CHADEMA EXPELS 5 ARUSHA COUNCILLOURS

In what could be viewed as the country’s biggest test in intra-party democracy since Tanzania abandoned the single-party system in favour of multi-partyism, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) yesterday expelled from its fold five of its councillors in Arusha, following a longstanding dispute over the city’s mayoral election. Party’s national chairman Freeman Mbowe announced the expulsion here at a press conference that was preceded by a two-day meeting of the party’s Central Committee (CC).

The councillors who have been stripped of their party membership include the Arusha deputy mayor Estomih Mallah (Kimandolu Ward), Mr Reuben Ngowi (Themi), Mr John Bayo (Elerai), Mr Charles Mpanda (Kaloleni) and Ms Rehema Mohamed, a nominated councillor.

The move means the five have automatically lost their respective seats in the wards as well as the City Council, which means the wards would have to go into elections within a maximum of 120 days to elect new civic leaders. Chadema has been commanding a total of 11 out of the city’s 31 councillors.

“The party arrived at this difficult and painful decision to protect its integrity and enforce discipline among its members,” said Mr Mbowe who was accompanied by Chadema secretary general Dr Willibrod Slaa.He said it was regrettable that the five pushed the CC into expelling them, as they showed total disrespect to the Chadema leadership by declining to honour instructions to resign from positions they were holding at the City Council.They also refused to apologise for entering a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ruling CCM without following appropriate party machinery.

The Chadema national chairman said the councillors could appeal to the party’s Governing Council if they felt aggrieved with the decision. He further said he would lead top party leadership to a rally in Arusha on Thursday to explain the matter to the public. Similar meetings would also be held in the wards.

The Chadema chairman announced that he and Dr Slaa held talks with Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Saturday morning where they agreed to form a national reconciliation team drawing members from the two parties to find a lasting solution to the political stalemate in the municipality.

according to Mr Mallah who spoke on behalf of the others.
Speaking at a Dodoma hotel where they were putting up since Saturday’s grilling, Mr Mallah said he still believed they made the right decision to sign the MoU with CCM.“I don’t regret signing the MoU because the stalemate had to be broken and we were getting frustrated over the lack of progress,’ he said.

Ms Mohammed maintained that the move to initiate talks, leading to the MoU, was known to the top Chadema leadership. “Our only mistake was that we concluded the talks and agreed to share the positions. The party had not told us at what point we should stop the talks,” said the nominated councillor.

For his part, Mr Bayo said he would consult with his voters on the way forward. “Arusha will not be the same without an agreement between the two parties. We acted in good faith… I still believe we were right; that’s why we didn’t see the reason to resign.” The civic leaders heaped blame on Arusha MP Godbless Lema, accusing him of fomenting trouble for them. Mr Lema could not be immediately reached yesterday for comment but has in the past denied he had anything to do with the councillors’ woes.

During the press briefing, Mr Mbowe said the CC could not make a decision on Sekei Ward civic leader Cyprian Tarimo who failed to show up after he was said to have been involved in an accident. His fate could only be known after he presents himself to the CC for a hearing.

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