Show of force as police move to stop Chadema

Dar es Salaam/Dodoma/Arusha.  Chaos erupted yesterday as police moved to stop a demonstration by Chadema supporters angered by the use of “excessive force” in their attempt to quiz Mr Freeman Mbowe, the leader of the opposition party.

 Mr Mbowe, who arrived at police headquarters yesterday morning, had been summoned by the law enforcers after his Sunday call for countrywide demonstrations to protest the Constituent Assembly sittings in Dodoma. Armed police patrolled the streets, ready to stop the demonstration.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed in Dar and Dodoma on the day the constitution-making process was to kick off in Dodoma.

It was not Dar es Salaam’s day of public protests, which have since been banned by police, but Chadema officials and members engaged security officers in cat-and-mouse games in the city as Mr Mbowe arrived to record a statement at the police headquarters.

Journalists face police brutality

Scores of people, including journalists covering the event at the headquarters of the home affairs ministry, were injured when they came under attack from baton-wielding officers.  Tanzania Daima reporter Josephat Isango was punched and suffered a leg injury.

Photojournalist Yusuf Badi of Tanzania Standard Newspapers fell as he tried to get away from police dogs. “What crime have we committed?” he cried out. “I have a camera with me, don’t you realise that I am a photojournalist? Since when have you treated us (journalists) as enemies? We are on duty, just like you.”

The attacks on the journalists came a day after the Media Council of Tanzania organised a one-day meeting between editors, media stakeholders and security agencies on how to work together professionally—which the police skipped.

The meeting came in response to the killing by police, in 2012, of journalist David Mwangosi after he was struck with a gas canister at a meeting also involving Chadema.

The drama started as Mbowe arrived at the headquarters at around 11:10 am. Police at first wanted him to get out of the car at the gate and walk in but he refused to do so. They allowed his car in after a short confrontation.

Tension rose after some of Mr Mbowe’s lawyers—Mr Tundu Lissue, Mr Peter Kibatala and Mr Jonh Mallya--were barred from accompanying their client into the building. Police allowed only two lawyers—Mr Abdallah Safari and Mr Mabere Marando—who arrived 10 minutes before Mr Mbowe.

 Chadema supporters then confronted the police, urging them to allow the lawyers in—a situation that prevailed for roughly 10 minutes before they were allowed to join their client in the interrogation room.

Police ordered Chadema supporters, who turned up in their hundreds, to leave. When they refused to do so, the police fired a teargas canister and the party supporters took to their heels.

Journalists were not spared the threats and, when they resisted on the grounds that it was their duty to cover the event, they too came face to face with violence. The order to disperse came from a female police officer, according to witnesses.

Mr Mbowe was summoned by the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for questioning on allegations of inciting the public to engage in non-stop demonstrations against the CA in Dodoma. He made the remarks on Sunday in Dar es Salaam while addressing party members at the national congress, which was beamed live by a local television station.

The Hai MP, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, directed party leaders from the grassroots to national level to organise members ahead of the demonstrations which, he said, would be held with or without police approval.

He also asked members to ready themselves for the protests and warned them of repercussions should they engage in unlawful protests. The interrogation lasted four hours and Mr Mbowe was released on bail at 3:20 pm under heavy armed police escort. His lead lawyer, Mr  Tundu Lissu,  told journalists that—after a long debate on legal technicalities—Mr  Mbowe recorded a statement denying that he incited anyone to violence. He reportedly told them that what he said was constitutional and that the people had the right to demonstrate—and that was what the party was insisting on doing, not breaking the law.

Mr Lissu pleaded with party supporters waiting outside to go home knowing that their leader was safe. They at first refused to do so but later left.

Dodoma under siege

A big contingent of police was deployed in the political capital to ensure no procession took place.  Chadema members failed to get any room to launch their march to Parliament, with security officials intensifying patrols in the entire town and at Parliament buildings.

Earlier in the day, security officials cordoned off Parliament buildings and its environment in an attempt to block any procession.  Chadema supporters had earlier planned to march to push for suspension of the ongoing Constituent Assembly (CA) sittings that they consider a waste of taxpayers’ money. They will also not guarantee a people-centered constitution, the party argues.

Police from all sections had been patrolling the entire town since Wednesday night. Those from General Duty patrolled the streets to ensure that any protests failed. Those from the Field Force Unit drove around in their vans carrying tear gas canisters, while those from the Dog and Horse Sections were posted in every corner of the town. 

Vehicles full of soldiers flew red flags indicating danger ahead should Chadema supporters take to the streets. All police vehicles flew red flags, with loud speakers mounted onto their vans.  Police also tightened security at Nyerere Square and the few youths in the area were arrested and held in a vehicle parked in the square.

At Chadema regional offices, some youths displayed placards congratulating President Jakaya Kikwete for “calling off” the CA and mocked CA Chairman Samuel Sitta, accusing him of bulldozing the Katiba-making process.

Chadema Regional Chairman Jella Mambo said: “We support President Jakaya Kikwete to suspend the CA, but why should Mr Sitta continue with a process that cannot give us the anticipated law?”

He added: “Vehicles have been loitering around since yesterday night. We wonder why the government should use our money to deny us our constitutional rights.”

Radio stations switched off

In a dramatic turn of events, the authorities in Dodoma switched off all local radio stations that broadcast from the region. Locals could only access stations from outside the region.

The Citizen could not independently establish the reasons for this but, according to Mr Mambo, the move came immediately after he gave interviews on  two local radio stations--Kifimbo fm and Nyemu fm--early in the morning urging Chadema supporters to turn up in large numbers to protest against the CA.

“I want to tell the police that mass demonstrations are here to stay,” he added. “Let them prepare enough fuel to foil them.”

Opposition vehicle seized

Police seized an opposition party vehicle branded M4c that had four people on board travelling from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza. The law enforcers apparently thought it was on a mission to incite people to demonstrate.

 Arusha remains adamant

In Arusha, Chadema officials announced that they would stage mass demonstrations in all districts on Saturday even if the police force did not bless them.  They said they had a constitutional right to organise the demonstration to condemn the misuse of public funds by the assembly.

“We hope the police will accord us due cooperation, for they know quite well the demonstrations will be peaceful, we’re not killing or assaulting anyone,” the Chadema regional secretary for Arusha, Mr Calist Lazaro, told journalists yesterday.

The party informed the police of the demonstrations directed by the Chadema national chairman and the Coalition of the Defenders of the People’s Constitution during the party’s congress held in Dar es Salaam recently.

The Arusha demonstration, according to Mr Lazaro, will start at Philips area and end at Samunge grounds, where Arusha Urban MP Godbless Lema will receive the group.

In Karatu Central Committee member Titus Lazaro, who doubles as the party’s district chairman, will be on hand to receive the demonstrators. Arumeru East MP Joshua Nassari will receive the Arumeru delegation.  Police have also been alerted on the developments in other districts.

Arusha regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas was unavailable for comment. The latest developments bring to mind protests against the results of the mayoral poll of January 5, 2011. At least two people died then.  

Reported by Athumani Mtulya, Katare Mbashiru and Mussa Juma