Chadema set for Dar demos, but city police chief mum
Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe. Photo | File
What you need to know:
- The demonstrations, which are expected to be led by Chadema leaders, will start in Buguruni and Mbezi Mwisho and end at the United Nations (UN) offices at PSSSF Building on Sam Nujoma Road in Ubungo.
Dar es Salaam. The Police Force has granted permission to Chadema to hold peaceful demonstrations on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, according to the opposition party.
Chadema said the permission was granted following a consensus with the police to allow the demonstrations.
The demonstrations, which are expected to be led by Chadema leaders, will start in Buguruni and Mbezi Mwisho and end at the United Nations (UN) offices at PSSSF Building on Sam Nujoma Road in Ubungo.
The basis for the demonstration, announced on January 13, is to oppose three electoral law bills tabled in Parliament on November 10, last year, with Chadema calling for their withdrawal on the grounds that the views of many stakeholders were not taken into account. Another issue raised is the spiralling cost of living.
On Monday, January 22, 2024, Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe wrote on his Twitter page that a Chadema team led by Deputy Secretary General (Mainland) Benson Kigaila had met with Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Police Jumanne Muliro and his team regarding the planned demonstrations.
He emphasised that an agreement had been reached that the demonstrations would proceed as planned.
However, police were yet to confirm whether they had allowed the demonstrations. This prompted Mr Kigaila to assure Chadema members that the demonstrations would go ahead even without the police’s permission.
Mr Muliro told The Citizen, “The purpose of calling them was to question them about signs of potential violence and statements that could incite violence. We questioned them about their statements.”
On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the police chiefs for Kariakoo, Buguruni, and Magomeni responded to Chadema’s letters to them (the police) to inform them about the demonstrations with two starting points in Buguruni and Mbezi Mwisho.
The letters, which all had similar content and differed only in the signatures of the officers, stated that the demonstrations would be allowed only if they were peaceful.
The protests are expected to draw large numbers of participants from various parts of Tanzania.
