Chadema, CCM rivalry rages on over party guards
Chadema director of Organisation and Training Benson Kigaila (left) announces in the city yesterday his party’s plan to start training its own guards next week. PHOTO | MICHAEL JAMSON
What you need to know:
- Chadema director of Organisation and Training Benson Kigaila announced yesterday that his party would start training its own guards next week
Dar es Salaam. Opposition Chadema and ruling CCM continued to wrangle yesterday over an intention by the former to start a “security training programme” for its members.
Chadema director of Organisation and Training, Mr Benson Kigaila, announced yesterday that the camps would open next week even as CCM officials were calling on the Registrar of Political Parties, Mr John Tendwa, to stop the move.
“The training starts next week and I will be in-charge of its running; we are currently fine-tuning the course contents,” Kigaila told a press conference at the party headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kigaila scoffed at attempts, including by the police to block them, arguing the training of Chadema’s so called “Red Brigade” was not illegal, but similar to that of CCM’s “Green Guard” or Civic United Front (CUF)’s “Blue Guard.” “Why is it that when it is Chadema doing what the ruling CCM has done for years, it has suddenly become illegal?,” Mr Kigaila queried. He said, the party would not be breaking the law governing political parties and accused the police of taking sides in the matter.
But CCM’s youth wing (UVCCM) secretary general Martine Shigela told Journalists at a separate briefing that they were shocked by Chadema’s plans. “We have said all along that Chadema operates an unlawful gang in the name of a brigade…it is now the duty of the Registrar of Political Parties to tell us if that is in line with political parties’ registration,” said Shigela.
Asked about CCM’s Green Guard, Mr Shigella claimed that the outfit was a branch of the youth wing meant to protect the party’s interests, especially during electioneering period. “This is a different group out to sensitise our supporters, instill patriotism and enhance entrepreneurship skills.”
But according to Chadema, the green guards have in the past displayed militancy in the open and did not hesitate to unleash terror on perceived opponents.
Mr Kigaila displayed a number of photographs on what he alleged to be Green Guard’s training programmes, one of which showed national chairman President Jakaya Kikwete, secretary-general Abdulrahaman Kinana and Mainland deputy secretary-general Philip Mangula inspecting what he called “2012 pass-out parade in Mwanza.”
“CCM claims that their last year’s training was all about entrepreneurship, since when did entrepreneurship trainees graduate while carrying guns in a guard of honour?” the Chadema official posed.
