Tanzania News: Ukawa counters JPM on political activity ban

President John Magufuli’s Thursday remarks have sent shock waves through the Opposition with the Coalition of Defenders of the People’s Constitution (Ukawa) wondering whether  the Head of State has enough advisers to guide him on what to say in public and what not to. Speaking at State House after receiving a National Electoral Commission report on the 2015 General Election, Dr Magufuli said he would not let politics distract him from his endeavour to deliver on his campaign promises.

He said politicians should articulate their agendas and ideas in Parliament and other official fora or wait for the next campaign period in 2020. But the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Freeman Mbowe, who doubles as Ukawa’s co-chairman, said the remarks were unfortunate and should not have come from a president who came to power through the rule of law under the country’s constitution.

Ukawa encompasses four opposition parties: Chadema, CUF, NCCR-Mageuzi and the National League for Democracy.

“He has made a number of controversial statements. I wonder whether he was prepared to become Head of State of a country that has pretensions to being democratic….it shows he has become President by accident,” said Mr Mbowe.

In a 16-point statement availed to journalists at Parliament grounds here yesterday  the Opposition calls upon Dr Magufuli to understand that politics is not a luxury but a serious profession just like any other one.

Source: The Citizen