dual citizenship

Pemba Paradise

Zanzibar Diaspora

Mwanakwerekwe shops ad

ZanzibarNiKwetuStoreBanner

ZNK Patreon

Scrolling news

************ KARIBUNI..................Contact us for any breaking news or for any information at: znzkwetu@gmail.com. You can also fax us at: 1.801.289.7713......................KARIBUNI

Sunday, March 22, 2015

TUJIKUMBUSHE HISTORIA YETU: KHALID BIN BARGHASH - SULTANI ALIYETAWALA ZANZIBAR KWA SIKU TATU!

Khalid bin Barghash of Zanzibar.

SEYYID Khalid bin Barghash ni sultani aliyetawala Zanzibar kwa siku tatu kuanzia Agosti 25 na 27 mwaka,1896. Huyo ni mtoto wa kiume wa Sultani Barghash bin Said aliyetawala Zanzibar kwa miaka 18, kuanzia mwaka 1870-1888. “Seyyid” ni neno la kiarabu lenye maana ya “Mheshimiwa” au “Mtukufu”. Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash alizaliwa mwaka 1875 ikiwa ni miaka minne baada ya baba yake mzazi Sultani Barghash bin Said kutawazwa kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar.

Wakati wa utawala wake, Seyyid Barghash bin Said alifanya kila juhudi kuhakikisha kuwa anamrithisha mwanawe Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar. Lakini juhudi hizo ziligonga mwamba kutokana na watawala wa Kiingereza kukataa kijana huyo kurithi kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar. Kwa wakati huo, Serikali ya Uingereza ambayo ilikuwa ndiyo mtawala wa Zanzibar ndiyo iliyokuwa na mamlaka ya kuteua mrithi wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar kutoka orodha ya warithi wa kiti hicho katika aila ya Kisultani. 


Wakati Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash ana miaka saba, baba yake mzazi Sultani Barghash bin Said aliandika barua kwa balozi wa Uingereza visiwani Zanzibar kutaka idhini ya Serikali ya Uingereza ya kuteuliwa mwanawe Khalid bin Barghash kuwa mrithi wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar, lakini serikali ya Uingereza ilikataa ombi hilo.

Katika mwaka 1888, Sultani wa Zanzibar Seyyid Barghash bin Said alifariki dunia na Waingereza walimchagua Seyyid Khalifa bin Said kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar badala ya Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash. Kitendo hicho cha Waingereza kumtawaza Seyyid Khalifa bin Said kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar kilimkasirisha mno Khalid bin Barghash. Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash hakuhudhuria sherehe za kuapishwa Seyyid Khalifa bin Said ambaye ni mjomba wake kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar, na baada ya maziko ya baba yake alijifungia nyumbani. 

Seyyid Khalifa bin Said alitawala Zanzibar kwa miaka miwili tu na kufariki dunia ghafla katika mwezi wa Februari, 1890 akiwa na umri wa miaka 36. Warithi wengi wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar katika aila ya Kisultani walitarajia kurithi kiti hicho akiwemo Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash.


Lakini kinyume cha matarajio ya Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash kurithi kiti hicho, hapo Februari 4, 1890, Waingereza walimtawaza Ali bin Said kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar. Khalid bin Barghash alibaki kimya hasa kwa vile wakati huo mama yake mzazi ambaye alikuwa na ushawishi mkubwa kwa watu mashuhuri Zanzibar alikuwa Makka katika ibada ya hija. Seyyid Ali bin Said hakuwa na afya nzuri na Waingereza walitumia udhaifu wa afya ya mtawala huyo kujinufaisha kisiasa.


Kwanza, Waingereza walimlazimisha Seyyid Ali bin Said kutia saini mkataba wa Uingereza kuilinda Zanzibar na kuajiri maafisa wa Kiingereza katika serikali yake.


Pili Sultani Ali bin Said alilazimishwa kutia saini mkataba wa kufuta biashara ya watumwa na wakati huohuo kumchagua Jenerali Lloyd Mathew ambaye ni Mwingereza kuwa waziri hapo mwaka 1891.


Oktoba 12, 1892, Balozi wa Uingereza visiwani Zanzibar wakati huo Gerald Portal aliiarifu Serikali ya Uingereza huko mjini London kuhusu hali mbaya ya afya ya Sultani Ali bin Said. Katika barua yake, balozi Portal aliwataja warithi watatu watarajiwa wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar kuwa ni Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash, Seyyid Hemed bin Thuwein na Hamud bin Muhammed ambapo balozi huyo aliitaka Serikali ya Uingereza imteue mrithi wa kiti hicho haraka iwezekanavyo. Kila mmoja kati ya watarajiwa hao watatu alikuwa na wafuasi wake miongoni mwa watu mashuhuri wa Zanzibar.


Katika barua yake hiyo balozi Portal alimtaja Khalid bin Barghash kuwa ni kijana mwenye kiburi na chuki dhidi ya wazungu. Lakini miongoni mwa watu wengi mashuhuri wa Zanzibar walipendelea kijana huyo arithi kiti hicho kwa vile wazazi wake wawili walikuwa ni wazaliwa halisi wa Zanzibar, tofauti na Hemed bin Thuwaini na Hamud bin Muhammed ambao walikuja Zanzibar wakiwa wakubwa kutoka huko Oman. Katika uteuzi huo, Serikali ya Uingereza ilimuacha Hamoud bin Muhammed aliyekuwa mkubwa katika warithi wa kiti hicho na kumchagua Hamed bin Thuwein kuwa mrithi wa Sultani wa Zanzibar.


Baba yake Hamed bin Thuwein alikuwa ni Sultani wa Oman baada ya Oman kujitenga na Zanzibar kutokana na kifo cha aliyekuwa mtawala wa Zanzibar na Oman, Seyyid Said bin Sultan hapo mwaka 1856.


Ikumbukwe kwamba Thuwein bin Said na Barghash bin Said wote ni watoto wa Seyyid Said bin Sultan aliyekuwa mtawala wa Zanzibar na Oman. Lakini baada ya kifo cha mtawala huyo hapo mwaka 1856 kulitokea ugomvi mkubwa wa kuwania madaraka kati ya watoto hao ambao ni wa mama mbalimbali. Kutokana na mgogoro huo ndipo mamlaka ya dola moja ya Zanzibar na Oman ilivunjika baada ya Thuwein bin Said kujitangaza kuwa mtawala wa Oman naye Barghash bin Said akajitangaza kuwa ni mtawala wa Zanzibar iliyojitenga na Oman.


Kitendo cha Waingereza kumtangaza Hemed bin Thuwein kuwa mrithi wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar, kilimkasirisha mno Khalid bin Barghash na wafuasi wake kwa msingi kuwa Hemed bin Thuwein hana haki ya kutawala Zanzibar kwa vile baba yake mzazi Thuwein bin Said ndiye aliyeitenga Oman kutoka dola moja kuu ya Oman na Zanzibar. Hivyo kwa mtazamo wa Khalid Barghash na wafuasi wake wenye haki ya kutawala Zanzibar wakati huo walikuwa ni aila ya Kisultani ya Zanzibar na siyo aila ya Kisultani ya Oman.


Mapema Januari, 1893 Rennell Rodd alichukua nafasi ya Gerald Portal kuwa balozi wa Uingereza visiwani Zanzibar. Wakati balozi huyo anaingia ofisini, alipewa maelekezo rasmi kutoka wizara ya mambo ya nje ya Uingereza kuhusu uwezekano wa kutokea machafuko kuhusu urithi wa kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar. Katika mwezi wa Februari, 1893 jeshi la majini la Uingereza lilituma manowari mbili katika pwani ya Zanzibar. Manowari hizo ni Philomel na Blansh ambazo zilitia nanga karibu na bandari ya Zanzibar. Wanamaji wa manowari hizo waliweka ulinzi mkali katika ubalozi wa Uingereza na majengo ya forodha. Vile vile Waziri, Jenerali Mathew aliamrisha kuwekwa ulinzi mkali katika njia iliyokwenda katika kasri ya Kifalme.


Saa 9.00 jioni ya Machi 5, 1893 zilitoka taarifa za kifo cha Seyyid Ali bin Said aliyekuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar. Mara tu baada ya taarifa hiyo, maafisa kadhaa wa ubalozi wa Uingereza pamoja na Kapteni R.N.Campbell aliyekuwa mmoja kati ya Admirali wa Jeshi la Maji la Uingereza walikwenda katika kasri ya Mfalme hapo Forodhani na kuonana na Jenerali Mathew aliyekuwa waziri. Khalid bin Barghash alifika na kuingia ndani ya kasri ya Kifalme kwa kupitia mlango wa nyuma ulokuwa wazi kabla ya maofisa hao wa kiingereza kufika.


Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash moja kwa moja alipanda ghorofa ya juu na kuamrisha mlango wa mbele ufungwe haraka. Kulitokea mabishano makali kati ya Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash na maofisa wa kiingereza waliotaka kuingia ndani ya kasri hiyo. Lakini baadaye, Khalid bin Barghash aliamrisha mlango ufunguliwe na aingie Balozi Rennell Rodd na Jenerali Mathew peke yao. Lakini mara tu baada ya mlango huo kufunguliwa, kikosi cha wanamaji kutoka manowari za Uingereza walokuwa mbele ya jengo hilo walivamia na kuingia ndani pamoja na watu wengine kadhaa. 


Wote walipanda ghorofa ya juu ambako Khalid bin Barghash alikuwa akiwasubiri balozi Rodd na Jenerali Mathew. Baada ya balozi Rodd kuingia ndani ya kasri hiyo, alimlaumu vikali Khalid bin Barghash kwa kufanya kitendo kisicho cha kiungwana kuvamia kasri ya Kifalme. Baada ya kunasihiwa, Khalid bin Barghash aliondoka ndani ya kasri hiyo na kwenda kwake huku akishindikizwa na kikosi cha wanamaji wa Kiingereza.


Mara tu baada ya Khalid bin Barghash kuondoka katika kasri hiyo, Waingereza walitia saini mkataba na Hemed bin Thuwein kuwa watamlinda na yeye akubali kuwa chini ya utawala wa Malkia wa Uingereza. Baada ya makubaliano hayo, Hamed bin Thuwein aliapishwa kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar na kisha maofisa hao walikenda kumzika Seyyid Ali bin Said.


Hamed bin Thuwein alitawala Zanzibar kwa miaka mitatu tu na kufariki dunia ghafla Agosti 25, 1896. Hamed bin Thuwein alikuwa Sultani wa tatu kufariki dunia Zanzibar katika kipindi cha miaka sita. Watu wengi walijenga dhana kuwa vifo vya ghafla na matatizo ya akili yaliyowapata watawala hao walofariki vilitokana na imani ya ushirikina kati ya warithi wa kiti cha Ufalme miongoni mwa aila ya Kifalme.


Kabla ya kifo hicho, Juni 21, 1896 barua iliyoandikwa kwa Serikali ya Uingereza na Arthur Harding aliyekuwa ofisa mwandamizi katika Ubalozi wa Uingereza, Zanzibar ilipendekeza kuteuliwa Hamoud bin Muhamed kuwa mrithi wa kiti cha Ufalme baada ya kuondoka madarakani Hamed bin Thuwein. Katika barua hiyo, Arthur Harding alisisitiza kuwa Hamoud bin Muhamed ataongoza vizuri na atakuwa mtiifu kuliko Khalid bin Barghash.


Mara tu zilipopatikana taarifa za kuumwa ghafla kwa Sultani Seyyid Hamed bin Thuwein, aliyekuwa kaimu Balozi wa Uingereza visiwani Zanzibar wakati huo, Basil Cave alimtaka Kapteni O’Callaghan aliyekuwa kamanda mkuu wa manowari ya kiingereza iitwayo Philomel, kuweka katika hali ya tahadhari wanamaji wa manowari hiyo. Vilevile taarifa ya hali ya tahadhari ilitumwa kwa vikosi vyote vilivyokuwa Zanzibar.


Mara tu baada ya kupokea taarifa ya kifo cha Hamed bin Thuwein, Waziri, Jenerali Mathew na Basil Cave walikwenda haraka katika kasri ya Kifalme na kupanda ghorofa ya juu kabla Khalid bin Barghash hajafika na kuamrisha milango yote kufungwa. Lakini si muda mrefu baada ya Khalid bin Barghash kupata taarifa ya kifo cha Hamed bin Thuwein, akifuatana na wafuasi wake zaidi ya hamsini walivamia jengo hilo na baada ya kukuta mlango umefungwa walipanda kwa madirishani. Ghasia zilianza ndani ya kasri huku wafuasi wa Khalid bin Barghash wakiongezeka kila dakika.


Balozi Basil Cave na Jenerali Lloyd Mathew walijikuta katika wakati mgumu kumlazimisha Khalid bin Barghash atoke katika kasri ya kifalme. Hivyo waliamua kutoka katika jengo hilo na kwenda bandarini ambako tayari wanamaji 160 wakiwa na silaha pamoja na askari wengine 400 wa serikali ya Sulatni walikuwa wakilinda eneo hilo. Baadhi ya askari wa serikali na walinzi wa Sultani aliyefariki walijiunga na wafuasi wa Khalid bin Barghash. Wakati mvutano huo ukiendelea, Khalid bin Barghash alikuwa akiungwa mkono na karibu askari 500 wenye silaha.


Balozi Basil Cave alituma ujumbe kumtaka Khalid bin Barghash atoke katika kasri ya Kifalme haraka iwezekanavyo. Khalid alipuuza amri hiyo na badala yake alijitangaza kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar na kuwataka wafuasi wake kupiga mizinga 21 kuashiria kuingia kwake madarakani.
Vilevile Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash aliamrisha kupandishwa bendera ya Sultani ambayo ilishushwa wakati wa maziko ya Hamed bin Thuwein. Si hayo tu, bali pia kijana huyo alipeleka taarifa katika ofisi za kibalozi zilizokuwepo Zanzibar kuwajulisha kuwa yeye ni Sultani mpya wa Zanzibar.


Siku iliyofuata ya Agosti 26, 1896, Balozi Basil Cave alipeleka simu ya upepo huko Uingereza kutaka idhini ya manowari za kiingereza zilizokuwa bandarini Zanzibar kushambulia kwa mizinga kasri ya kifalme iliyovamiwa na Khalid bin Barghash. Ingawa Khalid bin Barghash alituma simu ya upepo huko Uingereza kwa Malkia kumuarifu kuwa yeye ni Sultani mpya, simu hiyo haikupelekwa na kampuni ya Oriental Telegraph kutokana na maombi ya balozi Basil Cave ya kutaka simu hiyo kuzuiliwa.


Serikali ya Uingereza ilitoa idhini ya kuchukuliwa hatua zozote zinazofaa kurekebisha hali ya mambo Zanzibar. Agosti 26, 1896 manowari nyingine mbili za Uingereza zilifika bandarini Zanzibar. Manowari hizo ni Racoon na Saint George. Manowari sita zilisogea karibu sana na usawa wa kasri ya Kifalme. Siku iliyofuata ya Agosti 27, Admirali Rawson alitoa onyo la mwisho kwa Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash kuwa kasri itashambuliwa kwa mizinga ifikapo saa 3 asubuhi iwapo hatashusha bendera na kujisalimisha katika jengo la kastam hapo Forodhani.


Khalid bin Barghash alipuuza onyo hilo na ilipofika saa 3.00 asubuhi manowari zilizokuwa bandarini zilianza kushambulia kwa mizinga kasri ya kifalme. Mashambulizi hayo yalimalizika saa 4.20 asubuhi na kasri ya kifalme iliteketezwa vibaya, ambapo zaidi ya wafuasi 500 wa Khalid bin Barghash waliuawa. Khalid bin Barghash alinusurika na haraka alichupa kwa dirishani na kupanda farasi wake hadi katika ubalozi wa Ujerumani na kuomba hifadhi.


Baada ya kukombolewa kasri, haraka Waingereza walimchukua Hamoud bin Muhammed hadi katika jengo la kastam na kumuapisha kuwa Sultani wa Zanzibar baada ya kukubali masharti kadhaa ya Waingereza.


Khalid bin Barghash baadae hapo Oktoba 2, 1896 alipelekwa na Wajerumani katika koloni lake la Tanganyika na kuishi Dar es Salaam. Wakati wa vita vya kwanza vya dunia hapo mwaka 1914, Khalid bin Barghash alijiunga na Jeshi la Wajerumani dhidi ya Waingereza, lakini alikamatwa na Waingereza hapo mwaka 1917 na kuhamishiwa katika kisiwa cha Saint Helena katika bahari ya Pasifiki hapo mwaka 1921. Baadae alipelekwa katika kisiwa cha Seychelles. Katika mwaka 1925, Seyyid Khalid bin Barghash aliandika barua ya kufuta madai yake ya kurithi kiti cha Ufalme wa Zanzibar. Kutokana na kufuta madai hayo, aliruhusiwa kuishi Mombasa nchini Kenya na aliishi huko hadi alipofariki dunia mwezi 13 Ramadhani,1345 sawa na mwaka 1927.


http://www.raiamwema.co.tz/khalid-bin-barghash-sultani-aliyetawala-z%E2%80%99bar-siku-tatu
SOMA ZAIDI:
By Ben Johnson, Editor

The little known Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 is generally considered to be the shortest war in history, lasting for a grand total of 38 minutes.
The story begins with the signing of the Heligoland-Zanzibar treaty between Britain and Germany in 1890. This treaty effectively drew up spheres of influence between the imperial powers in East Africa; Zanzibar was ceded to British influence, whilst Germany was given control over mainland Tanzania.
With this new found influence, Britain declared Zanzibar a protectorate of the British Empire and moved to install their own ‘puppet’ Sultan to look after the region. Hamad bin Thuwaini, who had been a supporter of the British in the area, was given the position in 1893.

Build up to the conflict

Sultan KhalidHamad ruled over this relatively peaceful protectorate for just over 3 years until, on August 25, 1896, he died suddenly in his palace. Although the truth will never be fully known about the causes for his death, it is widely believed that his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash (pictured to the right), had him poisoned.
This belief is compounded by the fact that within a few hours of Hamad’s death, Khalid had already moved into the palace and assumed the position of Sultan, all without British approval.
Needless to say the local British diplomats were not at all happy with this turn of events, and the chief diplomat in the area, Basil Cave, quickly declared that Khalid should stand down. Khalid ignored these warnings and instead starting gathering his forces around the Palace.
These forces were surprisingly well armed, although it’s worth noting that quite a few of their guns and cannons were actually diplomatic gifts that had been presented to the former Sultan over the years! By the end of 25th August, Khalid had his palace secured with almost 3,000 men, several artillery guns and even a modestly armed Royal Yacht in the nearby harbour.
Basil CaveAt the same time, the British already had two warships anchored in the harbour, the HMS Philomel and the HMS Rush, and troops were quickly being sent ashore to protect the British Consulate and to keep the local population from rioting. Cave (pictured to the right) also requested backup from another nearby British ship, the HMS Sparrow, which entered the harbour on the evening of the 25th August.
Even though Cave had a significant armed presence in the harbour, he knew that he did not have the authority to open hostilities without express approval of the British government. To prepare for all eventualities, he sent a telegram to the Foreign Office that evening stating: “Are we authorised in the event of all attempts at a peaceful solution proving useless, to fire on the Palace from the men-of-war?” Whilst waiting for a reply from Whitehall, Cave continued issuing ultimatums to Khalid but to no avail.
The next day, two more British warships entered the harbour, the HMS Racoonand the HMS St George, the latter carrying Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson, commander of the British fleet in the area At the same time, Cave had received a telegraph from Whitehall stating:
"You are authorised to adopt whatever measures you may consider necessary, and will be supported in your action by Her Majesty's Government. Do not, however, attempt to take any action which you are not certain of being able to accomplish successfully."
Zanzibar palace before the war
Zanzibar Palace in the late 1800's
The final ultimatum to Khalid was issued on the 26th August, demanding that he leave the palace by 9am the next day. That night, Cave also demanded that all non-military boats leave the harbour in preparation for war.
At 8am the next morning, only one hour before the ultimatum expirated, Khalid sent a reply to Cave stating:
"We have no intention of hauling down our flag and we do not believe you would open fire on us."
Cave replied in true 19th century British diplomatic style, stating that he no desire to fire upon the palace “but unless you do as you are told, we shall certainly do so.”

The conflict

That was the last Cave heard from Khalid, and at 9am the order was given for the British ships in the harbour to begin bombarding the palace. By 09:02 the majority of Khalid’s artillery had been destroyed, and the palaces wooden structure had started to collapse with 3,000 defenders inside. It is also around this time, two minutes after the bombardment started, that Khalid is said to have escaped through a back exit of the palace, leaving his servants and fighters to defend the palace alone.
By 09:40 the shelling had ceased, the Sultan’s flag pulled down, and the shortest war in history had officially ended after only 38 minutes.
Zanzibar palace after the bombardment
Zanzibar Palace after the bombardment
For such a short war, the casualty rate was surprisingly high with over 500 of Khalid’s fighters killed or wounded, mainly due to the high explosive shells exploding on the palace’s flimsy structure. One British petty officer was also severely injured, but later recovered in hospital.
Marines with Khalid's captured guns
British marines standing next to a captured artillery gun
With Khalid out of the way, the UK was free to place the pro-British Sultan Hamud on the throne of Zanzibar, and he ruled on behalf of Her Majesty's Government for the next six years.
As for Khalid, he managed to escape with a small group of loyal followers to the local German Consulate. Despite repeated calls from the British for his extradition, he was smuggled out of the country on October 2nd by the German navy and taken to modern day Tanzania. It was not until British forces invaded East Africa in 1916 that Khalid was finally captured and subsequently taken to Saint Helena for exile. After ‘serving time’, he was later allowed to return to East Africa where he died in 1927.

No comments :

Post a Comment