Now CUF wants a united opposition camp in House

By Joseph Mchekadona

The Civic United Front (CUF ) has said it has written to the main opposition party in parliament, Chama Cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), asking it to dissolve the current opposition camp in parliament and form a new team comprising members from all opposition parties represented in the House.

However, when contacted yesterday about the matter, Chadema secretary general Dr Wilbroad Slaa said the alleged letter was yet to land on his desk.

CUF, NCCR–Mageuzi, TPL and UDP do not recognize the current opposition camp in parliament, which is headed by Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe, whose party commands the majority of opposition lawmakers in the House.

The five opposition parties were contemplating forming a splinter camp of their own until National Assembly Speaker Anne Makinda on Monday categorically dashed the proposal, saying a splinter group was not allowed by House regulations.

Speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, CUF's Ahmad Rashid, whose party led the opposition camp in the last parliament, said his party wrote to Chadema on Sunday asking it to dissolve the current opposition camp in parliament, adding that his party wanted to work with Chadema in parliament for the betterment of the country.

He said his party had realized that opposition parties would find it hard to move their agenda in parliament if they remained divided.

He also made it clear that his party was not interested in leading the opposition camp, saying this would be decided jointly by the parties forming the camp.

“CUF is not interested in securing the leadership of the opposition camp to be formed, we are only interested in the unity of the country. CUF knows that without a strong opposition camp in parliament the country will not develop,” he said

Rashid said he verbally discussed with Freeman Mbowe about the possibility of dissolving the current opposition camp in parliament so they could create a new one which would take on board all political parties who are represented in parliament.

According to Rashid, Mbowe reportedly told him that he would have to consult his party about the matter .

But Chadema secretary general Dr Willboad Slaa, speaking in a telephone interview, said his party was yet to receive any official communication from CUF about the matter.

Asked if his party would respond positively to the CUF proposal, Slaa said it would all depend on the decision of his party's executive committee.

“The Chadema leadership has not as yet seen the letter. Indeed, I am hearing about it for the first time from you,” said Slaa.

In a related development, the NCCR –Mageuzi party which has a parliamentary working relationship with CUF, said if CUF went ahead and formed a new opposition camp with Chadema they would not join it.

NCCR–Mageuzi secretary general Samuel Ruhuza, speaking in an interview said, his party would remain neutral in the event Chadema and CUF forged a united opposition camp in the House.