JK to police: Be ready ahead of key ballots

President Jakaya Kikwete inspects a passout parade yesterday at the Police Academy in Dar es Salaam.   A total of 289 police officers graduated. PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY 

In Summary

• The President challenges police to ensure that the referendum on the Proposed Constitution and elections are held peacefully

Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete has alerted the Police Force to get ready to combat a planned move by “a group of people” to disrupt the next referendum and General Election.

“These events could face problems...there are people who plan to cause trouble,” President Kikwete said yesterday at a graduation ceremony for senior police officers held at the Police Academy in Dar es Salaam.

He challenged the law keepers to ensure that referendum and the October polls are held peacefully.

Coalition of Defenders of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) – which is formed by opposition Chadema, CUF, NCCR-Mageuzi and the National League of Democracy (NLD) – has been urging its supporters not to participate in the referendum as way of protesting the whole process. Yesterday’s event saw a total of 290 police officers graduating, 46 out of them female. The officers are set to be employed as police commissioners and district police inspectors,  among others.   

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Ernest Mangu reminded Mr Kikwete that the Police Force was running short of tools to enable it perform its duty efficiently during the next General Election.

“We needed the equipment early, before elections, so that we can familiarise ourselves with them,” he told President Kikwete.

In response, Mr Kikwete promised that the government will work on the concerns of the law enforcesr and implement what would be possible within the remaining time before the General Election.