Zanzibar. A growing number of stakeholders are raising concerns over the persistent underrepresentation of people with disabilities in the Zanzibar House of Representatives. They are urging political parties and government institutions to foster a more inclusive political environment ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Their call comes amid increasing frustration with the current representative system, which many argue has failed to allow members of special groups, including people with disabilities, to elect or retain their own representatives directly in decision-making bodies.
Under the existing framework, people with disabilities are unable to directly choose their representatives, relying instead on selections made through political party processes.
Salma Saadat, Chairperson of the Zanzibar Association of Women with Disabilities (JUWAUZA), emphasized the need for political parties to actively engage with people with disability organizations to foster meaningful inclusion.
“While communities may be ready to elect individuals with disabilities, political parties’ internal primaries often fail to support such candidates, creating a barrier to leadership opportunities,” said Salma.
According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Zanzibar has a population of 1,889,773, of which 215,434 about 11.4 percent are people with disabilities. Yet out of the 76 seats in the House of Representatives, only three are currently held by individuals with disabilities.
Of these, two are special seats held by Mwantatu Mbaraka Khamis and Aza Januar Joseph, both affiliated with the ruling party CCM, while the third is a presidential appointee, Anna Athanas Paul also CCM member. Notably, no member with a disability holds an elected constituency seat—a situation many hope will change in the upcoming October elections as party primaries continue.
Ussi Khamis Debe, Executive Secretary of the National Council for People with Disabilities, acknowledged that while progress has been made, significant gaps remain.
“We need political parties to provide an inclusive environment where people with disabilities can contest seats beyond the few reserved ones. Inclusion should not be tokenistic,” he said.
Despite Zanzibar’s long history of activism around disability rights, Adil Mohamed Ali, Coordinator of the Zanzibar Association of the Blind (ZANAB), observed that organizations representing people with disabilities have yet to unify into a strong, influential voice.
“If we can consolidate our efforts and speak with one voice, we stand a better chance of influencing policy and law,” he noted, calling for stronger collaboration among advocacy groups.
Legal advocate Bakar Hamad highlighted the potential of media and technology in bridging the representation gap. He suggested that radio, television, and social media be utilized to amplify the voices of disabled candidates and provide platforms for them to connect with voters without fear of discrimination.
Sada Hamad Ali of the Zanzibar Federation for People with Disabilities added that genuine inclusivity must also address gender equity.
“Men and women with disabilities have equal rights to political representation. We must ensure both can access leadership opportunities and clearly articulate their demands in the political sphere,” she said.
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Ultimately, it is the voices of individuals that underscore what is at stake. Nawaz Ahmed (not her real name), an advocate living with albinism, expressed her disillusionment.
“We want the power to choose our own representatives so that we can hold them accountable. You cannot hold accountable someone you didn’t choose, they will answer to the ones who appointed them, not to us,” she said.
As Zanzibar approaches a pivotal election season, the call for equitable political participation for people with disabilities grows louder—and more urgent.
Salum Ameir is a freelancer based in Zanzibar. You can reach him at salumameir25@gmail.com.
