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International Journal of Political and Social Sciences
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2024): January-Febuary
Original Articles

MANAGING ELECTORAL STORMS: THE INTERPLAY OF POWER-SHARING AND ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS IN ZANZIBAR

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  • Fatima A. Hassan,
  • Joseph M. Ndungu
Fatima A. Hassan
Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the University of Dodoma.
Joseph M. Ndungu
Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the University of Dodoma.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10599833

Published 2024-01-31

Keywords

  • Zanzibar, Electoral Violence, Power-sharing, Democracy, Governance Structures

How to Cite

Hassan, F. A., & Ndungu, J. M. (2024). MANAGING ELECTORAL STORMS: THE INTERPLAY OF POWER-SHARING AND ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS IN ZANZIBAR . International Journal of Political and Social Sciences, 9(1), 22–37. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10599833

Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Political and Social Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The reinstatement of the multiparty system in Zanzibar in 1992 marked the onset of turbulent election-related strife, characterized by a recurring pattern of violence, killings, and social unrest during every electoral cycle (John, 2020). Minde et al. (2018) attribute this turmoil to unadjusted electoral practices within the multiparty system, intensifying the acrimony among competing parties. Accusations and skepticism about the electoral process have been persistent, creating a climate of mistrust between the incumbent and opposition parties.

In response to the escalating electoral conflicts, Zanzibar witnessed a landmark agreement in 2010 between the leaders of the two major political parties, Amani Abeid Karume of Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Seif Sharif Hamad of Civic United Front (CUF), aiming to quell the prolonged electoral-related conflicts on the island (Bakari and Makulilo, 2022). This accord gave rise to a unique governance system—Power-sharing—adopted through a referendum and constitutional change ahead of the 2010 general election. The primary objectives were to foster stability and democracy through this innovative governance model.

The Power-sharing arrangement operated for five years, achieving a semblance of stability before collapsing in 2015. It made a comeback in 2020 after the general election, which unfortunately witnessed a recurrence of violence, killings, and injuries reminiscent of pre-Power-sharing times (Council of the EU, 2020; Minde, 2021).

This study delves into the dynamics of Zanzibar's electoral landscape, tracing the trajectory of electoral violence, the inception of Power-sharing, its subsequent collapse, and its revival in 2020. By scrutinizing the interplay between Power-sharing, stability, and democracy, the research seeks to contribute valuable insights into the complexities of governance structures in post-conflict electoral contexts.

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