THE main opposition party, CHADEMA has backfired remarks by the registrar of political parties in the country John Tendwa which he uttered on Friday this week in retaliation to let the party boycott the government’s subsidy issued through his office. Tendwa’s remarks have come amid failure by the Chadema party which for unknown reason did not attend the meeting which he organized in Dar es Salaam despite of an invitation sent to them. The Friday’s forum brought together all political parities, police force, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and other stakeholders to deliberate on the national political situation with a view to explore the role of political parties and other players in building national peace ahead of the 2015 general elections. Speaking in an exclusive interview over the phone last week in Dar es Salaam, Chadema’s Director of Finance and Administration Anthony Calista said that, his party would never boycott the government’s subsidies as this is the taxpayers’ money aimed at facilitating party’s operations according to the law. Chadema’s response comes amid anger expressed by the registrar when he addressed his audience on his Friday’s meeting which he had organized and after having noticed the attendance of the party, remarked that if he would decide to cut off subsidies they receive from the government what will they say? When asked to clarify on this, he noted that, those are mere threats that the registrar is perpetrating. Basing in accordance with the laws, he had no the audacity to cut off such a subsidy as this was introduced by Act of Parliament. “Could it be that, there was any kind of misappropriation of such fund within the party, and then he could have claimed to see financial reports on its expenditure.
The registrar of the political parties in Tanzania, Mr. John Tendwa insisting a point in one of the press meetings in Dar es Salaam.
But since he is like a clerk in the office, he is therefore obliged to disburse as the law requires him to do so” he said. However, he continued as saying that, Chadema would not be ready to react on any threats as recently reported by the media that, the office of the political parties was planning to deregister the party in claims that it was a cause of all fatal political clashes in the country. In response to the earlier claims raised by the registrar of political parties, he noted that, the registrar was not rightful as he stands on the government’s side to favour the ruling CCM party whenever an investigation is being carried out to establish the cause of fatal accidents which have occurred in recent political rallies organized by Chadema party. Describing reasons for the boycott of his party on Friday’s meeting, he said that, Chadema party had realized there was no need to attend the meeting as they are fed up with the registrar’s notorious attitude, whom they have also accused of being untrustworthy as he supports law breakers and bears false witnesses against Chadema party. “The registrar Tendwa is not friendly with Chadema as he supports the refusal by the police to issue legal permit to enable us conduct legal public rallies in the country, he is violating the law of which he is supposed to be a custodian in between” he said adding that because of his bad attitude towards the party’s dev elopement they had reasons to boycott his meetings. His voice echoed through a telephone link. The boycott by Chadema comes in less than a month since the party top officials declared that they would not be cowed by any government machineries in pursuing their political agendas. The party was reacting to the registrar’s statement in which he threatened to deregister it if it continued to hold meetings or demonstrations that culminated in deaths. Apparently upset by the boycott, the registrar Tendwa noted that the act only showed how the party’s disrespect the lawful authorities and that it was of arrogance to the electorates who need to be represented in such forums. He added that, this is a clear indication of a party that has failed to live up to democratic standards.
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