Chadema wants members to boycott by-election results in Ukonga Constituency

Dar es Salaam. The opposition party Chadema has asked its supporters to boycott parliamentary by-election results in Ukonga Constituency, noting that the exercise wasn’t free and fair.

Chadema’s position was issued on Sunday, September 16 by the party's deputy secretary general (Mainland), Mr John Mnyika.

Addressing a press conference after what he termed as close monitoring of the by-election in the constituency, Mr Mnyika said there have been 'dirty games’ against the main opposition party.

He refuted a statement issued by the chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Justice Semistocles Kaijage earlier today that the exercise was smoothly going on and that no party agent had been denied access to polling stations.

“Majority of Chadema agents have been restricted to enter polling stations on groundS of lacking identification documents and copies of oath certificates from the returning officer,” he said.

Mr Mnyika who doubles as Kibamba Member of Parliament said all agents had been provided with introduction letters which were rejected by polling station supervisors.

According to him, few agents were allowed to enter polling stations during late hours of the day.

"Those who refusing to leave the poll stations were arrested, therefore more than our 20 agents have been arrested and are held at SitakiShari police station,” he said.