20110107
Citizen

Arusha — Police confirmed yesterday that two people died in Wednesday's demonstration called by Chadema.

Meanwhile, the government promised to find a political solution in the wake of violent confrontations between law enforcers and Chadema supporters, as several senior Chadema officials appeared in court in Arusha yesterday in connection with the violence.

The development came amid mounting calls for the resignation of Home Affairs minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha and Inspector General of Police Said Mwema.

Arusha Regional Police Commander Thobias Andengenye told reporters that two people died after a mob attempted to storm the Central Police Station and free Chadema officials and supporters who were being held there. He identified them as Mr Dennis Michael and Mr George Waitara Mwita, both residents of Sakina area in Arusha.

He said Mr Michael succumbed to injuries he sustained after he was apparently stabbed with a sharp object, while Mr Mwita died after bleeding profusely from wounds on his legs.

Chadema called the demonstration in protest at the way the Arusha mayoral election was conducted. Police, however, banned the march on the grounds that it was a threat to peace.

The city's mayor was controversially elected recently in a ballot that was boycotted by Chadema councillors, who said some rules governing mayoral elections were violated.

Mr Andengenye, who was not available for comment on Wednesday, said yesterday that eleven other people, including three policemen, were wounded during running battles between demonstrators and law-enforcers.

Those injured included Ms Josephine Mushumbusi, the fiancée of Chadema secretary-general Willibrod Slaa, and Rombo MP Joseph Selasini.

They were admitted to hospital.

Mr Andengenye addressed journalists outside his office in the presence of senior officers from police headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

He confirmed that several Chadema officials, including Dr Slaa, national chairman and Leader of the the Official Opposition in Parliament Freeman Mbowe, Arusha Urban MP Godbless Lema and Moshi Urban MP Philemon Ndesamburo, were arrested on Wednesday.

Makongoro Road linking the Clock Tower roundabout and the Arusha Declaration Monument was closed to motorised traffic as police mounted tight security in the wake of Wednesday's violence.

Mr Andengenye admitted that police officers fired live ammunition to control a mob that had attempted to force its way into the Central police Station.

The RPC's remarks corroborated eyewitness accounts of running battles between groups of people, mostly youths, and police at Kaloleni and the Arusha Declaration Monument area, a few metres from the city's main police station. A building owned by a prominent businessman was set on fire as gunfire and tear gas blasts rent the air as dusk set in on Wednesday.

Mr Andengenye said two police posts at Kaloleni and Unga Limited were also torched as were other buildings during the viol;ence, adding that damage done could run into tens of millions of shillings.

Unruly mobs also smashed windscreens of several vehicles downtown and pelted the regional Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) offices with stones.

Police arrested 47 people who were expected to appear in court yesterday charged with taking party in an illegal demonstration, assault and malicious damage to property.

Prior to the media briefing, the RPC and senior police officials were seen consulting with Chadema founder Edwin Mtei. No other Chadema officials were allowed in the vicinity of the talks.

Meanwhile, Chadema leaders vowed to take legal measures against the Police Force for allegedly killing innocent Tanzanians in Arusha.

In a statement circulated to the media, Chadema deputy secretary-general Zitto Kabwe said police used excessive force to break up a peaceful demonstration.

"Police killed and injured some people when they moved in to break up the demonstration...we are also demanding that all party officials who were arrested be released immediately without any condition," he said. Mr Kabwe added that Chadema would not rest until the police officers involved in the killings were brought to justice.

Meanwhile, some civil society organisations accused the Police Force of brutality and human rights violation, saying it was unacceptable for police to assault innocent people in a country that claims to embrace democratic principles.

Additional reporting by Bernard Lugongo in Dar es Salaam and Happy Lazaro in Arusha