Tanzania’s Zanzibar island votes for unity goverment, trying to head off electoral violence

Tanzanian island of Zanzibar votes for unity gov’t

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — A Tanzanian electoral official says the island of Zanzibar has voted to form a unity government after October elections in an effort to avoid a repeat of previous violent electoral clashes.

The chairman of the electoral commission Khatib Mwinchanbe said Sunday two thirds of nearly 200,000 Zanzibaris who voted Saturday said they wanted a unity government.

The party who wins the October polls will have the presidency and the two runner up parties will both provide vice presidents. The runner up parties may also be invited to nominate some ministers, depending on the results of the elections.

Previous elections in the east African island of Zanzibar have been marred by fatal clashes between political parties.