Tanzania, June 17 -- Dar/Zanzibar. A heated exchange between Tanzania's National Assembly and the Zanzibar House of Representatives has exposed growing tensions over Union matters, prompting warnings from some legislators that the rhetoric could undermine national cohesion and threaten the Union itself.

During budget deliberations, several MPs cautioned that remarks made by some Zanzibar ministers were divisive, inflammatory, and capable of weakening the Union.

They urged Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, to publicly condemn the statements.

On the Zanzibar side, members of the House of Representatives insisted they would continue defending Zanzibar's interests within the Union, despite accusations that some of their comments w...