Parties’ law would curb graft by leaders, CCM official says

Dodoma. An adage that one man’s meat is another man’s poison may have been well pronounced in the ongoing debate over the Political Parties Bill when the ruling party secretary-general said yesterday that the draft law was perfect despite being widely condemned by the Opposition.

Dr Bashiru Ali said yesterday that the draft law was quite good and that it deserved to be approved without making any alterations to it.

This comes at a time when the Opposition has widely condemned the document, which when passed would repeal the Political Parties Act (1992), saying it contravenes the Constitution and interferes with the freedom of expression, privacy and the right for parties to manage their affairs.

The Opposition – through a coalition of 10 parties - has fronted three applicants — Joran Bashange, Salim Bimani and Zitto Kabwe — to challenge debate on the Bill in Court.

The case, filed under Certificate of Urgency on December 20, is based on an argument that the proposed law is an attempt by the government and the ruling party to exclude Opposition parties from political activities.

But the ruling CCM is happy with the Bill, with Dr Bashiru telling the party’s members in Dodoma yesterday that those opposing the bill have personal interests.

“There is one politician who decamped from one party over allegations that the party’s leadership was misusing subsidy funds. Today, we are bringing a Bill that seeks to put checks and balances on the use of such funds and yet that very same politician is opposing the move….Such people are dangerous,” said Dr Bashiru.

He told the ruling party members in Dodoma to discuss the Bill with good intentions, noting that its mission is to strengthen Tanzania’s politics and establish solid political parties.

He called upon CCM leaders to plan and prepare well for this year’s local government elections and the General Election in 2020.

He expressed happiness with the proposal to abolish the tendency of political parties setting up their own militia groups, apparently, to protect their leaders.

All the major political parties in the country have their own militia groups, serving as private security apparatuses, despite repeated calls for their disbandment.

The militias, among other duties, are recruited to protect party bigwigs during public appearances, and act as the main security detail at meetings and functions.

The ruling CCM has the Green Guard, Chadema has the Red Brigade and the Civic United Front (CUF) has the Blue Guard.