concerned about what
appear to be flawed elements in the voter registration
process in Zanzibar. Specifically, we are concerned about
reports that many Tanzanian citizens on Pemba are facing
obstacles to obtain a Zanzibar ID, which has become the
principal criterion for voter registration on Zanzibar, and
that the issuance of Zanzibar IDs is subject to irregular
influence.

The Heads of Mission expect the Government of the United
Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of
Zanzibar to ensure that all necessasry measures are taken to
rectify the current shortcomings of the voter registration
process. The totality of the changes should ensure that no
Tanzanians, including Zanzibaris, will be denied the right to
vote in the 2010 elections.

Simultaneously, the Heads of Mission strongly encourage all
political parties and groups to refrain from any violence and
use peaceful means to express their opinions and differences.

End text.
ANDRE

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