Social media users form hashtag #unfollowMtatiro as he quits CUF

Dar es Salaam. In an unprecedented move, social media users have created a hashtag to unfollow the social media accounts of Mr Julius Mtatiro, an opposition politician, just hours after he announced that he was quitting his party the Civic United Front (CUF).

Social media campaigns to unfollow politicians who have defected from one party to another have not been a common phenomenon in Tanzania.

In recent months, a number of opposition politicians have quit the opposition and joined the ruling party CCM. There has been angry reaction from among the disgruntled people but not to the extent of creating social media hashtag to unfollow them.

But, it has happened to Mr Mtatiro who called a press conference on Saturday August 11 and announced he was stepping down from CUF with intentions of joining the ruling party CCM.

Following this, a hashtag #unfollowMtatiro #BlockMtatiro been created in protest by those disgruntled by Mtatiro’s decision, led by ex-Intelligence Officer Mr Evarist Chahali who frequently tweets on local and foreign politics.

Mr Chahali, with twitter handle @Chahali, has wooed others to unfollow and unfriend on Facebook, the politician who, before he quit the opposition, was CUF’s Chairman of the Leadership Committee.

Another twitter user, AIDAN JR (MARLEY), with handle: @ajGOODKID has joined the “crusade.” “I had to do this for real,” said Aidan Jr tweeted in a comment on Chahali’s hashtag to unfollow Mtatiro.

Mtatiro said he was quitting the opposition in support of the work being done by President John Magufuli and the fifth phase government, under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

“I wrote my resignation letter to CUF Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad a few days ago but he hasn’t replied,” said Mr Mtatiro.  .

“But this will not hinder me from proceeding with my plans. I will join CCM as any other citizen. It is my hope that they will accept me in their party,” he added.

Mr Mtatiro joined CUF in 2008 after he completed his bachelor degree from the University of Dar es Salaam.

He happened to serve as CUF Deputy Secretary General for Mainland before he was appointed the chairman of the interim leadership committee after the party chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba resigned.

In 2015 general election, Mr Mtatiro vied for Segerea constituency where he lost to CCM candidate Bonnah Kaluwa.