CUF’s Hamad camp denounce Ndugai
CUF Acting Deputy Director for infromation, Publicity and Public Relation, Mbarala Maharagande speaks during press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Left Party Officer, Mohamed Mkali and right is Dar es Salaam Party’s branches Rashid Abdallah. PHOTO | BAKARI KIANGO
What you need to know:
- On Friday, Mr Ndugai rejected Mr Hamad’s request to strip CUF MPs Magdalena Sakaya and Maftaha Nachuma of their legislative positions.
A faction of embattled Civic United Front (CUF) secretary general Seif Sharif Hamad yesterday denounced National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai, accusing him of taking sides in the party’s leadership wrangling.
On Friday, Mr Ndugai rejected Mr Hamad’s request to strip CUF MPs Magdalena Sakaya and Maftaha Nachuma of their legislative positions.
Mr Hamad had written a letter to Mr Ndugai, informing him that the MPs had been expelled from the party and had therefore lost their parliamentary positions.
The Office of the Speaker said it received the letter from CUF chairman Ibrahim Lipumba on March 22, introducing Ms Sakaya as the acting secretary general, and that Mr Hamad had failed to perform his duties.
Mr Hamad’s supporters said Mr Ndugai’s recognition of Ms Sakaya as the acting secretary general was influenced by the Registrar of Political Parties.
The party’s acting deputy secretary general Joram Bashange accused Mr Ndugai of heeding an unconstitutional decision of the Registrar of Political Parties to back Prof Lipumba and his supporters, insisting they had already been expelled from the party.
“The registrar has influenced the Speaker to reject our secretary general Hamad’s letter, yet the letter was addressed to him on the same post via his office in Zanzibar, so the decision is confusing,” he explained.
He said the title of the acting secretary does not exist in the CUF constitution, so it is unlawful.
“The CUF constitution has been violated; it gives no one the chance to serve as the acting secretary general.”
Earlier, the acting director for information, publicity and public relations, Mr Mbarala Maharagande, said they would make a follow-up on the proceeding of their fresh petition about the expelled eight MPs and two councillors at the High Court.
The expelled legislators are Ms Halima Ali Mohamed, Ms Khadija Salum Ally, Ms Salma Mohamed Mwasa, Ms Miza Bakari Haji, Ms Raisa Abdallah Mussa, Ms Riziki Shahari Mngwali, Ms Saumu Heri Sakala and Ms Severina Mwijage. The councillors are Ms Elizabeth Mwagwaja and Ms Leyla Madib.
“All MPs believe justice will be dispensed,” he said.
