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Editor’s Blog: Adopted Geordie could rule Zanzibar

WHILE one adopted Tyneside son enjoys his time playing in one of the World Cup’s most impressive teams in Argentina, a few thousand miles up the African coast, another is also bidding for glory.

Aside from Geordie-born Michael Carrick, Argentine Jonas Gutierrez is Newcastle’s only representative at the greatest show in the world.

However, away from the drone of the vuvuzela, bdaily can reveal that another one-time Tyneside resident is on course for victory.

In Tanzania – land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and a unique strand of African music known as bongo flava – a former Newcastle University student is in the running to be president.

Dr Ali Mohamed Shein is a medical doctor who studied MSc in medical biochemistry on Tyneside and is also a doctor of philosophy in clinical biochemistry and metabolic medicine no less.

He is battling it out to become the next leader or the government of Zanzibar - a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania.

Bdaily’s man in Zanzibar tells us his inclusion as one of six candidates in the race for power was a surprise given his last minute inclusion.

He currently serves as vice president and, should he be victorious, will become the first president of Zanzibar from the tiny Pemba Island.

If England’s Slovenian test does end in failure – and you can’t bring yourself to support Argentina’s march to glory – at least there is another African contest to keep us interested.

Follow Dr Shein’s progress at http://www.thecitizen.co.tz.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .