Ukawa 'take over' Jangwani grounds tomorrow

Chadema Information Officer, Tumaini Makene

After the initial bar, opposition coalition Ukawa and its presidential candidate under the Chadema ticket Edward Lowassa, have the go ahead to use Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam to inaugurate their General Election campaigns.

 

Speaking to press, yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Chadema Information Officer Tumaini Makene said the bar was lifted thanks to efforts by the campaign preparation team that held protracted talks with the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Ilala municipal authorities.

 

 “After NEC was informed of the matter, it intervened and worked closely with the preparation team to sort it out and now it has been resolved,” he said and welcomed all Dar es Salaam residents and anyone outside the city who can make it to come to the grounds, regardless of their party affiliation.

 

In a telephone interview, Ilala Cultural Officer, Claud Mpelembwa, confirmed that the issue has been sorted out.

 

He said the municipality has agreed with the third party that had booked the grounds to push forward their activity to another day.

In a related development, Chadema Youth Council (BAVICHA) leaders said the government bar of their party from using Jangwani grounds is ‘political cowardice’.BAVICHA national chairman Patrobass Katambi said in the bar, the government has failed to practice principles of democracy that call for respecting and treating all political parties equally.

 

 “We, as the youth from the political parties forming UKAWA, condemn what the government did. CCM is just a political party like others, despite being in power,” they noted.

 

Katambi alleged that the government is trying to sabotage them by barring them from conducting their campaigns.

Meanwhile, the BAVICHA General Secretary, Julius Mwita, said they have been very loyal to the government for a very long time, and it was now enough.

 

On Wednesday, the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) through Chadema was barred from using Jangwani grounds for its official campaign launch tomorrow.

 

“CCM has started its foul play against Ukawa,” reacted the coalition co-chairman James Mbatia, who is also the NCCR-Mageuzi national chairman

 

“CCM has decided to go a step further and deny us a venue for our official launch, where do they expect us to conduct it?” he queried.

He said Ukawa had followed all procedures required before finalising payment for use of the venue; “but, to our surprise, we were told that someone else has booked the venue,” he said.

 

 A letter to bar them from using the Jangwani grounds was sent to them by the Ilala Municipal Director dated August 25, 2015 and addressed to Ukawa co-chairman, James Mbatia.

 

 According to him, the letter with reference number IMC/UT/M/VOL.11/414 and signed by Claud Mpelembwa on behalf of the Municipal Director, reads in part: 

“With reference to your letter dated August 22, 2015, your request has not been successful because the grounds will be used by another applicant… I advise you to look for an alternative venue for your activity.”

 

Interviewed thereafter, Mpelembwa declared; “the grounds are already booked and there is no way that they can be given to someone else.” 

Asked to disclose the person who booked the grounds he said CCM had booked it from August 28 to 30 although he would not specify the reason for the booking.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN