Chadema at a major crossroads

Chadema has to make very difficult choices. Its relations with President John Magufuli’s government seems to have hit rock bottom. In Parliament, the recent showdown with Deputy Speaker Tulia Ackson signals the unfolding political crisis, the worst of which, apparently, is yet to come. And now a few days before September 1 – the opposition’s ‘day of defiance’, the question many could be asking is: What will happen next?

It seems the only battlefield the opposition is banking its hopes on is outside the comfort of the National Assembly. Chadema has tabled a list of recommendations to Speaker Job Ndugai – it has made it abundantly clear in and outside the House that its broken trust in Dr Ackson is beyond repair.

Options have been limited for the country’s main opposition – what with President John Magufuli digging in on his government’s ban on political rallies.

Six days from now, Chadema has vowed to defy warnings by the police against going ahead with its planned countrywide rallies to mobilise its supporters against what it describes as ‘dictatorial tendencies’ that the Fifth Phase Government has been exhibiting since taking over power last October.

Operation Ukuta

Since July 27, when ‘Operation Ukuta’ was launched, the opposition and government have been trading verbal punches – with the police chipping in to warn that any defiance of the ban would be met with the full wrath of the law.

Opinion has largely been divided among political analysts – one group is taking no sides, calling for a roundtable discussion to end the stalemate while the other is fighting from the opposition’s corner, demanding that the ban on rallies be removed without conditions because it tramples on the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.

Chadema’s Director of Protocol, Communication, Ideology and Foreign Affairs, Mr John Mrema, says the political activism route the opposition has chosen is a direct response to the government’s “crackdown” on opposition parties.

“What we are doing – political activism – is not a problem at all considering that for eight months now there have been incessant efforts to silence the party politically, a thing that cannot be accepted,” he says.

He adds: “We have been pushing the government to do the right thing. It is impossible to change or do anything that benefits the nation as an opposition party without first fighting for democracy and good governance. This time we are doing it through Ukuta.”

The ruling CCM has said it will issue a statement tomorrow.

“We want to alert Tanzanians about what Chadema is trying to achieve through this,” the party’s national spokesman Christopher ole Sendeka says.

Condemning the opposition

CCM, which the opposition says is the biggest beneficiary of the police ban on rallies, has already issued statements condemning the opposition for attempting to cause unrest through its demos.

Mr Sendeka says religions leaders and various groups have also advised Chadema to abort its plans.

“Everyone who love their country have spoken about this, and urged the opposition party to stop. But they do not want to listen, even to religious leaders,” he says.

Sheikh Rajab Katimba, spokesman of the Islamic Community, says there is still time for the opposition and government to reach a consensus, and avoid confrontation.

“Our position is that confrontation is not the right thing to do. So, we urge the government and opposition to sit down and find a peaceful resolution,” he says.

The Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance has appealed to Chadema not to go ahead with demonstrations. Its bid to bring all the political players to a roundtable discussion last week flopped after the parties snubbed the meeting.

Pray for the nation

President of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Bishop Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, called on the nation to pray for peace amid rising tension.

“Supplications and prayers are the only way that remain. All Tanzanians are supposed to pray as much as we can for our nation,” the bishop says.

Sheikh Alhad Mussa Salum, who chairs the Dar es Salaam-based Peace Committee of Religious Denominations, says political tolerance will help resolve the stalemate.

“Chadema have their Constitutional rights to stage demonstrations, but they are also supposed to respect the authority. Wisdom is needed to avoid undermining the performance of President John Magufuli in bringing about development for Tanzanians,” he says.

Tension in Parliament

The 11th Parliament is set to resume next month. It remains to be seen if the Opposition will dig in on not attending. Or maybe it will soften its stance after the return of Speaker Job Ndugai.

On Azam TV last week, Mr Ndugai expressed his concerns over the tension in the National Assembly and pledged to find a solution to the problems.

He said the leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Freeman Mbowe, was ready to reach an agreement.

The Opposition is seemingly ready to work with the Speaker saying unlike his Deputy, Mr Ndugai had taken the first important step – admit there is a problem

“He (Mr Ndugai) has agreed there is a problem in Parliament, but Dr Ackson failed to realise that. This is why we agree with Ndugai,” says Mr Mrema.