In October 2009 , Zanzibar President Amani Karume met with CUF Secretary Seif Shariff Hamad at the State House to discus how to save Zanzibar from future political turmoil and to end the backlash between them , a move which was welcomed by many people including the USA and political parties . In October 2009 , the former president of Zanzibar , Amani Abeid Karume , met with CUF secretary Seif Sharif Hamad , who is currently the first vice president of Zanzibar , at the State House to discuss how to save Zanzibar from future political turmoil and to end the backlash between them , a move which was welcomed by many people including the USA and political parties .