| Irate protesters attack CCM leader over polls | Send to a friend |
| Monday, 06 September 2010 10:21 |
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By Abdallah Bakari, Mtwara Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) leaders in Mtwara region were, late last week, attacked by irate residents of Nanyumbu constituency, in ciontinuation of protests over the result of preferential polls in the area. The out going MP, Mr Dustam Mkapa won the primary pools to the chagrin of the residents of the constituency, who believe that the former MP had done little to implement his promises. As a result of the discontent, the CCM leaders were pelleted with stones in their mission to try to neutralise camps which were formed by different CCM aspirants during the primaries. The incident occurred when the members of the CCM regional political committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Chibwana Geuza Mtimbe, arrived at Sengenya village last Friday, in the company of Mr Mkapa and regional chairman, Mr Dadi Mbullu. Those who witnessed the event said people started to boo their leaders and refused a meeting to be held in their village on grounds that the regional leaders had engineered Mr Mkapa’s victory against their wish. “They started to jeer at their leaders after the entourage arrive at the village. Later they gathered and atreted to throw stones at them,” said one eye witness who did not introduce himself. If it was not for the Field Force Unit (FFU) intervention, witnesses said, things could have degenerated into uncontrolled chaos. Police were forced to use tear gas canisters to disperse the chanting villagers who has surrounded Sengenya primary school where the meeting was being held. Later, some of the CCM members mobilised themselves and collected their membership cards with intention of returning them. Some of they reportedly destroyed their cards in pblic. Speaking later, Mr Mbulu confirmed the incident but declined to comment further on grounds that the CCM secretary in nanyumbu district would issue a detailed statetemnt later. When he was contacted, the district secretary, Mr Mohamed Kateva termed those who pelleted the kleaders with stones as hooligans and not CCM members. “Wev went to dissolve camps which were established during primary polls as it is normal party procedure. We were talkinh with our members and the hooligans were outside,” he said. The Mtwara regional police commander, Mr Stephen Buyuya confirmed the occurrence of the incident though he declined to comment further. “I don’t have enough information to report. Giove me time to contact Nanyumbu OCD for more information,” he said. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
