NCCR-Mageuzi cries foul play in Biharamulo

NCCR-Mageuzi cries foul play in Biharamulo

NCCR-Mageuzi has accused Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) of foul play in the ongoing byelection campaigns in Biharamulo West constituency. The party’s Head of Organisation, Campaign and Elections, Mr Faustine Sungura, told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Chadema had been illegally using NCCR-Mageuzi’s flags in its campaigns.

We made it clear from the beginning that we are supporting Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) candidate, Mr Mpeka Bahangaza, but it is amazing to hear that Chadema are now using our flags and some of our leaders in their campaigns,” he said.

Mr Sungura said Chadema was selfish as it was the first party to declare an end to the opposition parties' alliance adding that it was surprising to see them using NCCR-Mageuzi’s flags in the name of opposition partnership. He claimed that Chadema’s candidate, Dr Antony Mbassa, was actually NCCR-Mageuzi’s cadre who agreed to stand for Chadema because it was unpopular among voters in Biharamulo.

Chadema’s Deputy Secretary General, Mr Zitto Kabwe, defended his party saying all the allegations were unfounded. “We worked hard during the Operation Sangara to win the support of Tanzanians. Busanda is one of the areas that we invested much of our efforts and now we are seeing all signs of prosperity.

Let other parties propagate themselves as well...parties will never gain popularity through pressconferences in Dar es Salaam,” he said. Mr Kabwe, who is also the MP for Kigoma North, said that it was not a sin for their candidate who is a former NCCR-Mageuzi cadre to join their party as many others had done so before.

“In fact all opposition parties’ leaders in the constituency including TLP, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi are supporting Chadema. We therefore can not prevent them from coming to our rallies with their parties’ flags,” hesaid. The MP maintained that the support was voluntary and that his party did not support any of the supporters from NCCR-Mageuzi.

“We can not fight corruption if weengage ourselves in the vice” he said. The parliamentary seat became vacant following the sudden death of its MP on TLP ticket, Mr Phares Kabuye in a car accident last April