CCM: Chadema is out to cause trouble

CCM spokesperson Christopher ole Sendeka addresses the media in Dar es Salaam yesterday. PHOTO | SALIM SHAO


What you need to know:

Chadema says the demonstrations are meant to protest against the dearth of democracy and rule of law, a situation  the party alleges it is being  engineered by President John Magufuli’s government.


Dar es Salaam. Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has criticised Chadema’s announcement to the effect that is will stage countrywide demonstrations and rallies on September 1, this year.

It said the main agenda of the demonstrations was to interrupt the country’s existing peace by manipulating the party’s followers and supporters to disregard for the government’s good initiatives to address existing challenges.

Chadema says the demonstrations are meant to protest against the dearth of democracy and rule of law, a situation  the party alleges it is being  engineered by President John Magufuli’s government.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the ruling party’s spokesperson, Mr Christopher ole Sendeka, said the intended countrywide demonstrations and rallies are intended to divide the country and discourage Tanzanians from supporting the government.

He said the government was not repressing democracy as the Opposition is claiming, citing examples of the just-ended Central Committee meeting of Chadema and the national convention for NCCR-Mageuzi.

“It’s a lie to tell people that the government is supressing democracy. There is no way  the government can do such a thing. Opposition parties are still able to hold their internal meetings, referring to their just-ended meeting that came out with the announcement, arguing that nobody interrupted them. So, how can they say there is no democracy?” he queried.

He noted that for a long time Chadema had been trying to grab attention by spreading lies to members of the public. “We understand that this time around they have no agenda as most of the things they claimed they were fighting for are being implemented by our dear President Magufuli,” he stressed.

Moreover, Mr Sendeka urged Tanzanians to make proper decisions before they joined the announced demonstrations.

“CCM wants to remind Tanzanians to think critically before deciding to join the planned demonstrations and rallies… these people have no good intention with our lives, all they want is to disturb the existing peace and harmony of the country,” he said.

“There is no successful operation on record that has been done by opposition parties,” he claimed. The party’s spokesman further asked Tanzanians to ignore the demonstrations, urging them to, instead, keep on working hard for their welfare and the country’s economic growth.

“We urge state organs not to hesitate to take legal action against anyone, who will disrupt the existing peace, unity and solidarity. These demonstrations, which are a violation of valid orders, are holding back the country’s development agenda… we have all reasons to ignore them,” he said.

He explained that according to the announcement by the Police Force, political parties were allowed to organise internal meetings in accordance with their constitutions.

Mr ole Sendeka also refuted claims that President Magufuli was a dictator, saying the Head of State was well-committed to improving the country’s economy by fighting against corruption and the embezzlement of public funds.

“It’s a big lie to tell Tanzanians that their President is a dictator. What he is trying to do is to bring back the country on the right track. We have seen the efforts he has made to introduce a special anti- graft Court, improve social services and crack down on wasteful government spending,” he said.

On Wednesday Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe announced that September 1 as the day of defiance, where he called on the party’s countrywide supporters to stage demonstrations, demanding political parties had the right to hold rallies.

He was announcing the resolutions of the party’s central committee, which sat in Dar es Salaam between Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Mbowe said the rallies were going to be hosted in defiance of the orders by President Magufuli and the Police Force.

“These are our political rights. I, therefore, declare September 1 to be the defiance day. It is going to be a day of demonstrations and public rallies across the country,” he announced.