Seif calls meeting to discuss actions of CUF Lipumba

What you need to know:

  • The CUF deputy secretary general (Zanzibar), Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, yesterday told The Citizen over the phone that preparations were already insisting that decisions made by embattled party chairman Ibrahim Lipumba’s faction were illegal.

 CUF under secretary general Seif Sharif Hamad yesterday said they were going to hold a National Governance Council meeting to discuss rival faction’s decision to sack eight MPs.

The CUF deputy secretary general (Zanzibar), Mr Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, yesterday told The Citizen over the phone that preparations were already insisting that decisions made by embattled party chairman Ibrahim Lipumba’s faction were illegal.

“Remember, some of those making such decisions were already sacked from the party,” he said.

This comes shortly after the Speaker of National Assembly, Mr Job Ndugai, confirming to have received a letter from CUF outlining sacking of its eight special seats MPs.

The letter, from the faction supporting Prof Lipumba, informed the Speaker that the eight were stripped of their membership due to misconduct and breach of party constitution.

In a statement released to the media Mr Ndugai said CUF Prof Lipumba sent him the letter on Monday.

Mr Ndugai says in the statement issued Tuesday that he was weighing the issue before making his decision known.

The eight MPs accused of, among other things, breaking Section 83 (4) and (5) of partys’ constitution.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of Political parties, Judge Francis Mutungi, indicated that he was yet to receive copy of the letter.

On Monday Prof Lipumba told a press conference that the party had submitted documents to office of the Speaker and that of the Registrar of Political Parties to notify them of the decision.

Ms Khadija Salum, one of the eight MPs, said she was waiting for directives from the legitimate party leaders, insisting CUF no longer recognised Prof Lipumba as the party chairman.

“How comes a person who is not even a member to the party, comes out and declares to annul our membership? It is not acceptable. I will continue to carry out national duties as usual,” she said.