Zanzibar presidential candidate barred from campaigning

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission has barred an opposition presidential candidate from campaigning in the Tanzanian elections for the next five days.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island within Tanzania.

Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT Wazalendo party becomes the second opposition candidate in the country to be restricted from campaigning by the electoral body.

He was accused by a rival party, Demokrasia Makini, of violating electoral regulations. He can appeal against the ban.

His party said it will hold a meeting on Friday to discuss the matter before declaring its stand.

Earlier this month, Tundu Lissu, the presidential candidate from Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, was also barred from campaigning for seven days.

Elections will be held in the semi-autonomous archipelago alongside Tanzania’s general elections on 28 October.

Voters will elect the islands’ president, members of the legislators and local councillors.