REV. PETER MSIGWA: CCM IS BRIBING CHADEMA MEMBERS

CHADEMA Member of Parliament for Iringa Urban Constituency Rev. Peter Msigwa (second left) talks with journalists in Iringa on Wednesday, a few days after his three councilors resigned and lost all their leadership positions. On his right hand side is the Chadema Secretary for Nyasa Zone, Emmnuel Masonga and to his left are Iringa Municipal Mayor Alex Kimbe and Kwakilosa Ward Councilor for Iringa Urban, Joseph Nzala. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)

A few days after three ward councilors of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) Party in Iringa Urban announced their resignation, party leaders have accused them of conspiring with ruling CCM party to weaken Chadema in the constituency. 

Talking to journalists on Wednesday, the Iringa Urban MP Rev. Peter Msigwa accused the councilors of having been bought by CCM in a bid to create leadership vacuum within Chadema 

Rev. Msigwa told reporters that Chadema had information on plans by their political opponent from the ruling CCM party to bribe some of their councilors so they could resign from the party and hence weaken Chadema strength in the constituency. 

The Chadema councilors who have resigned and who are being accused of colluding with CCM are Baraka Kimata of Kitwiru Ward and special seats’ councilors Husna Ngasi and Leah Mlelewa. 

In a twist of events, a fourth special seat Chadema councilor Lugano Mwanyingi has constitutionally lost her party membership for opening a police case against Chadema Red Brigades whom she accuses of sexual harassment. 

Normally, internal disputes within and between Chadema members must be resolved through respective party organs instead of directly reporting them the police as Mwanyingi did, a move that led to her automatic loss of party membership. 

Mwanyingi opened the police case earlier this month, after she was injured by one of the red brigades. 

She also accused the red brigades of harassing her by holding her breasts and hips during a session of the executive committee of the party in Iringa urban in August 3, this year. 

After the scourge, the councilor was hospitalized for a week at Iringa region's referral hospital before she was transferred to Muhimbili Hospital for further treatment for what has been said to be seriously injured part security guards of the party. 

Rev. Peter Msigwa who is also Chadema Chairman of Nyasa Zone (Iringa, Mbeya, Songwe and Njombe regions) told reporters that CCM has long term plans to destroy Chadema in its (Chadema) strongholds including Iringa Urban. 

"That's the trick of our opponents, they started Arumeru and went to Arusha and now came to Iringa. But I tell you Chadema is firm and it will continue to be stable. We will fill the vacancies of the special seats and the Kitwiru ward and we are confident of winning, "he confidently said. 

Pastor Msigwa warned that every party has its own systematic values ​​and values ​​and that those who violate it must be taken action. 

"As CCM does with his controversial arguments, even Chadema has its own approach to dealing with such issues, "he said. 

MP Msigwa has also rejected allegations made by the resigned councilors of being democratic oppression within the party, a non-constitutional leader and a decisive leader. 

Rev. Msigwa said he had never been outside party's constitution and that all of their affairs were being conducted on the basis of party constitution. 

"Why do they accuse me on the street, if they have evidence they should bring their complaint into the party, the procedure they know and did not. This is a plan intended to disrupt Chadema, not assuming that their insults will help us in the 2020 General Elections, "said Pastor Msigwa.. 

Confirming Pastor Msigwa's statement, the mayor of Iringa municipal Alex Kimbe (Chadema) said recently the councilors held the sessions with the trading agents in two different languages ​​in Iringa and the report was discussed and accepted in the sessions they have. 

"So I will meet Iringa Municipal Director to discuss this issue and then I will write a letter to the minister of justice to give the councilors' notice to take steps to fill the vacancies," he said, adding that he received three letters of advocacy. 

The party's southern zone secretary, Emmnuel Masonga, said the party had received a statement from the councilors to surrender Chadema and wished for a better life in their destination but was disappointed with the information they made. 

"They would be good people who would follow the procedures for their complaints. But they did not do so and we regard it as an ordinary political game, "he said. 

Despite the ongoing political situation in the country, the leader said Chadema would emerge warriors in the 2020 General Elections. 

"We have changed the way of politics, the Tanzanians have been involved in emotional politics, we are not doing so now, and not because we do not do so because the President has prevented political meetings,” said Masonga.