Ipi Hatma ya 𝐂𝐇ADEMA bila Freeman Mbowe MwananchiJul 30, 2021

 What is the fate of CHADEMA without Freeman Mbowe

MwananchiJul 30, 2021

After the Chairman of the Party for Democracy and Development (Chadema), Freeman Mbowe was promoted to the dock and read terrorism charges that have no bail, the question remains what is the fate of the main opposition party.

Mbowe was arrested by police on the eve of July 21, this year in Mwanza when he went to support the party's cadres who were preparing for the New Constitution conference which was blocked by the Police Force.

After his arrest he was transported to Dar es Salaam where he was searched at his home, then detained at Oysterbay Police Station.

On July 26, he was arraigned in Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court on two counts of conspiracy to commit terrorism.

The charges were read out by Senior State Counsel Ester Martin assisted by Tulimanywa Majigo, before Chief Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba. It was alleged that between May and August, 2020 at the Aishi Hotel in Kilimanjaro, the accused conspired to commit an illegal offense.

The case is expected to be heard on August 5, 2021 after the prosecution said the investigation was complete and would present the necessary documents and read the statements of witnesses and their exhibits.

Political analyst Bubelwa Kaiza said Chadema could have a negative or positive impact.

"With a negative impact, if Chadema remains upset that Mbowe has been charged, then the party will collapse. If they do not commit themselves and continue the movement to demand the Constitution, the party will deteriorate and that is what CCM wants, ”he said.

"But if Chadema realizes that these are the obstacles they are facing and fight against them by continuing their movement, the party will be stronger and will have more experience in fighting unrest," he said.

Political analyst who is also a Professor of Political Science at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Mohamed Bakari said what happened to Mbowe could make the opposition stronger in the country.

"The arrest of party leaders will not affect the pace of the opposition. It is true that some members will be disappointed, but many will add strength, ”said Professor Bakari.

For his part Dr Richard Mbunda who is also a Political Lecturer UDSM, said the ongoing Mbowe case is a test for Chadema to test the strength of a strong and independent institution to run the movement.

Hata hivyo, alisema ni fursa kwa Chadema kuendelea kupata uzoefu wa kukabiliana na misukosuko.

“Hata mtu huyo akitikisika shughuli za taasisi zinaweza kuendelea kama kawaida na taasisi ikabaki kuwa imara. Siwezi kutabiri ya kesho lakini ni mtihani unafanyika, hivyo tusubiri majibu yake,” aliongeza Dk Mbunda.

Alisema mtihani huo haupo kwa Chadema pekee bali pia kwa Serikali na Mahakama, kwa kuonyesha kuwa vyombo hivyo viko huru katika kipengele cha kutenda haki na ionekane imetendeka.

“Ni mtihani kwa Serikali maana falsafa ya Serikali ya awamu ya sita na kinachotarajiwa ni kutenda haki na haki ionekane inatendeka, watu wanahoji iwapo shutuma hizo ni za kweli au za kubambikizwa kama ambavyo hata Rais (Samia Suluhu Hassan) amewahi kusema kuwa kuna ubambikizaji wa kesi,” alisema Dk Mbunda.

Pamoja na kauli za viongozi wa Chadema kuwa wataendeleza shughuli za chama kama kawaida, lakini uwepo wa Mbowe katika chama hicho umekifanya kuhimili vishindo tangu alipochukua uenyekiti mwaka 2004.

Akiwa mmoja wa waanzilishi wa chama hicho mwaka 1993, Mbowe alipanda vyeo kutoka mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa Vijana hadi kuwa mwenyekiti wa Taifa mwaka 2004 akirithi mikoba ya Bob Makani.

Chini ya uongozi wake, chama hicho kiliongeza idadi ya wabunge na madiwani kutoka watano wa kuchaguliwa na viti maalumu hadi kufikia zaidi ya wabunge 70 mwaka 2015.

Hata hivyo, baada ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2020, chama hicho kilijikuta kikibaki na mbunge mmoja wa kuchaguliwa huku vigogo wengi akiwemo Mbowe wakianguka dhidi ya wagombea wa CCM kwenye uchaguzi ambao ulikuwa na malalamiko kutoka kwa wapinzani.

Wakati huu ambao Chadema imeanzisha ajenda ya kudai Katiba Mpya, Mbowe alionekana kuwa mstari wa mbele akiongoza hatua kwa hatua.

Akizungumza mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita, Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Tundu Lissu anayeishi Ubeligiji, alisema shughuli za chama zitaendelea kama kawaida.

Naye Mkurugenzi wa Itifaki, Mawasiliano, Uenezi na Mambo ya Nje Chadema, John Mrema alisema licha ya kuwa Mbowe hayupo, shughuli zinaendelea kama kawaida na hivi karibuni watatangaza ratiba.

“Tuna makamu mwenyekiti Bara na Zanzibar, shughuli zinaendelea na wanaendesha vikao vya chama na hivi karibuni tutatangaza ratiba, hayo ndiyo maamuzi ya kamati kuu,” alisema Mrema.

Mbali na Lissu, mjumbe mwingine wa kamati kuu ya chama hicho mwenye ushawishi mkubwa, Godbless Lema naye kwa sasa anaishi Canada. Lema aliondoka nchini kupitia mpaka wa Namanga kwenda Kenya, baada ya kumalizika kwa uchaguzi mkuu akidai kuhofia usalama wa maisha yake.

Bawacha watinga ubalozi wa Marekani

Wakati hayo yakiendelea, Baraza la Wanawake wa Chadema (Bawacha) limesema liko tayari kuongoza mapambano ya kudai Katiba Mpya licha ya Mbowe kuwa gerezani.

Akizungumza jana, Katibu Mkuu wa Bawacha, Catherine Ruge alisema hawatarudi nyuma, wataendelea kudai Katiba Mpya hadi itakapopatikana.

“Kuna wengine tunaweza tusifike mwisho wa hii safari, lakini tuko tayari kuendeleza mapambano kwa mustakabali wa vizazi vyetu, ambao hatutafika wapo wengine watabaki kuendeleza safari hii,” alisema Catherine.“Kukamatwa mwenyekiti wetu (Mbowe), si mwisho wa kudai Katiba Mpya, moto ndio kwanza umewaka,” aliongeza Catherine ambaye jana aliwaongoza baadhi ya makada wa baraza hilo kwenda Ubalozi wa Marekani nchini kuwasilisha kilio chao cha kudai Katiba Mpya wakiwa na mabango kuhusu kushikiliwa kwa Mbowe.

Wakiwa ubalozini hapo, Bawacha walipokewa na kuwasilisha ujumbe kwa Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Uchumi na Siasa, Douglas Morris na kueleza malalamiko yao.

“Kati ya mambo ambayo tumelalamika ni uvunjwaji wa demokrasia pamoja na kukamatwa kwa mwenyekiti, tumeomba waingilie kati kwa kuwa Marekani ni Taifa kubwa lililokomaa katika demokrasia.

Pia, ni nchi rafiki na Tanzania,” alisema Catherine aliyechaguliwa hivi karibuni kushika wadhifa huo.