CUF blames Police for laxity in drugs control

BY OMEGA FRANK

24th August 20Email

CUF National Chairman,Prof Ibrahim Lipumba

The National Governing Council of the Civic United Front (CUF) has shifted the blame to the police for its failure to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

Speaking to reporters yesterday in Dar es Salaam, CUF National Chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba said the party’s top policy making body embraced feelings that the police under its Inspector General of Police ( IGP ) Said Mwema  had failed to discharge its  responsibilities accordingly.

He said it was unfair and improper for Transport Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe to perform duties that should have been performed by the Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said Home Affairs Minister Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi can’t escape blame for not fulfilling his obligations.

 “The Minister for Transport is responsible for managing transportation. Police and Home Affairs ministry where are you until the transport minister goes to manage entry points of arrested drugs transporters and government trophies?” CUF demanded.
 If the Home Affairs minister fears those rich people who finance the drugs network and trafficking of government trophies it is better for him to resign, the policy council declared.

“It’s a shame the government takes responsibility to suspend policemen who hold the rank of corporal for helping to facilitate drugs  to pass without considering that the corporal was sent by either his supervisor or other top officials in the government,” the CUF chairman underlined.

On Friday last week Transport minister Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe removed from work and commanded police officers to be lined up with others in the trial court to answer criminal charges for helping Agness Gerald and Mellisa to pass drugs to South Africa where they were arrested at the Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Prof Lipumba said that CUF has been disappointed with the economic move declared by neighboring countries of Rwanda and Uganda about not using the port of Dar es Salaam.

He said that the reasons for the two countries to stop using Dar es Salaam harbor was bureaucracy of the port authority, poor infrastructure and bureaucracy in state organs like the police and the traffic department of the police.

He urged the government to examine what is happening at the port as the move is a bad signal, saying the issue should be handled as an economic challenge and not as politics.

He urged President Jakaya Kikwete to find diplomatic ways of solving rising contentions between Tanzania and Rwanda  in order to maintain peace and harmony between the two countries.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN