Chadema to rally against JPM’s leadership style

Chadema's director of coordination and recruitment,Benson Kigaila 

What you need to know:

Dozens of public servants have been shown the door over allegations of embezzlement of public fund and underperformance since President Magufuli took power early in November last year. 


Dar es Salaam. Chadema has announced it will start a countrywide tour beginning Tuesday to protest President John Magufuli’s leadership style. 

The party’s director of coordination and recruitment, Mr Benson Kigaila, accused the Head of State of suppressing democracy and showing elements of dictatorship.

He told journalists at the party’s Kindondoni headquarters that the campaign would be launched in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region. 

He pointed out that the President had personally sacked or directed the sacking of public servants in blatant disregard of  rules of disciplinary actions stipulated in the public service laws.

But President Magufuli has in several occasions brushed off suchclaims, saying people, who criticised him for restoring ethics and fighting graft in public offices, were unfocused.  

Dozens of public servants have been shown the door over allegations of embezzlement of public fund and underperformance since President Magufuli took power early in November last year. Chadema is also viewing the recent move by Parliament to ban live coverage of parliamentary sessions in Dodoma as undemocratic and has the blessing of the State House. Mr Kigaila also pointed the expulsion last week of over 7,000 students of the University of Dodoma (Udom) as a sign of a government that did not respect the rule of law and good governance. 

It is the party’s quest for showing wananchi how such a leadership style will have adverse consequences to democracy which, according to Mr Kigaila, has prompted Chadema to embark on the countrywide tour.

The party’s top officials, including its national chairman Freeman Mbowe, secretary general Vicent Mashinji and the member of committee, Mr Edward Lowassa, will launch the campaign. 

According to Kigaila, Mr Mashinji will lead a team that will start the campaign at Katoro and proceed to Chato, Muleba, Biharamilo, Bukoba, Karagwe, Ngara, Geita, Sengerema, Buchosa and Mwanza. Mr Mbowe will be travelling to Meatu, Maswa, Bariadi, Lamadi in Shinyanga Region and later to Musoma, Bunda and Tarime in Mara Region and to Mwanza. The phase one of the movement is expected to to take at least 14 days. The two teams will also travel to Southern Highlands and Western and Central Zones.