Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe displays a book on human rights violations against party supporters during a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. PHOTO|MICHAEL JAMSON
Dar es Salaam. More than 2,000 Chadema officials and supporters are facing court cases aimed at weakening the party, its national chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, claimed yesterday.
Mr Mbowe made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday when briefing reporters on the resolutions made by Chadema Central Committee during a two-day meeting held at the weekend.
Mr Mbowe said Chadema has compiled a book exposing the extent of human rights violations against leaders of the party and its supporters by the Police Force, which he accused of conspiring with the ruling CCM. Mr Mbowe said more details about the cases would be revealed in the book.
“Nearly all Chadema leaders are facing or have faced charges which are mainly aimed at weakening the party…we have been facing beatings from the police and whenever we have gone to report such abuses, they have arrest us,” said Mr Mbowe.
According to party, the book will be handed over to the international community as well as the government.
“We want everyone to see how the police conspires with CCM to beat and torture us,” said Mr Mbowe who was flanked by Chadema secretary general Wilbroad Slaa, among other party officials.
Mr Mbowe also said Chadema Central Committee condemned the statement made by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda during the just-concluded Bunge session urging the police to beat up those who violate the country’s laws.
Following such remarks, Mr Mbowe said, the CC has directed Chadema MPs to initiate a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister. Mr Mbowe also appealed to President Jakaya Kikwete to take disciplinary measures against Mr Pinda because, he said, it violated the country’s constitution.
“We are also appealing to the police to ignore the Prime Minister’s statement because by doing what he directed them to do they would be violating the country’s constitution,” Mr Mbowe said.
