ACT Wazalendo hits out at Costech over letter to Twaweza

Dar es Salaam. ACT Wazalendo on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, has criticised the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (Costech) for its letter to Twaweza.

The party's Ideology, Publicity and Public Communication secretary, Mr Ado Shaibu, told journalists at Kijitonyama that the move aimed at silencing Twaweza on conducting research.

He also called on the government to create a favourable environment fore research institutions to operate efficiently to address socioeconomic challenges. 

Social media platforms are awash with reports that Costech has written a letter to Twaweza, questioning the latter’s genuineness of its latest research report.

"Opposition parties and CCM have always been involved in Twaweza reports, but the opposition doesn't complain about the research results. I wonder why this time Costech has issued the letter to Twaweza. I think Costech has written the letter to Twaweza because a section of the recent research report isn’t favourable to the government," he said.

According to the latest Twaweza report, President John Magufuli’s popularity rating plummeted from 71 per cent in 2017 to 55 per cent this year.

Mr Shaibu believes that Twaweza consulted the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) when conducting and disseminating the statistics.

"Research institutions are required by law to consult NBS when conducting research. I wonder why this time Costech wanted to be consulted before the launch of the report," he said. 

Meanwhile, ACT Wazalendo has formed a task force to facilitate consultations with other opposition parties to deepen their partnership ahead of forthcoming by-elections.