AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
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Elections in Zanzibar
 
Political Profile
Political System: Restricted Democratic Practice
President: Amani Abeid Karume (CCM) [since 08 November 2000; elected 2000, re-elected 2005] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: First Past The Post.
Chief Minister: Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (CCM) [since 15 November 2000] The Chief Minister is appointed by the President.
House of Representatives [unicameral] (81 Seats) 50 Members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system, 10 members are appointed by the President, 5 are reserved for government-appointed regional commissioners, and 15 are filled by women on a party basis in proportion to the elected seats. One seat is reserved for the Attorney-General; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence/Unification
1963-1964 Emerging Democracy
1964-1965 [De-Facto] One Party State (ASP)
1965-1992 One Party State (ASP/CCM)
1992-1995 Multiparty Transition
1995-        Restricted Democratic Practice
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: October 2010
Next Scheduled House of Representatives Election: October 2010
Political Parties: ASP - Afro-Shirazi Party (authoritarian), CCM - Chama Cha Mapinduzi (left-wing, authoritarian), CUF - Civic United Front (liberal), DP - Democratic Party, Jahazi Asilia*, MA - Muslim Association, NRA - National Reconstruction Alliance, SAU - Sauti ya Umma, ZNP - Zanzibar Nationalist Party, ZPPP - Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party
Coalitions: Zanzibar Nationalist Party-Zanzibar and Pemba People's Party (ZNP-ZPPP) [Constested the June 1961 Legislative Council and 1963 National Assembly Elections]
*Party Acronym not available.
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Single Party: 1980, 1984, 1985, 1990
--Multiparty: 1995, 2000, 2005
Legislative
--Single Party: 1980, 1985, 1990, 2005
--Multiparty: 1957, January 1961 , June 1961, 1963, 1995, 2000
 
 
1957 Legislative Council Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 39,156

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (06)

Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP)

23,940

61.14%

05

Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)

8,604

21.97%

-

Muslim Association (MA)

6,612

16.89%

01

 
January 1961 Legislative Council Election [Detailed Results]

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 84,963

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (22)

Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP)

36,698

43.19%

10

Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)

32,724

38.52%

09

Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party (ZPPP)

15,541

18.29%

03

 
June 1961 Legislative Council Election

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 92,899

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (23)

Zanzibar Nationalist Party-Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party
[ZNP-ZPPP]

45,884

49.39%

13

 

Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)

(32,976)

(35.50%)

  

10

Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party (ZPPP)

(12,908)

(13.89%)

03

Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP)

47,015

50.61%

10

 
July 1963 National Assembly Election [Detailed Results]

Registered Voters

 Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

 160,644

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (31)

Zanzibar Nationalist Party-Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party
[ZNP-ZPPP]

73,559

45.79%

18

 

Zanzibar Nationalist Party (ZNP)

(47,950)

(29.85%)

  

12

Zanzibar and Pemba People’s Party (ZPPP)

(25,609)

(15.94%)

06

Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP)

87,085

54.21%

13

 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) 1965-1977, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 1977-1992

26 October 1980 Presidential Election (Aboud Jumbe elected unopposed)

October 1980 House of Representatives Election

19 April 1984 Presidential Election (Ali Hassan Mwinyi elected unopposed)

13 October 1985 Presidential Election (Idris Abdul Wakil elected unopposed)

October 1985 House of Representatives Election

21 October 1990 Presidential Election (Salmin Amour elected unopposed)

October 1990 House of Representatives Election

 
22 October 1995 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

 348,934

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

333,899 (95.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    4,922

Total Valid Votes

 328,977

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Salmin Amour (CCM)

165,271

50.24%

Seif Shariff Hamad (CUF)

163,706

49.76%

 
22 October 1995 House of Representatives Election*

Registered Voters

348,934

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (50)*

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)

26

Civic United Front (CUF)

24

*Out of a total of 76 seats – 50 are directly elected, an additional 10 of the legislature's seats are filled by presidential appointment, five go to government-appointed regional commissioners, 10 to women on a party basis in proportion to the elected seats and one goes to the Attorney-General.
 
29 October/5 November 2000 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

370,095

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Amani Abeid Karume (CCM)

248,095

67.04%

Seif Shariff Hamad (CUF)

122,000

32.96%

*There was a re-run of the elections in 16 of Zanzibar’s 50 constituencies on 5 November after the Zanzibar Electoral Commission nullified the results of the 29 October poll due to major irregularities. The Civic United Front (CUF) boycotted the re-run elections due to their failed attempt to have all results from the 29 October election nullified.
 
29 October/5 November 2000 House of Representatives Election*

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (50)*

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)

34

Civic United Front (CUF)

16

*There was a re-run of the elections in 16 of Zanzibar’s 50 constituencies on 5 November after the Zanzibar Electoral Commission nullified the results of the 29 October poll due to major irregularities. The Civic United Front (CUF) boycotted the re-run elections due to their failed attempt to have all results from the 29 October election nullified.
**Out of a total of 76 seats – 50 are directly elected, an additional 10 of the legislature's seats are filled by presidential appointment, five go to government-appointed regional commissioners, 10 to women on a party basis in proportion to the elected seats and one goes to the Attorney-General.
 
30 October 2005 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

507,225

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

460,581 (90.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

451,008

Candidate (Party)

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Amani Abeid Karume (CCM)

239,832

53.18%

Seif Shariff Hamad (CUF)

207,773

46.07%

Haji Mussa Kitole (Jahazi Asilia)

2,110

0.47%

Abdallah Ali Abdallah (DP)

509

0.11%

Simai Abdulrahman Abdallah (NRA)

449

0.10%

Mariam Omar (SAU)

335

0.07%

 
30 October 2005 House of Representatives Election*

Registered Voters

507,225

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party

Number of Seats (50)**

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)

30

Civic United Front (CUF)

19

Undeclared*

01

*The result in one constituency was nullified by the electoral commission. A re-run of the election was held on 14 December 2005, but it is unclear who won the seat.
**Out of a total of 81 seats – 50 are directly elected, an additional 10 of the legislature's seats are filled by presidential appointment, five go to government-appointed regional commissioners, 15 to women on a party basis in proportion to the elected seats and one goes to the Attorney-General.