Kicks and blows as CCM marks 36th year

shadow recruit · 2013-02-04T10:52:04+00:00

By Elisha Magolanga, Florence Mugarula Dodoma/Kigoma. An exchange of blows between some ruling CCM carders and those of the main opposition Chadema almost spoilt the countrywide celebrations to mark the formers 36 years since its founding, the cause of the fight being a venue in Dodoma municipality. While President Jakaya Kikwete was presiding over the official anniversary celebrations in Kigoma Region, the party cadres were entangled in the fight that left two Chadema cadres seriously injured. The dispute started some minutes after the celebrations had started at the Mji Mpya grounds in Dodoma municipality at 10am. According to people living in the neighbourhood, there was a Chadema flag at the venue for several years. However, as CCM members were about to commence their celebrations, they allegedly uprooted Chademas flag and planted theirs instead. The chaos ensued as Tarime MP, Mr Nyambari Nyangwine, was on the platform talking about CCMs achievements when a group of Chadema supporters approached the grounds and demanded that their flag be returned in its place. CCM has built schools and other infrastructure such as roads; it has improved the economy and generally improved peoples well-being, we must, therefore, continue supporting it because it has proved its strength and capability to lead this country, other parties are just playing games, Mr Nyangwine was saying as voices on the other end of the grounds started rising as tempers flared between the supporters of the two parties. At about midday the CCM celebrations, which were scheduled to end at 3pm had to be postponed as the situation got tense. Some Chadema supporters took their flag and wanted to forcefully return it to its original position. It was at this point that the fracas ensued as CCM members, including Member of Parliament for Tabora Urban constituency Aden Rage started pushing back Chadema supporters. There was exchange of blows and stone throwing before the police intervened to calm down the situation. The Chadema Dodoma District secretary, Gera Mambo, told reporters after the brawl that ten party members were arrested by the Police even though no arrests were made on the CCM side. The Dodoma Regional Police Commander David Misime confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway to establish the cause of the dispute. The colourful CCM celebrations in Kigoma were also attended by leaders from ruling parties from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. President Kikwete, who is also CCM national chairman urged CCM members to oversee and ensure that the CCM election manifesto was fully implemented. He said it was not the responsibility of the government to ensure the manifesto was being implemented as it was. The manifesto is a social contract between the ruling party and voters. It is a debt that we have to repay to voters. And it is up to CCM to ensure it is being implemented because if we dont implement it voters will take us to task, President Kikwete said. He mentioned some of the promises in the CCM manifesto (2010-2015) as including the construction of the Malagarasi Bridge. to link the Tabora toKigoma regions; and improving the central railway line from Dar to Kigoma. In order to see that the latter was achieved, he said five locomotives were being repaired and an order for eight more locomotives has already been placed, while the order for twelve passenger coaches and 15 cargo wagons has also been placed. President Kikwete also cautioned about rising divisions based on religious beliefs. He reiterated his call to religious leaders consult and solve pertinent issues that were the cause of divisions among the people. There are never winners in a religious conflict. We all lose when the country is torn apart. It becomes inhabitable. There are many examples on this matter, Mr Kikwete said. He said CCM had 6.4 milion members, saying this was sufficient to assure CCM of victory in the next elections, but he urged cadres to mobilise and recruit more followers. (Reported by Florence Mugarula in Dodoma and Elisha Magolanga in Dar) Source: The Citizen

Thread starter shadow recruit
Start date Feb 4, 2013
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ccm chadema dodoma elisha magolanga jakaya kikwete kicks kigoma

shadow recruit

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Kicks and blows as CCM marks 36th year

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