Police say no to Chadema demo, allow meeting

kilimasera

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Dec 2, 2009
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THE police have banned demonstration by opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) that was slated for Wednesday in Arusha but okayed the party to hold its planned meeting in the tourist town.

Briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema, said the police had decided to ban the planned demonstration in the eleventh hour due to intelligence reports which had indicated that there could be chaos and transgression.

“Chadema is, however, allowed to proceed with its scheduled meeting on Wednesday…But the meeting will be under tight security from the police,” IGP Mwema asserted, flanked by senior police officers.

The opposition party had asked the police in Arusha last Monday to be allowed to stage a demonstration and a party meeting in Arusha on Wednesday.

“Our intelligence reports have indicated that there could be threats by allowing the demonstration and we have decided to ban it…they will, however, be allowed to proceed with the meeting under tight security,” said the police boss.

IGP Mwema said his force had already contacted Chadema leadership as well as the Registrar of Political Parties of the decision to ban the demonstration.

“It should be clearly understood that the police force is not against such demonstration since they are provided for in the law…but whenever we suspect such demonstration could lead to pandemonium we ought to stop them,” declared the IGP.

The Arusha Regional Police Commander (RPC), Tobias Andengenye, was last evening meeting leaders of Chadema, according to IGP Mwema.

“The reason as to why I have convened this press conference here is to enable the message be conveyed quicker than it would have been from Arusha,” he explained.

While affirming the police ability to avert any likely security threat, Mr Mwema said the police was investigating such threats from both within and outside the country.

And, without going into details, the IGP said the country was under security threat between Christmas day and New Year festivities.
 
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