More than four people have been arrested, and about seven shots fired on air in police efforts to suppress demonstration by the Civic United Front (CUF) members and followers held on Tuesday mid-morning.
This follows a “no” response from Special Zone Police Commander Suleiman Kova on demonstration which was planned to take place on Tuesday from CUF headquarters in Buguruni, Dar es Salaam to the ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs calling for new constitution.
The CUF members begun gathering at the CUF offices in the morning and it was around 10.30 am when they started marching to the ministry's offices located at the city center, police ordering them to disperse.
“All CUF members note that these strikes are illegal and therefore you should all separate and leave the place soon,” police ordered in a loud speaker.
Singing 'kama noma na iwe noma, sikubali narevengi mimi' meaning they are ready for anything, the demonstrators marched on, after the party's Acting Deputy Secretary General's car passed police barrier without being stopped.
Police warned people and traders around the busy area to move away for their safety, giving way for the police to start using force, by firing gunshots on air, which dispersed the demonstrators.
The disturbance resulted into closure of shops and bringing to a halt of all business activities from Buguruni to nearby Ilala suburbs. Daily News observed four people, including a woman, put under police custody at the Karume police station.
Mtatiro presents new constitution proposal to the Ministry
However CUF Acting Deputy Secretary General, Mr Julius Mtatiro, accompanied with some officials
managed to present the new constitution’s proposal to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ permanent Secretary, Mr Oliver Mhaiki.
The new constitution proposal presented has 36 articles and more than 130 sections in 88 pages.
“We need amendment of the constitution as the current one is not good in excising full democracy and it also gives the president vast powers, we also plan to declare it to the public,” said Mr Mtatiro adding that it took CUF more than four years for its preparation.
One of the officials who preferred anonymity said the party's intent has succeeded, "the government got the message," adding that the party will immediately bail out the arrested members.
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