By Ally Saleh
STONETOWN Zanzibar (Reuters) - A proposal to amend the law of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar to allow rival parties to form coalition governments was adopted by 66.4 percent of voters, official results showed on Sunday.
The referendum held on Saturday followed a gradual rapprochement between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party -- whose 2005 election win was disputed -- and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), which gave rise to a solution based on power-sharing.
The constitution is expected to be amended in time for October's presidential and parliamentary votes in both Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.
Officials from both parties welcomed the result of the vote in which 71.9 percent of the registered voters participated.
"This shows how determined Zanzibaris are to do away with past politics which have blocked their vision to the future. Choosing yes, they have chosen to move forward and in unison," said Saleh Feruz, CCM deputy secretary general.
Seif Sharif Hamad, secretary general of the CUF, said they had secured the people's backing because of the realisation that political bickering was holding back development.
The outcome was also welcomed in mainland Tanzania.
Reuters Africa
