HC Deb 12 April 1962 vol 657 cc1487-8
19. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the Zanzibar constitutional conference.

Mr. Maudling

Useful discussions took place at the conference on a number of constitutional issues. I told the delegates that Her Majesty's Government agreed to extend the franchise in Zanzibar by removal of the means and educational qualifications, and to appoint an independent Commission to recommend the number of elected members to sit in the Legislative Council, and to delimit the new constituencies on that basis. The way would then be clear for the holding of further elections. I regret that, in the absence of agreement between the Zanzibar Ministers and the Opposition delegates, it proved impossible to settle the timetable for further advance towards self-government and independence, but I reaffirmed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that full independence is still the aim for Zanzibar.

I will, with permission, circulate a fuller statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Thomson

I very much welcome the decision about the extension of the franchise, but is the Colonial Secretary aware that there is a good deal of disappointment that he was not as successful in Zanzibar as he was in Kenya in getting the two groups of politicians to co-operate in the interests of their country for the time being? Will he say whether he has asked the British Resident to continue these efforts in Zanzibar.

Mr. Maudling

The British Resident—who, I think, is an outstanding Resident—is continuing his efforts, and I am sure that if any man can make progress, he will.

Mr. Brockway

Is the Minister aware of the very deep disappointment there is that there has not been a successful conclusion to these discussions as there was under his leadership in Kenya? In the case of Zanzibar, would it not have been possible to reach a compromise, first, by giving the Opposition the adult suffrage they desire and, second, by asking for a Coalition Government until independence, on the same basis as he adopted in Kenya?

Mr. Maudling

A Coalition Government is precisely what I did ask for, but the great question was whether there should be elections or not. On that, it is difficult to compromise.

Following is the statement: The Zanzibar Constitutional Conference met between 19th March and 6th April Agreement was reached on a number of points related to internal self-government, including the form of constitution at that stage, provisions for safeguarding human rights, and various matters connected with the public service. Both the Zanzibar Ministers and the Opposition delegates pressed for the declaration of early dates for internal self-government and independence, but there were divergencies of opinion between them on the programme of advance. These covered the franchise, the number of elected seats in the Legislative Council and, in consequence, the number of constituencies, the timing of the next elections, and the possibility of forming a Coalition Government. While Her Majesty's Government have been prepared to consider further constitutional measures for Zanzibar, last year's events in the Protectorate showed how deeply and evenly parties were divided, and the serious results the division could have. In these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government felt that it was impossible to make progress unless the parties were able to resolve these differences, preferably by forming a Coalition Government. In the absence of such agreement, there was no prospect of securing a stable administration during the period of internal self-government. Despite prolonged discussions between the parties, no agreement was reached. In consequence, Her Majesty's Government decided that it would be wrong for them to set dates at present either for internal self-government or for independence. But, since there was a measure of agreement between the parties on the extension of the franchise, I informed the Conference that Her Majesty's Government were agreeable to extending it by removal of the means and educational qualifications, though they did not consider that a case had been made out for reducing the minimum age below 21 (as proposed by the Opposition delegates). Her Majesty's Government also agreed to the appointment of an independent Delimitation Commission:
  1. (i) to recommend, on the basis of the franchise thus extended, the appropriate number of elected members to sit in the Legislative Council, having regard to the distribution of population in the islands; and
  2. (ii) to delimit the new constituencies on that basis.
 When the work of the Commission has been completed, the way will be clear to the holding of further elections, either when they next normally fall due in June. 1964, or at such earlier date as may be agreed upon. While only this limited agreement could be reached at the Conference, I reaffirmed on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that full independence is still the aim for Zanzibar. Whether and when it will be possible to make any further advance to that goal must depend on the success of the political leaders and people of Zanzibar in reducing the existing tensions and the differences which divide them.
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