Chadema Chairman and leader of official opposition Freeman Mbowe
As debate on Chadema’s unprecedented walkout on President Jakaya Kikwete in Parliament in Dodoma on Thursday raged yesterday, calls were made to the rival parties to reach out to each other for an amicable solution to safeguard national unity and tranquility.
President Kikwete and his Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) rival, Dr Willibrod Slaa, were asked to initiate dialogue and reach some form of agreement to end the political squabbling.
Among those who called for dialogue and understanding between CCM and Chadema leaders were a Tumaini University lecturer, Mr Harod Tairo, Dr Benson Bana, of the Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (Redet) unit of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and a former lecturer at the same university, Prof Ernest Wamba Dia Wamba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But taking a hardline stance, CCM’s publicity secretary, Mr John Chiligati, strongly hinted at the possibility of the ruling party, which has a majority of MPs, using its numerical strength in the House to throw out the Chadema members for refusing to recognise the Head of State.
“Chadema MPs say they do not recognise the President, who, constitutionally is the custodian of Parliament, and we are asking them to leave or we will table a Motion to dethrone them,” said Mr Chiligati, in a prepared statement read on the state broadcaster TBC1. He repeated the same threat later in an interview with The Citizen.
But in a quick rejoinder, Chadema’s national chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe (MP-Hai), who led the Thursday walkout, dared the CCM members to go ahead and file the Motion. He said his party would not be cowed “from pursuing justice the best way possible”.
Mr Mbowe added: “CCM does not have the constitutional mandate to eject anyone as MP and I dare them to try.”
The Chadema chairman also spoke in an interview with a TBC1 reporter.
The appeals for the cooling of the political temperature followed the dramatic events in the National Assembly, when the Chadema MPs trooped out as President Kikwete began his official address during the inauguration of the 10th Parliament.
The opposition lawmakers had earlier the same day boycotted the swearing-in of Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda at Chamwino State Lodge on Dodoma’s outskirts. Over a week ago, they also stayed away from President Kikwete’s swearing-in.
The leaders of the party, which has 46 MPs in the House, have said their action is the continuation of their protests against the presidential election results. They have accused state organs, notably the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the Intelligence Services, of rigging the October 31 poll to hand President Kikwete his second and final five-year term.
Yesterday, opinion was divided on the issue, with fears mounting that the continued standoff could jeopardise nation building efforts, peace and national cohesion. The clamour for constitutional reforms, including the push to overhaul the electoral process, some warned, could also be buried under the squabbling.
Chadema was also asked to drop its open defiance of the President and pursue their reform agenda inside Parliament, from where the public would judge the performance of their representatives.
Asked about the possibility of meeting Chadema officials for dialogue on the way forward, Mr Chiligati said any discussions could only be possible if the party reversed its decision not to recognise Mr Kikwete as the legally elected President.
“By walking out of Parliament, Chadema has shown that it is not ready for talks, but issues such as having a new Constitution or amendments are discussable,” said Mr Chiligati.
He also said Chadema’s election reforms agenda could also be discussed in Parliament.
Mr Mbowe could not be immediately reached to respond to the calls for dialogue. However, in his earlier interview, he had said his party would press on with its protests against President Kikwete, He said this should not be confused with snubbing the government or Parliament, which its elected members would take part in.
“Any struggle is a continuous process for a fruitful outcome,” he said, accusing the ruling party of scheming to “cling to power at the expense of democracy and justice to all”.
The party’s secretary general, Dr Slaa, who came second in the presidential vote, expressed similar sentiments in a statement released on Thursday night. However, the statement remotely hinted at a possibility of dialogue.
He said: “If an independent investigation is carried out to confirm that Mr Kikwete won legally, we will be ready to recognise him, besides any other possibility of some compromise.”
Yesterday, another UDSM lecturer, Dr Azaveli Lwaitama, saw nothing wrong with Chadema’s call for an independent investigation into the electoral process.
“If I was the president, I would form an independent commission to look into all queries that have been raised after the election. First the very low turnout of voter that has set a new record in country’s election history. Second is the cry of many, who claim that their victory was stolen in one way or another,” Dr Lwaitama said.
The executive director of the rights NGO, Agenda Participation 2000, Mr Moses Kulaba and Prof Dia Wamba asked Chadema to take their protest to Parliament.
Dr Bana said that while Chadema had a right to protest, it should consider other means, including using Parliament. It was a view endorsed by Dr Fairles Ilomo, of Tumaini University.
The Chadema move was also seen as an effort to reach out to the diplomatic missions. However, contacted for comment, the dean of all Ambassadors, Mr Juma Mpango, of the DRC, declined to comment, saying that the matter was Tanzania’s internal affair.
A prominent lawyer and opposition politician, Prof Abdallah Safari, said Chadema’s walkout had shamed the government because “it reflects the weaknesses in the recent General Election and the need to have and independent electoral body”.