Chapter 282

Chapter 282: "Advancements" in the Sultanate of Zanzibar

In Zanzibar, the youthful Sultan Said voiced his concerns to East African Minister Lemons regarding the mounting pressure to abolish the slave trade. While personally indifferent, he highlighted the reliance of many ministers and businessmen in Zanzibar on this trade for their livelihoods.

Lemons clarified that East Africa wasn't coercing Zanzibar into ending the slave trade but was advocating it for Zanzibar's own benefit. He elucidated that Europe, particularly Britain and France, was progressively prohibiting the slave trade, and the British had been clamping down on slave ships in the Indian Ocean.

Said acknowledged the global pressure but expressed reservations about convincing his subjects to forsake the highly profitable slave trade. Lemons then outlined a comprehensive plan to help Zanzibar transition from the slave trade to a more clandestine labor export industry.

The plan encompassed the following key points:

1. Formally abolishing slavery at the legal level in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, creating the impression that the Sultanate was no longer a nation rooted in slavery.

2. Substituting the slave trade with legitimate labor export companies, accentuating that "national laborers" were heading abroad for employment.

3. Enhancing the living conditions on "labor" transport ships, ensuring that "laborers" had adequate clothing and a modicum of room to move.

4. Establishing a household registration system to ascertain the identities of Zanzibar citizens.

Lemons assured Said that East Africa would extend its support in implementing the household registration system. However, he conceded that some Zanzibar nationals held dual or multiple citizenships, making it complicated to define their affiliations.

Said remained skeptical about his ministers embracing these changes, but Lemons indicated that East Africa would ensure compliance. He underscored that the slave trade had to cease, and the proposed alterations would enable Zanzibar to maintain its profitability while aligning with international expectations.

Additionally, Lemons informed Said that East Africa would fortify its garrison in Zanzibar and include the island in its defense system. He elucidated that this was primarily to safeguard the region from external threats and not targeted at Zanzibar itself.

Following Lemons' persuasive efforts and the promise of East African support, the Sultanate of Zanzibar concurred with all of East Africa's stipulations. They enacted legal provisions to abolish slavery, declared the termination of the slave trade, and permitted former slaves to enter into employment agreements with their former owners. Furthermore, registered "labor companies" promptly emerged in Zanzibar, purporting to offer labor services to other regions.