CCM has picked Dr Ali Mohamed Shein as the party's presidential candidate for Zanzibar.

THE National Executive Committee of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM-NEC) Friday night overwhelmingly elected the Vice-President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, as the ruling party’s presidential candidate for Zanzibar. Dr Shein scooped 117 votes, beating by far the former Zanzibar Chief Minister, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, who garnered 54 votes. The Chief Minister, Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, managed 33 votes. The results culminated the hot race that involved 11 presidential nominees who were trimmed down to five before being pruned to three. Others in the list were the Deputy Chief Minister Ali Juma Shamuhuna, Zanzibar Education and Vocational Training Minister Haroun Ali Suleiman, prominent businessman Mohammed Raza Dharamshi, Chumbuni MP Omar Sheha Mussa and a civil servant, Mr Hamad Bakar Mshindo. The rest were Mr Mohamed Yussuf Mshamba, Ambassador Ali Karume and the Deputy Minister for East African Cooperation, Mr Mohamed Aboud Mohamed. Speaking shortly after the election, Dr Shein promised to strengthen the Union and promote unity and peace in the Isles. He also said that he would lead the country with wisdom, promising speedy development in Zanzibar in collaboration with President Jakaya Kikwete. Dr Shein thanked CCM members for electing him, saying all nominees had competence and merits to be flag bearers of the party in Zanzibar presidential race. He called for solidarity and unity among the party’s members to enable the party emerge with landslide victory in the forthcoming general elections in October. Dr Shein will be pitted in the Isles race against the Secretary General of the Civic United Front (CUF), Mr Seif Shariff Hamad. According to the CCM Publicity and Ideology Secretary John Chiligati, the party’s special congress, to be held today and tomorrow, is expected to endorse the name of President Jakaya Kikwete as the party’s presidential candidate for the presidency of the United Republic of Tanzania. Although Mr Kikwete, who is the incumbent president, has no opponent, the congress will still conduct a democratic vote. He also said that the running mate of the union presidential candidate is also going to be introduced to the party’s congress tomorrow evening. Mr Kikwete, who enjoys massive backing from the more than 2,000 ruling party delegates, is expected to get overwhelming support in the vote.

Source: DAILY NEWS in Dodoma