BabuK
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- Jul 30, 2008
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Director of Information and Public Relations in the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF), Colonel Ngemela Lubinga (C) stresses a point during a press conference in Dsm yesterday.
Political parties have been warned never to provoke the army, nor interfere with its operations, saying that political parties should do their job without dragging the army into their affairs.
The warning comes only a few days after the local media reported that Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) accused the army of ordering its rank and file to collect their Biometric Voters Registration cards for the purpose of favouring one of the political parties.
Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) yesterday strongly denounced the CHADEMA allegations, warning political parties to stop provoking it.
According to TPDF, the statement issued by CHADEMA's Deputy Secretary General - Tanzania Mainland, John Mnyika; claiming that TPDF has confiscated the BVR cards from all its soldiers and staff, and was registering cards' numbers with the aim of cheating in the coming general election was purely rubbish.
The Army's Director of Public Information and Communications Col. Ngemela Lubinga told a press conference in Dar es Salaam that TPDF has transparent responsibilities; adding that soldiers have constitutional and civil rights like any other Tanzanian, hence, every army member deserves to vote for whoever she/he likes.
He, however, reminded the media that soldiers were neither allowed to be members nor followers of any political party; adding that TPDF works as professional state organ as it is known world-wide.
"Whoever goes against the set arrangement, the army will not hesitate to take ethical actions against him or her. Thus, TPDF was saddened with the statement by CHADEMA; but the army urges each side to perform its duties in accordance with the law and not to interfere with each other in any way," said Col. Lubinga.
He said that TPDF asked whoever with evidence on the CHADEMA claims to come forward and present it; adding that political parties should also seek the truth before they issue provocative statements.
Unfounded and provocative statements, according to TPDF, were nothing but aimed at triggering the breach of the national peace especially in this preparations period toward general election, set to take place in October, this year.
TPDF wanted politicians to recognise its endeavours towards encouraging their members to register and make sure they fully participate in the coming general election.
He added that political parties and the army were both building the same house, which is promoting peace in the country, thus, there was no need to scramble for building materials.
Responding on what legal actions to be taken by the army against CHADEMA's claims and others alike, Col. Lubinga said the matter was being discussed at the relevant ministry (Defence and National Service).
Again, politicians had recently complained of setting up polling stations in the army camps; claiming that the practice was denying people the freedom to vote; but also Col. Lubinga trashed those claims as well.
He said that people should not confuse the two; voters' registration centres and voting stations; insisting that for many years now, voting within army camps has never happened.
The same claims (confiscating staff voting cards) were also directed to Tanzania Police Force by politicians whereby the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Abdulrahman Kaniki denied the allegations but promised to seek the truth.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN