Tanzania: Opposition - No JPM Speech Without Zanzibar President

Magufuli: My Priorities

By Florence Mugarula

Dodoma — Opposition MPs vowed yesterday that they would not let President John Magufuli inaugurate Parliament without being accompanied by the "legally elected" Zanzibar President.

Ukawa co-chairman Freeman Mbowe told reporters that opposition MPs would not accept the Head of State to address Parliament, while knowing it was against the Constitution.

He added that they would not also let President Ali Mohamed Shein enter Parliament as President of Zanzibar since his tenure of office ended on November 2.

Mr Mbowe faulted President Magufuli for continuing with preparations to inaugurate Parliament, while knowing that there was a political crisis in Zanzibar.

"President Magufuli is preparing to address Parliament, while Zanzibar is facing a political crisis. The opposition MPs will not allow anybody to violate the Constitution. Thus, Dr Shein should not expect to enter Parliament," he insisted.

Mr Mbowe, who is also Chadema national chairman, said the opposition camp had written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking him to clarify the legality of President Magufuli's intention to address Parliament at a time Zanzibar's political crisis had not been resolved.

Mr Mbowe could not state clearly what Ukawa were going to do to stop President Magufuli from addressing Parliament, but hinted that they would only disclose their strategy after getting answers from the Speaker's office.

Mr Mbowe was flanked by Ukawa co-chairman and Vunjo MP James Mbatia (NCCR-Mageuzi), Ms Magdalena Sakaya (Kaliua-CUF), Tundu Lissu (Singida East-Chadema), Juma Hamad Omar (Ole-CUF) and Ali Saleh (Mji Mkongwe-CUF). He said the letter had been signed by 98 opposition MPs and that others would sign it upon their arrival to Parliament grounds.

He said the Parliamentary Standing Orders did not allow the Head of State to address Parliament in the absence of Zanzibar President and two Vice Presidents.

Mr Mbowe said it would be better if President Magufuli deferred to hold his inaugural speech and instead Parliament should be adjourned until Zanzibar President was sworn-in.

Mr Lissu, who is also Chadema's legal adviser, said constitutionally, there was no way the Zanzibar election could be separated from the Tanzania Mainland General Election. He explained that President Magufuli should not act as full President without the swearing in of the Zanzibar President.

He added that for the National Assembly to be complete, it must consist of MPs representing the Zanzibar House of Representatives and the Attorney General.

Mr Mbatia said Dr Shein should get prepared to face charges if anything bad happens in Zanzibar