hello,

    echo $ZSH_VERSION
    omz=( 'the first' 'the last' )
    echo a isa ${(t)omz}
    typeset -p omz
    echo -e "${(@qq)omz}"

gives me

    5.8
    a isa array
    typeset -a omz=( 'the first' 'the last' )
    'the first' 'the last'

note the -a when you have

    typeset a='''sa bb'' ''cc dd'''

so ${(t)omz} is probably scalar. would you mind unset a and give
my code a try ?

regards
marc