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Police, CUF spar on demonstration Monday, 27 December 2010 21:22
Wednesday Dec 29, 2010
THE demonstration that never was. A section of CUF members and supporters shout pro-new constitution slogans outside their party headquarters at Buguruni in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday before their planned demonstration was dispersed by the police. (Photo by Robert Okanda)
By Rosemary Mirondo
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. Police in Dar es Salaam have banned a demonstration by CUF members calling for a new constitution, which was scheduled to take place today.
The demonstration was planned to end at the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs offices where they would have presented a draft copy of the said constitution to the government.
Addressing journalists in his office, Special Zone Police Commander Suleiman Kova said that the Police Force reached the decision because the demonstration had no merit and would only create chaos.
But in response to the ban, the CUF acting deputy secretary general, Mr Julius Itatiro, said yesterday that the demonstration would go on as planned, adding that it would begin at the CUF headquarters at Buguruni at 8am. He stated that the law provides that if one plans to hold a demonstration, one has to inform the police 48 hours prior to the event, adding that CUF wrote a letter to the Police on December 21, this year, to that effect.
"The police want to destabilise democracy in this country and we are not prepared for that," said Mr Itatiro, wondering why it had taken the Police six days to reply to them, adding that the demonstration would be peaceful.
Mr Kova, however, said that the two letters concerning the matter, which were addressed to his office and the ministry, contradicted each other.
He revealed that the letter held by the Police indicated that there would be a demonstration while the minister's letter stated that a team of party (CUF) members would visit his office to discuss constitutional matters.
According to Mr Kova, the minister was not prepared to receive the demonstrators.
Commander Kova further said that according to the letter, the CUF members were aware that Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda had already announced that the government was working on ways of revising the Constitution.
Being aware that the government had agreed to act on the matter, he said, meant that there was no need for a demonstration as the latter is always a last resort, something that the government or other organs were refusing to accept.
He further stressed that the demonstration had been planned at an inconvenient period, which would only bring chaos to residents of Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, Commander Kova revealed that Christmas celebrations were carried out in peace and harmony, inspite of a few incidents that occurred in Kimara, Kinondoni District, which the police were able to contain. According to Kinondoni police commander Charles Kenyella, they were able to arrest six people in connection with a murder incident that occurred during Christmas.
He said that a group of people attacked the house of Kusileila Njau on December 25, this year, around 9.45pm, killing his wife and shot him in the left shoulder and leg.
the chest, killing her instantly. The husband is currently admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Police have apprehended the suspected robbers and investigations are being carried out.
However, the Police declined to name them for fear that it could interfere with their investigations.
Wednesday Dec 29, 2010
By Rosemary Mirondo
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. Police in Dar es Salaam have banned a demonstration by CUF members calling for a new constitution, which was scheduled to take place today.
The demonstration was planned to end at the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs offices where they would have presented a draft copy of the said constitution to the government.
Addressing journalists in his office, Special Zone Police Commander Suleiman Kova said that the Police Force reached the decision because the demonstration had no merit and would only create chaos.
But in response to the ban, the CUF acting deputy secretary general, Mr Julius Itatiro, said yesterday that the demonstration would go on as planned, adding that it would begin at the CUF headquarters at Buguruni at 8am. He stated that the law provides that if one plans to hold a demonstration, one has to inform the police 48 hours prior to the event, adding that CUF wrote a letter to the Police on December 21, this year, to that effect.
"The police want to destabilise democracy in this country and we are not prepared for that," said Mr Itatiro, wondering why it had taken the Police six days to reply to them, adding that the demonstration would be peaceful.
Mr Kova, however, said that the two letters concerning the matter, which were addressed to his office and the ministry, contradicted each other.
He revealed that the letter held by the Police indicated that there would be a demonstration while the minister's letter stated that a team of party (CUF) members would visit his office to discuss constitutional matters.
According to Mr Kova, the minister was not prepared to receive the demonstrators.
Commander Kova further said that according to the letter, the CUF members were aware that Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda had already announced that the government was working on ways of revising the Constitution.
Being aware that the government had agreed to act on the matter, he said, meant that there was no need for a demonstration as the latter is always a last resort, something that the government or other organs were refusing to accept.
He further stressed that the demonstration had been planned at an inconvenient period, which would only bring chaos to residents of Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, Commander Kova revealed that Christmas celebrations were carried out in peace and harmony, inspite of a few incidents that occurred in Kimara, Kinondoni District, which the police were able to contain. According to Kinondoni police commander Charles Kenyella, they were able to arrest six people in connection with a murder incident that occurred during Christmas.
He said that a group of people attacked the house of Kusileila Njau on December 25, this year, around 9.45pm, killing his wife and shot him in the left shoulder and leg.
the chest, killing her instantly. The husband is currently admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Police have apprehended the suspected robbers and investigations are being carried out.
However, the Police declined to name them for fear that it could interfere with their investigations.