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JK, PM`s upcountry tours earn Opposition backlash
2007-05-10 09:30:46
By Guardian Reporter
The top leadership of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi has been accused of deliberate misuse and misappropriation of public funds in advancing party interests.
Members of the opposition blame high ranking CCM leaders for misusing public fuel and vehicles in purely party promotion activities.
Chama cha Demokrasia and Maendeleo (CHADEMA) yesterday issued a statement condemning the recent official tours by President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also the CCM National Chairman and Prime Minister Edward Lowassa in Mwanza and Coast regions respectively.
``We condemn the decision made by CCM leaders of using official government tours to perform party activities,`` Chadema Director of Information and Publicity, Erasto Tumbo, said in the statement.
In a swift rejoinder, CCM secretary general Yusuph Makamba ridiculed the allegations, saying members of the opposition needed to be enlightened on the issue.
He told The Guardian:``I advise you to leave these people alone. Let them come to us. We can organize an educative seminar for them.``
When contacted, the Registrar of Political Parties, John Tendwa, said there was no law that prevented the President from attending both government and party duties.
According to the media reports, during President Kikwete`s on-going tour, in his capacity as CCM chairman, he received former opposition parliamentary seat aspirants from the Civic United Front (CUF), FORD and other opposition members, who had defected to the ruling party.
``This is quite wrong…it is contrary to Kikwete’s December 30, 2005 speech when he promised to respect multi-party democratic systems,`` said Tumbo.
``If Kikwete wanted to perform party duties, he had to organize an official tour as party chairman instead of using government tours,`` he added.
By virtue of being the ruling party with a large number of representatives, CCM is entitled to 900m/- monthly subsidy for its political activities.
``But I am wondering why the CCM government continues to squeeze tax-payers money for party benefits,`` questioned an opposition leader.
The Opposition also queried the Prime Minister`s tour of Coast Region, and accused him of receiving CCM progress reports at the State House, contrary to multiparty democratic principles.
However, CCM Secretary General Yusuph Makamba, in a telephone interview, dismissed opposition arguments as baseless, unprofessional, and utter nonsense.
``How can the President separate between government and party activities?...They have no point,`` said Makamba.
``It does not make sense for Kikwete to perform government duties in Mwanza, come back to Dar es Salaam and then go back to Mwanza this time to perform party activities in his capacity as CCM National Chairman,`` he added.
Ridiculing the Opposition`s claims, Makamba said President Kikwete would continue executing his duties in both capacities.
``It`s CCM that forms the government…separating the President from CCM National Chairman is next to impossible,`` he said.
The Registrar of Political Parties, John Tendwa, described as misconception of facts the Opposition`s claims that performing party activities amounted to misuse and misappropriation of public funds and resources.
``The Opposition needs to be educated…I don`t see the logic of the President visiting Mwanza on official tour then coming back to Dar es Salaam to take party allowances then going back to Mwanza to attend party activities,`` said Tendwa.
``Is it not misuse of resources? Logically, if the President performs these duties separately as demanded by opposition, it would amount to gross misuse of public funds,`` he noted.
On specific laws that allow President to use government resources to attend to party activities, the Registrar said: ``The President is allowed to do so not only by the law but even by logic.``
``Simple logic could tell that the President cannot ignore activities of his own party simply because he had gone there as national leader,`` he clarified, denouncing opposition protests as baseless and illogical.
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