|
CUF sticks to its guns on `muafaka` talks resumption
2008-05-14 10:03:34
By Correspondents Zuwena Shame and Hafsa Massati
The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) party has insisted that it would not return to `muafaka` talks and called for President Jakaya Kikwete to bring to the table of negotiation Zanzibar President Amani Karume and CUF Secretary General Seif Shariff Hamad in a bid to end the political deadlock in the Isles.
It also warned that failure by President Kikwete to bring the two key figures for dialogue would compel it to seek United Nations intervention.
CUF co-secretary of the CUF-CCM negotiation team Ismail Jussa issued the party stand at a news conference he addressed yesterday in Dar es Salaam in response to ruling CCM`s recent statement regarding the political impasse in Zanzibar.
He said since President Jakaya Kikwete was able to broker peace in Kenya between bitter rivals Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki, he should be able to do the same in his own country.
``We have been disappointed by President Kikwete for being quiet when his party is not serious on this matter, which is about the destiny of our nation,`` said Jussa.
``CCM have been deceiving the United Nations and Tanzanians that the talks are still on, but CUF has said that they are over and has already submitted its report,`` he said.
He also refuted as baseless claims that his party had deceived the people about the draft memorandum of understanding between CUF and CCM.
According to CUF, the truth is an agreement had been reached and had been approved by a joint committee of the respective secretaries general held on January 3 and 4, this year.
At the press conference, the party also released to the press copies of a document giving details on the negotiations between the two parties.
|
