CHADEMA have said they intend to hold the rallies to denounce what the
party termed as violation of principles of good governance by the
government.
The police force has issued a stop order for any rally in the country by
banning all meetings by political parties, warning that whoever would
be caught defying the directive would be squarely dealt with.
Despite the previous ban, National CHADEMA Chairman Freeman Mbowe told a
press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that they were prepared for
the event. He said his party has started internal meetings to discuss
the state of politics in the country ahead of the planned rallies.
“The party’s lawyers will also meet to review events that have occurred
so far to enable them take possible legal action against the
government,” he said while briefing journalists on deliberations reached
by the party’s national executive committee, which met last weekend.
In a swift response on Mr Mbowe’s remarks, Commissioner of Police for
Training and Operations, Mr Nsato Mssanzya, said he was less concerned
with the recent declaration by CHADEMA, insisting that the country’s
laws must be respected.
“It must be understood that the directive previously made regarding
public rallies is the one I am concerned about. If they (CHADEMA) met
and reached such agreement regarding the same issue, then it is their
problem and none of my business,” he told the ‘Daily News’ in a
telephone interview.
Mr Mssanzya further said that both (police and the opposition party)
operate under certain laid down rules and regulations set by the law.
“If anyone violates any of them, the law will take its course,’’ he
pointed out. He cited an example of what happened after CHADEMA had
tried to block the ruling CCM from holding its national congress in
Dodoma last week.
President John Magufuli had on several occasions added his voice on
political rallies, saying that “the time for politicking is over’’. Home
Affairs Minister Mwigulu Nchemba is also on record as warning leaders
of political parties who agitate for violence to brace for the full
wrath of the law.
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