CHADEMA spent 754m/- in last year election...
 
2006-05-03 09:48:25
By Peter Tindwa

	CHADEMA National Chairman, Freeman Mbowe, addresses a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday on last year's general elections. He is flanked by the party’s Secretary General, Dr Wilbroad Slaa. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

The opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) spent 753,786,505/- during the campaigns in last year’s general election.

Speaking to journalists at the party’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the CHADEMA National Chairman, Freeman Mbowe said the funds were mobilized from both local and foreign sources.

Mbowe stated that the party was given about 85m/- by the Conservative Party of the UK, adding the funds were spent on voter education for the party’ leaders, aspirants and agents.

He further said the party spent 223m/- to hire a helicopter which was used for campaigns countrywide.

On the conduct of the elections themselves, Mbowe said they were not free and fair.

’Weak national elections laws and misuse of state-organs like soldiers from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), Police Force and officials from the Intelligence Department by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) made the general election to be nothing more than a mockery of democracy,’ the Chadema boss said.

He charged that CCM used illegal methods which were covertly supported by draconian elections laws enabling the ruling party to emerge victorious.

Mbowe explained that six million out of 11million registered eligible voters were denied their constitutional and democratic rights to vote for qualified aspirants.

’Some of registered voters did not see their pictures or their names in the Permanent Voters Register and therefore, were denied their constitutional right to vote for mistakes that were not theirs,’ he said, adding that this was true for both Mainland and Zanzibar elections.

He further charged that threats and intimidation were also applied by state organs to force voters to vote for CCM candidates.

Mbowe added that there were violations of electoral ethics, through barring aspirants from opposition camp to conduct their campaigns, especially in Zanzibar.

’CCM used special instructors to lead illiterate voters to vote for aspirants from the ruling party,’ he said.

He went on to say that the general citizenry witnessed that CCM was still a state-party during last year’s general election.

’CCM used state organs to temper with the election process right from local governments level, district, regional and national levels,’ Mbowe stated.

He also accused CCM of maintaining a countrywide network for offering bribes to voters. Such practice involved offering of T-Shirts, caps, khangas, vitenge and pairs of shoes to voters.

The Chadema chief lamented that CCM and government leaders, especially district and regional commissioners as well as officials from the Intelligence Services misused public vehicles during election campaigns.

On the Zanzibar political crisis, Mbowe said President Jakaya Kikwete appears reluctant in resolving political squabbles in Zanzibar.

He added: ’Dictatorship will never resolve political tension in Zanzibar. There must be a political will and commitment in resolving political stand-off in Zanzibar. Chadema still thinks there should be a coalition government in the Isles.’

In the meantime, Chadema has stressed that it will be using helicopter in all future presidential election campaigns.

• SOURCE: Guardian