Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Police releases dozen of CHADEMA cadres but Mbowe
Police in Mwanza on Saturday released all 15 leaders and members of the opposition party CHADEMA who were detained in connection with the New Constitution conference the party organized on July 17, 2021, but failed to take place after police interrupted it, saying political rallies were banned, arresting CHADEMA national chairperson Mr Freeman Mbowe and dozen other party members.
Among those released included former Tarime Rural MP (CHADEMA) John Heche, Zakaria Obard, Stephen Odipo, Daud Zephaniah, Seti Benda, David Nyakimwe, Frank Novarth, and Mbutosyo Mwakihaba. Reports indicate that immediately after being released Mr Heche was rushed to hospital as he was facing some respiratory challenges.
But the police continue to hold Mr Mbowe who it accuses of taking part in conspiracies aimed at assassinating government leaders.
Mr Mbowe is reportedly being held at Oysterbay Police Station in Dar es Salaam with some senior CHADEMA leaders like its deputy national chairperson (Tanzania Mainland) Mr Tundu Lissu saying that CHADEMA is not going to cooperate with the police on anything about the case because they consider it “spurious” and “aimed at sabotaging us politically.”
Mr Lissu was speaking on Clubhouse, a social audio app that allows users to communicate in voice chat rooms, on Saturday, during a discussion that CHADEMA organized on the platform.
TZ receives over one million doses of covid vaccines
More than one million doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine have arrived in Tanzania thanks to a donation by the U.S. government through the World Health Organization’s COVAX initiative, the global vaccine-sharing facility that Tanzania requested to join in mid-June this year.
Speaking shortly after handing over the consignment to the ministry of health, U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Mr Donald Wright said that the U.S. government was sharing the jabs to save lives and to lead the world in bringing an end to the pandemic.
“The United States has provided more than $26 million in direct U.S. government assistance to fight COVID-19 in Tanzania since the pandemic began last year,” said Mr Wright during the function that took place at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA). “The United States is committed to leading the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating global vaccine distribution as the world’s single largest donor to COVAX.”
The government is expected to inoculate at least 35 million people or 60 percent of the population, and priority will be given to those with underlying health conditions and the elderly, Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima said at the function.
She said the first phase of the shots would be administered to front-line health workers although the ultimate goal is to get as many Tanzanians vaccinated as possible. “We are committed to ensuring that every single Tanzanian who wishes to be vaccinated gets the jab for free,” Dr Gwajima said.
Minister warns against trumped-up charges
Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene warned Tanzania’s police officers on Saturday against accusing people of trumped-up charges, saying the widespread behaviour not only tarnishes the image of the law enforcement agency but also lowers people’s confidence in it.
Speaking with students and trainers at the Tanzania Police School (TPS) in Moshi, Mr Simbachawene pointed out that integrity should be the guiding principle of every law enforcement officer, urging members of the police force to avoid being drunk while on duty and in uniform.
“There is the issue of accusing people with trumped-up charges,” Mr Simbachawene said during the internal meeting. “It is not only unprofessional but it is also ungodly. Accusing someone with spurious charges is no different from murder. It should stop.”
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