Dar Es Salaam — Police fired in the air to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters who were yesterday planning to demonstrate in Dar es Salaam in support of calls for a new constitution.
A dozen members of the Civic United Front (CUF) were arrested when they engaged the police in a cat-and-mouse chase along the busy city streets for most of the morning hours as they attempted to march to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Keen on enforcing a ban announced on Monday by the Dar es Salaam special police zone commander, Mr Suleiman Kova, a contingent of anti-riot police confronted the mob. They then engaged them in a confrontation that disrupted normal activity and added to the notorious traffic jam along Uhuru Street and Kawawa Road.
CUF called for the march to present their draft constitution to the Justice minister, but the police who declared their demonstration illegal would not allow them reach the city centre.
The drama unfolded in a day that also saw Attorney General Frederick Werema come under attack from a cross section of leaders. They criticised the top government legal adviser for opposing a complete overhaul of the constitution.
In wide ranging interviews, political leaders, pressure groups, including University lecturers and students and members of the civil societies, dismissed Mr Werema. Last Monday he declared as misplaced the push for the country to overhaul its constitution.
Most of those who criticised him said his remarks were unfortunate and that he had demonstrated disdain that could not be tolerated by the public and those in government if they cared for issues that are people-centered.
Earlier, the CUF acting deputy secretary general, Mr Julius Mtatiro, who was supposed to lead the demonstration evaded the police dragnet and successfully handed over the party's draft constitution to the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Oliver Mhaiki.
Accompanied by a dozen people who arrived at the offices in one vehicle, Mr Itatiro proceeded to deliver the document he said was drafted by the party three years ago.
"We are happy because we have implemented our constitutional responsibility. The draft that we have submitted should be a challenge to the government to make sure that at the end of the day we have a new constitution," he told reporters soon after.
The opposition party official accused Mr Kova of playing politics with security matters, and said the move to disrupt their peaceful march was in bad taste. "A new constitution will benefit everybody, including the police who are now eager to please the state while ignoring their cardinal role of serving all."
Mr Mhaiki said he had accepted the CUF document and pledged to deliver it to the Justice minister, Ms Celina Kombani, who would be in charge.
The fate of those who were arrested was not immediately known even though unofficial reports later said they had been locked up at the central police station to await charges in court, most likely today.
Businesses in the congested Ilala and Buguruni areas were closed in the morning for fear of looting or clashes with the police who patrolled the streets on vehicles that were trailed closely by a water cannon truck.
Crowds of excited and placard-waving youths that amassed outside the CUF headquarters in Buguruni sang songs in support of the new law and dared the police to block them.
Elsewhere the attack on the AG was led by, among others, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) executive director, Mr Francis Kiwanga, anti-corruption crusader Moses Kulaba of Agenda Participation 2000, Ms Martina Kabisama, the coordinator of Southern Africa Human Rights NGOs Network in Tanzania and executive director of Concern for Development Initiative (Fordia) in Tanzania, Mr Bubelwa Kaiza.
Others who opposed the AG's views included a veteran politician and CCM stalwart, Mr Peter Kisumo, several University dons, Mr Paul Loisulie (Dodoma) and Bashiru Ally (Dar) as well as political party officials and ordinary citizens.
Mr Kiwanga said Mr Werema could not stop the interest of a majority of the people while Mr Kulaba termed Mr Werema's statements "laughable". He said it was, however, alarming because he occupies a sensitive position in the government.
Mr Loisulie said the AG was wrong because there was no alternative to bring both political and social-economic development without a progressive and stable constitution.
"I suppose some people are trying to protect their own interests in this matter, but the need for a new constitution is overdue," said Mr Loisulie. Mr Ally said the AG had no final say on whether Tanzania must form or not form a new constitution.
He claimed that Mr Werema was echoing the interests of those in government who are reluctant about change. "But his office has been accused of misleading the government into signing suspect contracts and should therefore not be seen as very important."
For his part, Mr Kaiza said he hoped they were Mr Werema's personal views and not those of the state.
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