That wisdom was recently applied in blocking Lowassa’s procession to veteran trade unionist, politician and government leader Mzee Peter Kisumo’s funeral in Mwanga only to give a rude awakening to the very people who should have known better.
By intercepting opposition UKAWA’s presidential aspirant Edward Lowassa’s procession to ex-minister Kisumo’s funeral in Ngujini Village, the government averted a potential turmoil. But the opposition has taken the safety measure as hostile.
It is only the dishonest who can say with certainty that nothing would have happened had Lowassa’s convoy from Arusha been allowed to go on to the funeral in Mwanga District.The same people would be the first to castigate the government in the event of chaos at the funeral criticizing it for having failed to foresee the possibility of the turmoil. Mr Lowassa, like any other Tanzanian had every right to mourn his late fellow politician and compatriot Peter Kisumo.
However, as things were in the country at the moment, Mr Kisumo’s death or funeral for that matter, did not sit well with the state’s political climate, which happened to be so charged that one careless political spark could cause an explosion of fiery turmoil.
It was the task and duty of the Police force to read and weigh well the political climate of the day and advise accordingly the so-called Lowassa’s procession in connection with its mission of attending the funeral.
Therefore, if Lowassa’s mission risked disruption of the peace of the nation or the peace of any small part of a community, for that matter, it would only be foolhardy for the very peacekeepers to let him go there and suffer the possibility of a negative result. Lowassa has quite a following, no doubt.
So has the ruling CCM. His grand reception at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and the equally imposing escort by zealous fans up to Himo attest to the strength of that following. Having them together with no proper preparation to control the possible fallout of their meeting is being irresponsible.
A considerable portion of Mr Lowassa’s escort was a composition of bodaboda riders, common in the country as an unruly lot easily swayed by the mob mood. A keen observer would say without an iota of doubt that the writing for a likely disorder was on the wall. The authority had to act.
Still, as other citizens and human beings with sentiments bodaboda boys could each on their own ride to the funeral but not in such a political force, a procession of their idol and an act that politicized their sympathy for the bereaved.
Lowassa may have been going to Ngujili Village to attend Kisumo’s funeral, but in all sincerity, the motorcade was not going there to mourn Kisumo.
They were displaying their zealous support for Edward Lowassa -- their political idol. Lowassa’s and his parade do not seem to have been in the know of the true situation at the funeral when the police intercepted at Maroro Village. Was there or was there no CCM politician also with a band of supporters?
What measures had the local authority taken to avert any probable clashes between the rival groups? Such lack of insight displayed plain irresponsibility on the part of Lowassa and his group. Moreover, the funeral was led by the CCM national Chairman, and the country’s president, Jakaya Kikwete.
Lowasa’s fans and escort were typically dressed in a manner that gave them a political uniform setting them conspicuously apart from other mourners.
They were even different from the modern time professional mourners. A funeral is a place of sombre ambiance deserving tranquil and civility.
At best Lowassa’s procession should have been a showcase of these two. On the contrary, it was a show off of ambition, vanity and was likely to turn the funeral electric and explosive. It was therefore incongruous to the area and must be nipped in the bud as the police did to the Lowassa’s procession.
Evidently, Lowassa’s escort was more likely to turn Kisumo’s funeral into a sort of political pulpit for him to pander to the electorate’s votes.
It was, therefore, not wise to let the funeral become an arena for such a probable political punch-ups. Most unfortunate of all, however, is that in all this dilemma Lowassa and his followers did not see the probable risk at Kisumo’s funeral should they mob it with the zealous Ukawa’s supporters.
With so politically charged atmosphere the nation needs a leader with a vision, who can foresee probable political pitfalls and devise in time an escape route.
Lowassa’s reluctance to return to Arusha wilfully was an irresponsible act. NCCR-Mageuzi’s James Mbatia pleaded with the police to let them go to the funeral. When the police remained firm on their decision, Mbatia condemned their decision because, he said, Inspector-General of Police Ernest Mangu had permitted the procession to go to the funeral.
Again, Mbatia reflects humorous naivety. That permission did not mean the procession must go to Ngujini Village regardless of possible risk of peace disruption. IGP Mangu was not the officer on the ground, as it were.
The Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander was and, therefore, was the one best in place to make a discretionary decision, and not blindly obey orders from above.
Mbatia’s comment that they all decided to return to Moshi because they could not leave behind the bodaboda riders and other members of the procession, proves that they had meant to exploit the funeral more politically than they had aimed to express their condolence.
Of course it was not necessary to give Lowassa’s procession an armed escort back to Moshi. Dispersing with tear gas people who had wanted to hear him speak to them may have been a step too far by the Kilimanjaro authority.
However, when Lowassa failed to ask his zealous motorcade to return to Moshi and let him and a couple of others like Mbatia proceeded to the funeral, and instead went back with them in a display of inseparable solidarity, he proved his burning ambition for the State House and reduced Kisumo’s funeral as a mere political platform to pander for that ambition.
/Daily News.
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