Mbowe set to record police statement on planned demo

The Chadema secretary general, Dr Willibrod Slaa, at a media briefing session in Dar es Salaam yesterday, focused on the party’s way forward beyond its recent general assembly. On his immediate right is his deputy, Mr John Mnyika, next to whom is the party’s attorney general, Mr Tundu Lissu. PHOTO|VENANCE NESTORY      

By Bernard Lugongo, The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Thursday, September 18  2014 at  10:39

IN SUMMARY

Chadema Secretary General Dr Willibrod Slaa and the party’s MP and legal officer Mr Tundu Lissu told reporters the newly elected National Executive Committee has given a nod for their chairman to see the police as summoned.

Dar es Salaam. Opposition party Chadema national chairman Mr Freeman Mbowe will today record a statement with the police following summons over his remarks about planned public protests over the Katiba review process, officials confirmed yesterday.

Chadema Secretary General Dr Willibrod Slaa and the party’s MP and legal officer Mr Tundu Lissu told reporters the newly elected National Executive Committee has given a nod for their chairman to see the police as summoned.

“Our chairman has the permission to see the police and he will report there tomorrow,” said Dr Slaa during a briefing of the media on the outcome of their one week NEC meeting that ended on Tuesday.

“We will be there as a team of lawyers and our supporters too,” said Mr Lissu of Singida East. He however, termed the police letter summoning Mr Mbowe as vague.

Last weekend, Mr Mbowe as newly re-elected chairman of the party directed leaders of the party at district level to organise members in their respective areas to embark on endless protests against the ongoing Constituent Assembly (CA).

Mr Mbowe told the party members that the demonstrations should be a must regardless whether the police would or would not allow, noting that the members should be prepared for police attacks.

The remarks have been heavily criticised by a section of the political landscape and the police who issued a stern warning against such moves.

The decision to organise countrywide demonstrations came in the wake of proceedings of the CA despite a reported agreement between the political parties and President Jakaya Kikwete that the CA be called off until after the 2015 General Election.

Yesterday Dr Slaa said the police were supposed to get prepared for providing security for peaceful demonstrations as announced by the Chadema.

He said they were aware that the police were implementing directives from the Minister for Constitution and Justice, Dr Rose Migiro, who recently said in the ongoing CA that the government would use its security organs to ensure that such demonstrations do not take place.

Despite police intervention, the party insisted that its plan for demonstration remain intact and currently they work on schedule for the protests.

Mr John Mnyika, who is deputy Secretary General (mainland), said they have so far received arrangements for demonstrations from some regions, and the party would give out full schedule to the public in the near future
.