First VP Othman Masoud makes his bid for Zanzibar presidency

Othman Masoud Othman, the First Vice President of Zanzibar, has officially entered the presidential race for the 2025 general election.

Othman collected his nomination forms on April 13, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown with the incumbent, President Hussein Mwinyi, who has already secured the backing of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for a second term.

The nomination took place at the headquarters of ACT-Wazalendo in Vuga, Zanzibar, and marks a key moment in the lead-up to the October 2025 election.

Othman’s decision to challenge Mwinyi is expected to add more political dynamics to an already intense race.

During the form collection, Othman was handed the nomination documents, along with a copy of the Zanzibar Constitution and the party's internal regulations, by Mhene Said Rashid, the Secretary of ACT-Wazalendo’s Election Committee.

Rashid, alongside senior party officials, was present to witness the handover.

"I hand over to you these forms, the Constitution, and the party rules to guide you in completing them. The deadline for returning the forms is April 17, 2025, at 4 pm. Please take note," said Mhene at the brief ceremony.

Speaking after receiving the documents, Othman expressed his enthusiasm about the next steps in his political journey.

He emphasized the importance of completing party procedures before launching into the broader national campaign.

"Today I came to collect the forms because it is an important part of our internal party process. An election is a journey, and before we enter the national arena, we must fulfill our internal procedures," Othman said.

He also thanked the party’s organizing committee for its efficiency in handling the nomination process for candidates at all levels of Zanzibar's political spectrum, including for councillor and representative positions.

"I sincerely thank you all for your support and cooperation in this process," he added.

Othman clarified that the collection of the forms was just a procedural step and that he would make formal campaign statements after submitting the completed documents by April 16, 2025.

"I appreciate the leaders and members who accompanied me today. Your support is vital as I seek this national leadership role," he remarked.

Omar Ali Shekha, ACT-Wazalendo’s Deputy Secretary General for Zanzibar, reiterated the party’s democratic stance, which allows any eligible member to contest for any available position.

"Every qualified party member who meets the requirements is free to contest for any position within the party," Omar said.

The nomination period for presidential candidates runs from April 12 to April 17, 2025, with fees set at Sh1 million for presidential aspirants.

For parliamentary and representative candidates, the fee is Sh100,000, while those vying for councillor positions must pay Sh30,000.

ACT-Wazalendo intends to field candidates for all positions, from the presidency to local government. However, Omar stressed that the party’s primary focus remains on advocating for constitutional reforms on the Mainland.

"Yes, we signed the election regulations, but that does not mean we agreed with everything in them. We followed procedure, and further steps will be taken to challenge any unfair provisions. We're not boycotting the process—we're engaging fully, including legal options if necessary," Omar said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the election guidelines on April 12, which were endorsed by 18 political parties.

However, the opposition party, Chadema, rejected the regulations and now faces a five-year ban from participating in elections, according to INEC.

Mhene also pointed out the increasing number of female aspirants, although specific figures were not provided due to the ongoing selection process.

Once all nomination forms are submitted, the party will move forward with internal opinion polls and nomination meetings, with final candidates expected to be confirmed by July 2025.