Top opposition leaders forming the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) will not attend the swearing-in of Dr John Magufuli as the fifth President of Tanzania slated for Uhuru stadium today.
A statement released yesterday by Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), a member of the four-party outfit including Civic United Front (CUF), NCCR-Mageuzi and National League for Democracy, said the coalition will boycott the ceremony.
Magufuli emerged victorious in the last month’s General Election after garnering 58.46 per cent of the total vote and his inauguration extend the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) dominance since reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1992.
Ukawa, which together threw their weight behind Chadema candidate Edward Lowassa have so far cried foul play and rejected the results, accusing CCM of rigging the polls.
The statement signed by Chadema national chairman and co-chair of the coalition Freeman Mbowe said the decision is part of the demonstration of anger against the “butchered” election results.“This is our message to the national and international communities that we’re against the results announced by the National Electoral Commission,” he said.
“We’re sorry that we cannot challenge the results in court due to our—inopportune—constitution,” he said.
Chadema whose presidential candidate Edward Lowassa lost in the battle for State House planned a three-day nonstop countrywide demonstration, from Tuesday, but the plan was prematurely called-off by police.
Mbowe, who has been re-elected Member of Parliament for Hai constituency said other leaders from the opposition who will not attend the swearing-in ceremony include NCCR-Mageuzi National Chair James Mbatia, CUF secretary general and Zanzibar presidential candidate Seif Sharif Hamad.
“This takeover power is purely illegal. The interests for majority citizens have been exterminate—silently and without fear,” he added. Mbowe described the act equally to making people “never” believe on votes to elect their political leaders.
He went on to detail that the oppositions had earlier warned the electoral commission over possible disruption of the election process “but NEC never listened when we wanted manual tallying system.”
“All Ukawa supporters will not participate in the Thursday’s inaugural ceremony for the Fifth phase president,” he stressed.
Reports from the National Assembly, Bunge-sub office in Dar es Salaam where all elected lawmakers were supposed to collect their invites, majority MPs from the opposition had not done so, indicating that they were also boycotting the ceremony.
According to NEC the last month’s General Election involved 256 constituencies, of which; 182 went to CCM, 35 (Chadema), 39 (CUF), one to (NCCR-Mageuzi) and one to (ACT-Wazalendo).
Tumain Makene, Chadema’s Communication Officer told ‘The Guardian’ yesterday that the coalition had summoned all its newly elected MPs to attend an internal meeting effective from 10am.
Makene did not disclose the content of the meeting but highlighted that it will involve all elected MPs within the coalition.
“They will be meeting in the city” the very date President-elect Magufuli will be taking his oath.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No comments :
Post a Comment