KIEMBESAMAKI BY-ELECTION

Zanzibar — MAHMOUD Thabit Kombo has been selected by Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as its flag-bearer in the forthcoming Kiembe-Samaki constituency by-election scheduled for February 2, 2014.

CCM Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, Mr Nape Nnauye, informed reporters in Zanzibar after the party's special Central Committee meeting held at Kisiwandui party head office that Kombo emerged the winner after beating two other contestants.

"Mahmoud is our candidate, and it is our sure seat," said Nnauye, as his counterpart from the Civic United Front (CUF), Mr Salum Bimani, also bragged that their candidate, Abdulmalik Haji Jecha, would emerge victorious.

The by-election is meant to fill the House of Representative seat which fell vacant in August following CCM's expulsion of Mr Mansour Yussuf Himid from the party for what it said was violation of party ethics.

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) returning officer for the Kiembe-Samaki by-election, Mr Suhulu Ali Rashid, said picking up of nomination forms for the election starts from today to January 19, 2013, to be followed by campaigns.