Zitto: I don’t regret demotion

Sunday, 12 December 2010 10:12

The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam. Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe said yesterday that he didn’t regret his party’s decision to strip him of his position as Deputy Opposition Leader of Parliament since he did not apply for the job. Mr Kabwe, who has been widely accused of forging secret relationship and communication with some senior government officials, was sacked on Friday after Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) MPs met in Bagamoyo and cast a vote of no confidence against him. Speaking at his hospital bed in Aga Khan hospital, Dar es Salam, where he has been admitted for stomach pains since Thursday, he maintained that he had no regrets.  However, he added that he had not received any official communication about the sacking from his party, and he only got the information through newspapers. He promised to clarify the matter at a later date, when the need should arise, and once his health had improved. “I will talk more about this matter later on when my condition is good enough but now I need time to rest. My health is more important than politics, so give me time, to take it easy,” he emphasised. It was alleged that Mr Kabwe was sacked from the parliamentary leadership post following his dissent when his colleagues decided to walk out when President Jakaya Kikwete was addressing Parliament earlier last month. The Chadema MPs had said the protest was meant to register their refusal to accept the results of the presidential General Election, which they claimed had been rigged in Kikwete’s favour. The opposition party still maintains that the presidential election results which gave President Kikwete 61 per cent against 21 of their candidate, Dr Wilbrod Slaa was doctored and marred by malpractices. Chadema also protested the president’s speech to draw attention to the international community over existence of provisions in the constitution barring political parties from challenging results of presidential election once announced by the National Election Commission (NEC).  During the protest Mr Kabwe and some other Chadema MPs refused to heed their party’s call. Zitto attended the session but remained seated as fellow MPs stood and walked out as the President started to make the inaugural speech. After the incident, Mr Kabwe told journalists that his decision not to toe party line did not mean ignoring party decisions, but he had decided to remain seated because he respected the President.  Mr Kabwe was yesterday expected to be discharged from the hospital. He had claimed his stomach ache was caused by food poisoning, but a doctor at the hospital described his ailment as gastro-enteritis or stomach flu, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.  “This is a normal situation which can happen when one has eaten food with bacteria, food virus or food not well cooked,” said Dr Mustafa Bapumia, a consultant physician.