ZANZIBAR UAMSHO `BUDDING NEW AL-SHABAAB`-TIPF WARNS

Demonstrations was supposed to be peaceful until things came out of hand shortly afterwards. Here Uamsho senior leaders kick starting demonstration on the day of Zanzibar violence

Few days following last week Zanzibar violence, Tanzania Islamic Peace Foundation have urged government to take a closer look on the group Uamsho( THE AWAKENING)

Director of  TIPF Sheikh Sadik Godigodi was issuing the foundation`s statement condemning recent Zanzibar violence which saw arsonic acts against churches and looting

In its statement, the foundation expressed its concern that Uamsho has the same trend Somali extremist group Al-Shabaab had when it began. TIPF  also claimed to have full understanding of  religious movements in the island and refused to believe Uamsho denial that they are not responsible for the Zanzibar`s last week violence.TIPF see the violence as meaningless and abusive by damaging churches and looting shops because if nature of violence was political claims it is irony that religious and other non-political areas were involved.

Suspects being arrested during last week`s Zanzibar violence

Roads were blocked by rocks and bon fire until security forces interfered

Sheikh Godigodi said churches do not belong to neither goveenment nor any political party or NEC(National Electoral Commission) and TIPF understand that Uamsho was centered in organizing  open religious meetings aiming to providing islamic teachings to muslims and others interested people but they long  have been instilling hates instead


Muungano (the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar) has been  strongly debated among Zanzibaris in recent years,questioning  interests of its being.The pact was installed by the then Tanganyika President late Mwalimu Nyerere and Zanzibar`s first president late Abeid Karume in late April of 1964,by mixing sands from either part.


Sheikh Godigodi urged Zanzibaris to realise that christianity and churches were run in the island since 1870,so they should stop questioning their elligibilities and connecting Zanzibar political problems with christianity.

Senior leaders of  Uamsho denying direct involvement in violence

"We,islams,know the history of Al-Shabaab.They set out by ignoring islamic teachings and installed their own ideas for their own interests under the shadow of islam."


He revealed that his foundation once had advised authorities to scrutinize movements of  Uamsho which they claimed was sowing discriminations within muslims in mosques.His foundation requested that government appoint a special committee to closely investigate the group, but the request had fallen into deaf ears.So they rested their case, warning that if anything serious happened,the government should not seek any excuse

Peace was restored in the island and tourists were back inthe streets of Zanzibar

Now the group has taken it all to the streets of  Zanzibar,chanting against Muungano while burning churches and looting along the way,shooing  mainlanders off the island, ignoring all constitutional principles set for any citizen to demonstrate their itching issues.

Sun is setting in Zanzibar

TIPF has also condemned individuals who have positioned themselves against Muungano citing that God Himself does not allow discrimination,racism and disunities.And that God also has implemented His own principles for people of different knowledges,colors,faiths and backgrounds to preserve respect amongst themselves.

Civilians were back to work few days after violence

The foundation urged muslims to live by principles of God while abiding with constitutional laws