Thugs stage chaos, halt Katiba forum

Former chairman of the now disbanded Constitutional Review Commission Joseph Warioba (centre) is escorted by plainclothes police officers after chaos led to the suspension of a forum on the proposed constitution in Dar es Salaam yesterday.  PHOTO | VENENCE NESTORY 

In Summary

 

• The much-awaited symposium started peacefully, but turned chaotic after youths, believed to have been hired by a CCM official, interrupted former CRC chairman Joseph Warioba.
• Ruling party NEC member Paul Makonda was punched and forced out by people who accused him of enrolling youths to cause chaos during the symposium

Dar es Salaam. In what seemed to be a well-choreographed act, a group of young  people believed to be university students yesterday forced the suspension of a symposium on the proposed new constitution, which was being broadcast live.

The much-awaited Julius Nyerere Symposium, which started peacefully, turned chaotic after youth, believed to have been hired by a CCM official, interrupted the former chairman of the now disbanded Constitutional Review Commission, Mr Joseph Warioba, as he was addressing the gathering.

Police had to whisk CCM National Executive Committee member Paul Makonda away after an angry mob bayed for his blood, accusing him of being behind the chaos.

The chaos lasted for about 30 minutes before calm was restored.

 Mr Makonda was punched and forced out of the venue by people who accused him of enrolling youths to cause chaos during the symposium.

The Citizen could not reach him to tell his side of the story after calls to his mobile phone went unanswered throughout the afternoon.

The organisers, the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, decided to suspend the symposium after consulting with security officials.

Addressing the gathering, Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation chairman Joseph Butiku said: “We shall not be intimidated by thugs…we are for peace and we shall continue to debate the proposed constitutional peacefully no matter what happens.”

Mr Butiku said Tanzania was a peaceful country which had weathered many challenges and therefore could not be torn apart by  a few “thugs”.

“I appeal to the government to rein in these thugs in our next meetings…we are not ready to seen these things happening again.

 “This is the beginning of a sustained awareness campaign in the Mainland and Zanzibar during which the proposed  new Katiba will be discussed in detail to see if contents reflect what CRC presented in the Second Draft…we are going to do it without fear,” Mr Butiku said.

Students from various universities and colleges thronged the hall well in advance sitting in groups in what seemed to be opposing sides.