Crowds dance to new dawn

Dar es Salaam residents witness the signing of Memorandum of of Understanding that binds together NCCR-Mageuzi, CUF, Chadema and NLD, in readiness joint Katiba referendum “No” campaign and 2015 General Election at at Jangwani grounds in the city yesterday. PHOTO | RAFAEL LUBAVA 

By The Citizen Reporter

IN SUMMARY

• A sea of colours descended on the historic Jangwani grounds, in Dar es Salaam, as Chadema, Civic United Front, NCCR-Mageuzi and National League for Democracy (NLD) members roared with each commitment made by the parties’ leaders to lead them into victory over a dominant Chama Cha Mapinduzi that has ruled the country since independence.

Dar es Salaam. They came in their thousands. Men, women and children from all walks of life danced and cheered as they witnessed their leaders commit to a new search for the opposition unity that has remained elusive for years since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1995.

A sea of colours descended on the historic Jangwani grounds, in Dar es Salaam, as Chadema, Civic United Front, NCCR-Mageuzi and National League for Democracy (NLD) members roared with each commitment made by the parties’ leaders to lead them into victory over a dominant Chama Cha Mapinduzi that has ruled the country since independence.

The opposition enthusiasts were undeterred –withstanding the hot weather in the city, with temperatures rising to 34 degrees centigrade – to endorse the unity of the parties in what is now collating around Ukawa.

Their unity under Ukawa started as a boycott of the process to re-write the country’s new constitution and which they hope to ride on to victory in the civic elections in December and the ultimate prize of unseating CCM and ending the one-party stranglehold in the October 2015 General Election.

Youthful supporters who form the rock base for the parties’ support mainly in the cosmopolitans around the country, were conspicuous in their eye catching theatrics to show their love and resolve to match all the way forward. Some bare-chested, others bedecked in all manner of paint and regalia could not stop thumping and drumming as women danced along.

They waved placards calling for true unity and reforms in the country. Some of the messages displayed urged the shooting down of the proposed new Katriba while some gave CCM “bye bye” in jest at the grounds that usually play host to supremacy contests among the political class each election year. 

The Jangwani grounds were filled up by later afternoon and neared the brim with the arrival of the parties, chairmen and other top leaders. Leading the pack was the Zanzibar First Vice President Mr Seif Sharif Hamad who skipped President Ali Mohammed Shein other rally in the Isle to join his contemporaries in Dar es Salaam. The arrival of each of the leaders was greeted with loud cheers and ululation as was their speeches which recalled the struggle for a new Katiba and the push for good governance which they have endured under CCM leadership roundly condemned as authoritarian and which has given the people a wide berth in favour of few elites.

Security was tight as the police left nothing to chance to ensure nothing went wrong. Respective party security teams also gave the mammoth rally a smooth ride as they stood strategically to marshal the crowds as planned.

In the end, they left as they came, in droves and satisfied. “We will be back to celebrate victory in 2015, this is the beginning and mark my words things will be rosier next time you come here,” bellowed a mouthful one youth before zooming away in his motorcycle
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