We’ll take govt to task for ‘abuse of power’

Dar es Salaam. Opposition Chadema yesterday vowed to take the government to task in the coming budget meeting for what it termed as increasing incidents of abuse of power.

Addressing reporters yesterday, opposition party’s deputy secretary-general (Mainland Tanzania) John Mnyika said as part of the official opposition camp they would use parliamentary meetings to pin the government on issues of national interest.

The stand by Chadema is similar to the one expressed on Thursday by ACT-Wazaledo leader Zitto Kabwe, who said MPs would use the Parliament to make President John Magufuli accountable for his deeds that were against the rule of law.

Mr Kabwe said the sacking of Mr Nape Nnauye as Information minister over his quest for accountability was testimony to the fact that those in power were recklessly governing the country. He said by condoning the blatant abuse of power by Dar es Salaam regional commissioner, the President had also abused his own powers.

According to Mr Mnyika, who is also a MP for Kibamba, the decision was taken during the party’s recent two-day Central Committee meeting, which discussed about the current political atmosphere in the country.

He said events, which took place recently, including the encroachment on press freedom, following the raid of Clouds Media Group (CMG) studios indicated that the situation was getting out of hand, and something needed to be done to ensure the country remained calm. Mr Mnyika also claimed that the President was ready to let it go of officials, who were standing for good governance like former Information minister Nape Nnauye to protect those, who were violating human rights.

“We are not in a state or threat of war, but yet a security officer does not hesitate to show a gun to an immediate former minister (Nnauye) in public,” said Mr Mnyika. He said what happened to Mr Nnauye, who is also an MP for Mtama, was sending alarm that things were out of hand.

“As Chadema, we are highly disappointed at what happened to CMG and Mr Nnauye and we will not hesitate to condemn the situation and ask for appropriate measures whenever the right of any individual is violated even if he/she is a CCM member,” said Mr Mnyika.

He said ,while the opposition, particularly Chadema, was complaining about the misuse of power last year, they were belittled by a section of people, including CCM members, that they were noise makers. However, he said now what they (Chadema) were standing against was facing everyone, including the media and CCM cadres.

“It is high time all Tanzanians joined hands to protest what is happening to save the country from sinking into the danger it is facing.”