THE Commonwealth announced on Tuesday that it has brokered a breakthrough in the political crisis on Tanzania’s semi-autonomous twin islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku said the ruling and opposition parties have agreed to a package of measures to promote human rights, democracy and political dialogue and “put the past behind them.” A Commonwealth official in Dar es Salaam said both sides will sign the agreement next month, putting to an end a political impasse which has plagued Zanzibar politics since the general elections in October 1995. Under the deal, the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) will return to the local assembly, where they will be given two extra seats, and Zanzibar’s electoral commission and judiciary will be reformed.