Factors Influencing Social Exclusion of Minority Groups in Zanzibar: The Case of Comorian Origin

Silima, Haji A. (2017) Factors Influencing Social Exclusion of Minority Groups in Zanzibar: The Case of Comorian Origin. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The main goal of this study was to find out the factors influencing social exclusion of minority groups in Zanzibar specifically taken Comorian origin people living in Zanzibar as a case study. The study was conducted among members of the Comorian origin community who complain to be excluded in accessing some of their social rights as human being and as citizens of Tanzania. Their selection was done using both random and purposive sampling procedures. The study included both qualitative and quantitative data, which were obtained through face-to-face interview and questionnaires. The respondents were; women 50.6% and men were 49.3 this indicates that, both women and men have been encouraged to participate in the issues related to social exclusion of minority groups. The findings show that the Comorian origin people have been living in Zanzibar more than four centuries like other minority and non minority groups, but they are excluded from enjoying some social services like National Passports and Zan ID. The major factor for the exclusion of Comorian origin is the colonial legacy by which, in the 19th century Comoro was the French colony and Zanzibar by that time was British protectorate dominion, the law enacted in Zanzibar did not allow the natural change of citizenship from Comorian to Zanzibari in that regard French assimilated people from Comoro were not allowed to take Zanzibar citizenship leaving many Comorian origin people living in Zanzibar as foreigners. So they are not qualified to access the citizenship rights even if they were born in Zanzibar. It is recommended to the Government to find the administrative and legal solution to enable the minority groups to enjoy their rights especially those children born in Zanzibar with their mothers who have nowhere to go except Zanzibar where they are not recognized.

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