Believing an independent electoral body would have addressed all the impending issues in a transparent way, Chadema has been at logger heads with NEC as of late as the country is moving closer to the general elections slated for October 25.
Deputy Secretary John Mnyika yesterday convened a press conference in Dar es Salaam to express the party’s dismay especially over the way NEC was handling complaints.
An order issued by the body chief recently that voters should vacate polling poll centres after casting votes has angered the opposition saying it is an attempt to clear the way for vote rigging.
“Should we have a new constitution in place, we could have the right of disputing the presidential results,” Mnyika said, adding that the President intervened the Constitutional Commission in various ways because he knew it would be difficult to manipulate votes under a new constitution.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Defenders of the Peoples’ Constitutions (Ukawa), Mnyika pleaded with NEC Chairman Justice Damian Lubuva to get rid of any pressure that might bring about shortfalls to the upcoming general elections.
“We are confident of winning. That is why we want to see all problems are worked out as early as possible. We want President Kikwete to state how prepared he is to hand over the country to Ukawa after the general elections,” Mnyika said.
He warned against attempts to manipulate their presidential victory, saying they would be met with the popular defiance.
Ukawa has been calling its supporters to stay on guard of their votes at polling stations, defying NEC’s order that require voters to go home after voting.
“We don’t have any hidden agenda. Our motive is very clear that we will remain to protect our votes because of what we suspect as an attempt to manipulate the peoples’ will,” he said.
“Any chaos at polling stations will be instigated by those who want to manipulate the election results.”
He also told reporters about their dismay at the way NEC responds to queries regarding the use of Biometric Voters Registration allegedly that it may facilitate foul play.
They suspect NEC of trying to apply delay tactics in distributing the soft copy of voters’ names as a way of manipulating the result.
Mnyika also questioned why the electoral body was adamant of allowing experts from political parties to inspect computing system which will be used for counting votes contrary to their promises.
Last Friday NEC Chairman Judge Damian Lubuva said in Dar es Salaam at a meeting that there was no need for political parties to engage in witch-hunt after the election because his commission would ensure fair and credible poll.
He urged political parties to refrain from being apprehensive about the voter register because all the parties would be provided with its soft copy before the election time.
But he also expressed his disappointment over Ukawa’s stance that their members would remain at voting stations to prevent vote rigging, saying the alliance could be harbouring an ulterior motive for staying in so doing.
Meanwhile David Kisanga in Zanzibar reports that the Chadema presidential candidate Edward Lowassa yesterday assured Zanzibaris that he would ensure he respects opinions voiced by the public in the second draft of the Constitution in which the majority called for a shift to a three-tier government structure.
Lowassa, who earlier yesterday flew to Pemba for campaign rallies, held a rally at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Zanzibar municipality late in the afternoon, insisting that he supported the three-tier government structure.
However, Lowassa could not give time frame his new government, if elected on October 25, would process the new constitution, apart from just maintaining that he will quickly work on the document.
Lowassa, who is vying for the presidency on the Chadema ticket with the backing of four opposition parties, expressed his disappointment on the decision of former Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) chairman Judge Joseph Warioba to turn against the citizens. He could not give further details on the matter.
Flanked by CUF presidential candidate for Zanzibar, Seif Sharif Hamad and Union presidential running-mate Juma Duni Haji, Lowassa warned the government and security officials in Zanzibar to stop beating and harassing Civic United Front (CUF) supporters saying that such tactics will not change the people’s minds who are already thirsty of change.
CUF officials here in Zanzibar have been complaining that their supporters are beaten and harassed by security forces due to their political views.
Lowassa who looked energized and cheerful said that what the government was doing will never change the people’s minds as what they want is change.
“Beating and harassing people due to their political views is not a solution and will not help anything but fueling chaos. Let them decide their fate for the betterment of their country,” he emphasized.
Lowassa called upon the government under CCM to practice clean and fair politics as crucial to maintain peace, saying that he does not like to see people living in fear and uncertainty.
The peace that the country currently enjoys is based to the fact that people respect each other but it can be dashed by a few people for their own interests, he cautioned.
Explaining to an animated gathering why he decided to contest for the top job, Lowassa said that he has the courage, capacity and confidence that he is the right person to bring about development and change people’s lives.
“I have conducted campaigns in more than 20 regions around the country and everyone you meet say they want change as they are sick and tired of CCM,” he declared.
Lowassa also promised to build health centers in each district, which will have all the facilities and medical expertise.
The former prime minister urged the public to vote in large numbers, reminding them to guard their votes as CCM has experience in vote stealing.
Earlier, Civic United Front (CUF) Isles presidential candidate, Maalim Seif said that the ruling party Isles presidential candidate, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein ought to stop his security officials from beating CUF supporters.
“The CCM government is fuelling chaos in this peaceful country. I would like to take this opportunity before the public to send a message to Dr Shein and his government to stop threatening CUF supporters for their political views,” he told the gathering.
CCM should prepare themselves to hand power to CUF as people want to see a difference in their lives, the candidate intoned.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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