Tarime incident:Why bloodshed in the name of politics?

BY EDITOR

13th September 2015

Editorial Cartoon

Eight political parties have put up presidential candidates for this year’s general election in the United Republic of Tanzania, but more than 12 political parties have put up candidates for Union Parliament and Councillorship.

There is need to have a focused look at the future of the Union itself considering incessant demands for complete autonomy for Zanzibar  -  part of the Union -  from some political parties’ leaders. But that is for another day.

Before the election campaigns took off in earnest, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) signed a document called Election Code of Conduct with all political parties and especially those which have put up presidential candidates.

Briefly, the document was supposed to bind all political parties to conduct their campaigns in a civilised manner; no name-calling, no threats, no violence.

Woe be to Tanzanians!! Hardly had the ink on the document dried up, the document was killed.

In fact, since day one of the campaigns, the election code of conduct was pulverised into smithereens. As a result, the document exists but on lips only of a few individuals who care about peace and tranquility in the country.
As far as we are concerned, three signatories to the document are to blame for its demise.

First, it is the National Electoral Commission itself for completely failing to oversee implementation of the agreement or half-hearted commitment (for reasons best known by the NEC) in ensuring that all parties adhere to the code. The best the NEC has done so far is to issue very light statements of condemnation to the defaulting parties.

But the second culprits are the two heavyweight political parties  -  the incumbent Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), each trying to bulldoze the other in the political arena, completely and deliberately ignoring on whose toes they tread or the consequence of their demonic greed for power to the peace loving Tanzanians.

As a result, the more the election heat rises, the more signs of a chaos and violence become apparent. Actually, nearly half way through the campaign period, Tanzanians are witnessing not only blood of innocent citizens being spilt, but also loss of life.

We are referring particularly to the recent bloody incidents in Mara where one person died and five others seriously injured on Thursday this week in Tarime District when Chadema supporters clashed with CCM supporters at Mangucha village in the district.

The cause of the clash or the circumstances which led to the clash are not clear and it does not concern us much as against the bigger picture of the altercation. Neither are we concerned as to who provoked the other in the skirmish. What we are saying is that the bloodshed and, in particular the loss of life of an innocent person should not have taken place.

It is wholesomely unacceptable and we unreservedly condemn the incidents to the last atom of our strength and we call upon every peace loving person in the country to speak out against such happenings.

Enough is enough. Tanzanians must refuse to allow such grisly incidents to continue simply because someone must occupy the State House.

The NEC must not only show its teeth, but it must use them to bite the culprit without fear or favour. We need peace; let politicians keep their tongues in check.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY