Amani Karume, president of Tanzania’s semi-autonomous island state of Zanzibar, on Sunday inaugurated the isle’s new flag nearly four decades after it entered into union with the mainland state.
The inauguration ceremony was marked by a 21-gun salute and singing of the island’s national anthem. The flag, a symbol of national unity in the island, is made up of green, gold, blue and black colours.
The introduction of the new flag is part of a series of events to mark the 41st anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution on January 12, which will commemorate the ouster of the Arab Sultanate that ruled the Indian Ocean islands for several centuries.
Zanzibar had its own flag until April 26, 1964, when it merged with the then-mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanganyika also abandoned its flag after a new one was adopted.
Members of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), some of whom have complained that the new flag incorporates a small version of the Tanzanian flag, did not attend the ceremony.
They have said the inclusion of the insert undermines Zanzibar politically.
Last October, Zanzibar Attorney General Iddi Pandu Hassan rejected claims that the island plans to secede, saying: ”Zanzibar is there to stay as part of the United Republic of Tanzania, the establishment of the Zanzibar flag is a step in the right direction to show the existence of Zanzibar in the Union.” – Sapa-AFP