Amani Abeid Karume (b. 1 November 1948) has been president of Zanzibar since 8 November 2000. He is the son of Zanzibar's first president, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume and a member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

 

Born in 1948, Karume was schooled at the Lumumba Secondary School until 1969 when he became an accountant.

 

During the 1970s he held various positions in the Zanzibari government including Chief Treasurer (1970-1971), Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance (1971-1974), Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Planning (1974-1978), and Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Transport (1978-1980).

 

During the 1980s, he worked as a private consultant for a British-based business in Zanzibar. Karume returned to government and politics in 1990 when he was elected to the Zanzibar House of Representatives from the Rahaleo constituency. In 1995, he was re-elected to that position in multiparty polls.

 

During this 10 year period, he served first as Minister of Trade Industry and Marketing, being instrumental in liberalising the Market and resulting in closure of state monopolies and begining of free trade.

 

As Minister of communication and transport, Karume was instrumental in the establishment of the modern Internet and Mobile telecommunication infrastructure that exist today as well as an extensive road network.

 

Zanzibar as a result enjoys Africa's highest teledensity at 15%.

 

Karume Campaigning in ZanzibarKarume, running as CCM presidential candidate for Zanzibar, won 67.04% of the vote in an October 2000 election marred by irregularities and criticized by international observers (although polling on mainland Tanzania was generally praised).

 

He was re-elected in the 30 October 2005 election, winning 53.18% of the vote. This time, however, international observers gave the election a stamp of approval with some even going to the extent of labeling it as an example to follow.

 

Karume is married and is the father of six adult children. He is fluent in Swahili and English.