Reasons why Zanzibar attained her indepence through Revolution

DECOLONIZATION THROUGH REVOLUTION IN ZANZIBAR.


Revolution is the discontent reaction through violence exercised by the majority of the country population in order to gain recognition or reform when legal and moderate means of political or social changes fails. OR


Is complete overthrow of an existing government or a way of life in an country or state by those who were previously subjected to it. Zanzibar revolution occurred in 1964 and led by John Okello.


British granted independence to Zanzibar in December 1963 under the constitution which left Arabs Sultan as the head of the state. The government of independent Zanzibar was formed by the coalition of the political parties led by the Arabs ruling minority and other two smaller parties representing the African majority population which was Afro Shiraz Part (ASP) and Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples Party (ZPPP), which later the majority African political parties resorted the employment of violent means as the diplomatic process could not alter the old regime because the Arabs dominant rule repressed all the opposition by the force of arms.


Reasons of Zanzibar Revolution

1. Historical differences, popular grievances and dissatisfaction between the Arabs and the Africans in Zanzibar. Ever since 1841 when Seyyid Said established Arabs administration and clove plantation in Zanzibar the rapport between Africans and the Arabs never became amicable. This inharmonious system instigated the Africans to struggle to achieve some meaningful status through revolution.

2. Monopoly of the trade. The trade life in Zanzibar has been monopolized by Asians as they directed commerce, finance and the intermediary states of civil services affairs. Hence Arabs became the leader of economy while Africans remains as watch dog.

3. Role played by John Okello. He was from Northern Uganda, a Lango by tribe. He was an official of ASP on Pemba Island. He developed a belief as early as 1961 of involving himself in a revolutionary army and from January 11-12, 1964 attained his aim.

4. Overexploitation of African resources. These were ongoing bitter mass exploitation. This group developed greater grievances against the Arabs as the matter they joined with thealready disgruntled peasants to start a revolution.

5. Growing different political parties and their antagonistic ideologies. By 1957, two parties were dominating the politics of Zanzibar that were ZNP and ASP of Karume. In 1959 new political party was formed that were ZPPP which encouraged membership of all races. From 1957-1963 four elections were convened on non-discriminatory voting. Through these elections, the Africans learnt a lesson that independence would not be achieved by constitutional means, hence they resorted to employ violence method.

6. Effects of British colonial legacy. Due to Arabs friendly coordination with the British and through indirect rule policy they divided societies into two classes i.e disadvantageous (Africans) and favored (Arabs). This created Arabs to dominate the government at the time of Independence, culminating in the Revolution of 1964.