Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 10 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 November 2005. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 November 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Zanzibar

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of irregularities in the presidential elections in Zanzibar; what representations he has made to (a) the Zanzibar authorities and (b) the Tanzanian Government about such irregularities; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Representatives from the British High Commission followed the electoral process closely. It was the broad assessment of international observer groups that the electoral process was a marked improvement on past polls, and was generally administered in an efficient manner.Nevertheless, there were instances, particularly on Unguja, where there were irregularities and a lack of transparency. A number of observer groups have called for a thorough investigation of these anomalies. The UK and European Union support this call. We have conveyed these views to the Governments of Zanzibar and the United Republic of Tanzania.My hon. Friend the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa (Chris Mullin), went to Zanzibar to observe the election as a Special Envoy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He met Chama Cha Mapinduzi Presidential candidate Kikwete on 1 November and discussed the importance of addressing the deeply polarised nature of Zanzibari politics.

Secondary information