Chadema now ready to talk with JK govt

Monday, 22 November 2010 08:21

Mr Mbowe By Peter Nyanje, The Citizen News Editor Dar es Salaam.  Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) said yesterday that it is open to direct talks with the government, the ruling party or any other institutions that would be ready to discuss its protest over the presidential election results. “We have no objection to meeting the government, political party or any other institution with the focus on the issues which we have raised with regard to the recent presidential poll,” Chadema national chair, Mr Freeman Mbowe told The Citizen. He affirmed that his party was ready to meet with anyone who would recognise their sentiments provided that the talks are not politicised. But in a quick rejoinder, President Jakaya Kikwete’s assistant press secretary, Ms Premi Kibanga, urged Chadema and its leadership to follow proper procedures if they want to have dialogue with the government. Mr Mbowe said their act of boycotting President Kikwete’s inaugural address to the Parliament last week has helped raise a national debate on the faults in the electoral legislation and process as well as in the Constitution. “Such talks are bound to shape the future of the country... when you see state figures such as former Prime Minister, Judge (Joseph) Warioba and the Chief Justice commenting soberly on the need to have a new constitution, you should understand that what we are protesting is not about empty claims,” he noted. Mr Mbowe, who is also the leader of Official Opposition in the Parliament, said the debate which started following their action in the House last week was important for peace, unity and tranquillity of the country provided the people understand the issues that his party has raised. It was a pity, he said, that the country has a law that does not allow people to question the outcome of presidential election while “under plural politics the process involves many people contesting for the post.” Mr Mbowe said the law was passed during the single-party era and as such it was obsolete in the present time of plural politics. “If we are allowing parliamentary and civic polls to be questioned, why don’t we provide the same for the presidential polls?” he queried, stressing that Chadema would press on for formation of an independent commission to examine the presidential poll results, which the party has not recognised. Asked who should form the commission, Mr Mbowe said under the prevailing condition, President Kikwete is mandated to set up such a body to carry out the task. “But, the commission should not be partisan... it will be useless if we in Chadema or CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) dominate the group. Also, such a commission cannot be formed by the parliament, which is also partisan. The president can look for trustful and upright persons to take up the task and they are abundant in the country,” he suggested. Asked if their readiness to meet the government was not against their stand not to recognise President Kikwete, Mr Mbowe explained that they have stated beforehand that they acknowledge the presence of the head of the state though they were not in agreement with the way he was elected. “Circumstances force us to take the stand we have decided to take. Though we know that the constitution is not right, we, as MPs have been forced to swear using the same document and this gives us opportunity to challenge it,” he said. He advised the government to start the process of writing a new constitution because it requires a lot of time and would involve many stakeholders. “If we wait until 2014, we will end up with a patchy constitution which will not be useful and we might experience even worse scenarios because the people are now more informed and they are aware of their rights,” he warned. But Ms Kibanga said if Mr Mbowe wants to meet the government for talks, he should use the available means to reach out. “Mr Mbowe knows all the channels and means to contact the government. Why has he continued to send his messages through the media and failed to use the available means? He should grow up politically,” she said. Ms Kibanga, however, could not categorically state whether the government was ready to meet with Chadema to discuss the issues. “Let them use the available means to forward their application on their intention to meet the government and they will be answered,” she added. Mr Mbowe admitted they have not tried to reach out to the government as they were monitoring the goings-on following their walkout from parliament last week. “Politics is a game of dynamics and today’s action determines tomorrow’s move... you can’t predict what will happen. Who knew that our action would raise this kind of debate?” he asked. As the debate on Chadema’s unprecedented walkout on President Kikwete in Parliament in Dodoma last Thursday rages on, calls have been made to the rival parties to reach out to each other for an amicable solution in order to safeguard national unity and tranquillity. Among those who called for dialogue and mutual understanding between CCM and Chadema leaders are Dr Benson Bana of the Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (Redet) unit of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), and a former lecturer at the same university, Prof Ernest Wamba Dia Wamba from the Democratic Republic of Congo. CCM appears to have taken an uncompromising stand as indicated through a statement released late last week by Mr John Chiligati, the party’s publicity secretary. Mr Chiligati hinted at the possibility of the ruling party using its numerical strength in the House to throw out the Chadema members for refusing to recognise the Head of State.