Leader of the Opposition camp in the National Assembly Freeman Mbowe

Leader of the Opposition camp in the National Assembly Freeman Mbowe yesterday reported about some government ministers who have been threatening opposition parties, saying the government would not dish out funds to constituencies and wards which are occupied by them (opposition).

Mbowe, who revealed the matter during the weekly Prime Minister's Question Time said although the government wasn’t supposed to segregate areas for development, some ministers had been threatening citizens not to support opposition parties, claiming that if they did so the government would not send development funds to the areas.

“For a long time now we have been experiencing some strong and threatening statements from government leaders and some CCM leaders to the effect that areas in which the opposition parties win will not be given funds for development activities,” said Mbowe.“We are asking you, Mr Prime Minister, if this matter is true so as for us to know the whole truth,” Mbowe tasked the premier.

Responding to the question, Pinda said there was no such discrimination in the disbursement of development funds.

“This question is too general, though he (Mbowe) knows that what he is asking is not true at all. There is not a single place where we have failed to send development funds because of Chadema, CUF or any other political party,” clarified Pinda.

The PM urged Tanzanians to continue using their democratic right to choose saying some of the statements during the elections were unfortunate and it was bad luck that they were aired.

“We shall continue to follow the constitution and all rules and regulations,” said Pinda.

But Mbowe stood up to assure the PM that he had evidence of ministers issuing statements, which threatened people, mentioning some of the ministers as Dr Mary Nagu, the minister responsible for Investment and Empowerment in the Prime Minister’s Office, who, while is alleged to have uttered such threats during the Arumeru East constituency by-election campaigns.

He said Dr Nagu uttered the statement during the election in Arumeru-East and Dr John Magufuli did the same, according to him, during the Igunga constituency by-election last year.

Mbowe named Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Goodluck ole Medeye to have done the same in Arusha.