Mr Mbowe, who arrived at police headquarters yesterday
morning, had been summoned by the law enforcers after his Sunday call for
countrywide demonstrations to protest the Constituent Assembly sittings in
Dodoma. Armed police patrolled the streets, ready to stop the demonstration.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed in Dar and Dodoma on the day the
constitution-making process was to kick off in Dodoma.
It was not Dar es Salaam’s day of public protests, which have
since been banned by police, but Chadema officials and members engaged security
officers in cat-and-mouse games in the city as Mr Mbowe arrived to record a
statement at the police headquarters.
Journalists face police brutality
Scores of people, including journalists covering the event at
the headquarters of the home affairs ministry, were injured when they came
under attack from baton-wielding officers. Tanzania Daima reporter
Josephat Isango was punched and suffered a leg injury.
Photojournalist Yusuf Badi of Tanzania Standard Newspapers fell
as he tried to get away from police dogs. “What crime have we committed?” he
cried out. “I have a camera with me, don’t you realise that I am a
photojournalist? Since when have you treated us (journalists) as enemies? We
are on duty, just like you.”
The attacks on the journalists came a day after the Media
Council of Tanzania organised a one-day meeting between editors, media
stakeholders and security agencies on how to work together professionally—which
the police skipped.
The meeting came in response to the killing by police, in 2012,
of journalist David Mwangosi after he was struck with a gas canister at a
meeting also involving Chadema.
The drama started as Mbowe arrived at the headquarters at around
11:10 am. Police at first wanted him to get out of the car at the gate and walk
in but he refused to do so. They allowed his car in after a short
confrontation.
Tension rose after some of Mr Mbowe’s lawyers—Mr Tundu Lissue,
Mr Peter Kibatala and Mr Jonh Mallya--were barred from accompanying their
client into the building. Police allowed only two lawyers—Mr Abdallah Safari
and Mr Mabere Marando—who arrived 10 minutes before Mr Mbowe.
Chadema supporters then confronted the police, urging them
to allow the lawyers in—a situation that prevailed for roughly 10 minutes
before they were allowed to join their client in the interrogation room.
Police ordered Chadema supporters, who turned up in their
hundreds, to leave. When they refused to do so, the police fired a teargas
canister and the party supporters took to their heels.
Journalists were not spared the threats and, when they resisted
on the grounds that it was their duty to cover the event, they too came face to
face with violence. The order to disperse came from a female police officer,
according to witnesses.
Mr Mbowe was summoned by the Director of Criminal Investigations
(DCI) for questioning on allegations of inciting the public to engage in
non-stop demonstrations against the CA in Dodoma. He made the remarks on Sunday
in Dar es Salaam while addressing party members at the national congress, which
was beamed live by a local television station.
The Hai MP, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the National
Assembly, directed party leaders from the grassroots to national level to
organise members ahead of the demonstrations which, he said, would be held with
or without police approval.
He also asked members to ready themselves for the protests and
warned them of repercussions should they engage in unlawful protests. The
interrogation lasted four hours and Mr Mbowe was released on bail at 3:20 pm
under heavy armed police escort. His lead lawyer, Mr Tundu Lissu,
told journalists that—after a long debate on legal technicalities—Mr
Mbowe recorded a statement denying that he incited anyone to violence. He
reportedly told them that what he said was constitutional and that the people
had the right to demonstrate—and that was what the party was insisting on
doing, not breaking the law.
Mr Lissu pleaded with party supporters waiting outside to go
home knowing that their leader was safe. They at first refused to do so but
later left.
Dodoma under siege
A big contingent of police was deployed in the political capital
to ensure no procession took place. Chadema members failed to get any
room to launch their march to Parliament, with security officials intensifying
patrols in the entire town and at Parliament buildings.
Earlier in the day, security officials cordoned off Parliament
buildings and its environment in an attempt to block any procession.
Chadema supporters had earlier planned to march to push for suspension of the
ongoing Constituent Assembly (CA) sittings that they consider a waste of
taxpayers’ money. They will also not guarantee a people-centered constitution,
the party argues.
Police from all sections had been patrolling the entire town
since Wednesday night. Those from General Duty patrolled the streets to ensure
that any protests failed. Those from the Field Force Unit drove around in their
vans carrying tear gas canisters, while those from the Dog and Horse Sections
were posted in every corner of the town.
Vehicles full of soldiers flew red flags indicating danger ahead
should Chadema supporters take to the streets. All police vehicles flew red
flags, with loud speakers mounted onto their vans. Police also tightened
security at Nyerere Square and the few youths in the area were arrested and
held in a vehicle parked in the square.
At Chadema regional offices, some youths displayed placards
congratulating President Jakaya Kikwete for “calling off” the CA and mocked CA
Chairman Samuel Sitta, accusing him of bulldozing the Katiba-making process.
Chadema Regional Chairman Jella Mambo said: “We support
President Jakaya Kikwete to suspend the CA, but why should Mr Sitta continue
with a process that cannot give us the anticipated law?”
He added: “Vehicles have been loitering around since yesterday
night. We wonder why the government should use our money to deny us our
constitutional rights.”
Radio stations switched off
In a dramatic turn of events, the authorities in Dodoma switched
off all local radio stations that broadcast from the region. Locals could only
access stations from outside the region.
The Citizen could not independently establish the
reasons for this but, according to Mr Mambo, the move came immediately after he
gave interviews on two local radio stations--Kifimbo fm and Nyemu
fm--early in the morning urging Chadema supporters to turn up in large numbers
to protest against the CA.
“I want to tell the police that mass demonstrations are here to
stay,” he added. “Let them prepare enough fuel to foil them.”
Opposition vehicle seized
Police seized an opposition party vehicle branded M4c that had
four people on board travelling from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza. The law enforcers
apparently thought it was on a mission to incite people to demonstrate.
Arusha remains adamant
In Arusha, Chadema officials announced that they would stage
mass demonstrations in all districts on Saturday even if the police force did
not bless them. They said they had a constitutional right to organise the
demonstration to condemn the misuse of public funds by the assembly.
“We hope the police will accord us due cooperation, for they
know quite well the demonstrations will be peaceful, we’re not killing or
assaulting anyone,” the Chadema regional secretary for Arusha, Mr Calist
Lazaro, told journalists yesterday.
The party informed the police of the demonstrations directed by
the Chadema national chairman and the Coalition of the Defenders of the
People’s Constitution during the party’s congress held in Dar es Salaam
recently.
The Arusha demonstration, according to Mr Lazaro, will start at
Philips area and end at Samunge grounds, where Arusha Urban MP Godbless Lema
will receive the group.
In Karatu Central Committee member Titus Lazaro, who doubles as
the party’s district chairman, will be on hand to receive the demonstrators.
Arumeru East MP Joshua Nassari will receive the Arumeru delegation.
Police have also been alerted on the developments in other districts.
Arusha regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas was unavailable
for comment. The latest developments bring to mind protests against the results
of the mayoral poll of January 5, 2011. At least two people died then.
