MNYIKA SUSPENDS KAPWANI

By Friday Simbaya,
Iringa


THE Acting General Secretary for Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) John Mnyika has given 14 days ultimatum to the former Chadema Chairman for Iringa Dr. Ben Kapwani indefinitely for being dissident to the party.

Mnyika said, the former chairman has been also stopped from being a chairman for the region from immediate effect on 14th September, 2010 to answer charges and explain why he did not return nomination forms to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for Isimani Constituency in Iringa District, Iringa Region.

In that very constituency, William Lukuvi, who is also a Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner has gone unopposed after the other candidates who contested for Isimani have failed to return their nomination forms to the returning officer for Iringa Distinct in the region.

According to the General Secretary, Dr. Kwapwani has been stopped from being the chairman for Iringa Region from immediate effect because he has two allegations to answer before the party can take disciplinary action against him.

He noted that the former region chairman for Chadema has gone contrary to the constitution of Chadema and he supposed to be punished for indiscpline.

Kapwani has had picked up the nomination forms from NEC recently to contest as Chadema candidate, but unfortunately he did not return the forms to NEC for no apparent reasons.

“We have decided to stopped our former Chadema Chairman for Iringa Region from holding that position of regional chairmanship because he contravened the party constitution for not returning nomination form as result we have lost Isimani Constituency for no apparent reason. We have written him letter to notify him about it on 14 September, 2010 with reference number C.HQ/ADM/M/IR/05,” Mnyika said though the telephone interview on Monday.

Other claims raised by the party general secretary was that  Dr. Kapwani was seen campaigning for other candidate for one NCCR-Mageuzi Mariam Mwakingwe through their joint venture  election campaigns which has the combination of parties like TLP, DP, UDP and Chausta opposition parties in Iringa urban, instead assisting Chadema candidate for Iringa urban Constituency, Rev. Peter Msigwa.

However, Dr. Kapwani denied receiving any letter from party acting general secretary notifying him about resignation and said that neither John Mnyika nor Dr. Willbrod Slaa can stopped being chairman but only Annual General Meeting of the party can stopped him.

There are some remours that Kapwani is intenting defect from Chadema to CCM tomorrow at campaign rally that will be addressed by the CCM Presidential candidate, Jakaya Kikwete at Samora Memorial Stadium.

But, he also has denied again to the claims today and he said that will remain aa a Chadema cadre until Jesus comes and he had no intention going to CCM come rain, come fire.