Tanzanian opposition legislators walk out over accord

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.apa

Some 44 opposition lawmakers, out of whom 32 are from the Civil United front (CUF), 11 from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) and one from the United Democratic Party (UDP), staged a walkout in Parliament in central region of Dodoma in protest of a proposal by Tanzania ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to call a referendum on the political future of Zanzibar.

The Leader of the Official Opposition Civil United Front (CUF), Hamad Rashid Mohamed told APA Wednesday that opposition legislators would not participate in the ongoing National House business in a move aimed at protesting and putting pressure on the ruling party to sign the accord reached between two parties known as Muafaka.

Hamad said that the CCM and CUF delegates came to the talks aimed at ending the protracted political rift in Zanzibar, which has pitted the two rival parties, but did not deliberate on the proposed referendum as a condition for creation of a coalition government.

“Opposition legislators have walked out of the House to express dissatisfaction over the way the CCM-led government has handled the muafaka talks,” he said, thanking the rest of the opposition camp in the House for supporting them.

However, Hamad has declined to say how long they would stay away from the on going National assembly business.

On his part the Speaker of the National Assembly, Samwel Sitta has said that he is going to consult and advise them(the opposition) to go for talks, and not otherwise, since Tanzanians believes in dialogue.

The walkout involved Member of parliaments from both CUF, whose rejection of the results of the 2000 and 2005 general elections in the Isles led to the standoff, and other opposition political parties.

President Jakaya Kikwete promised in his inaugural speech to the National Assembly soon after assuming power in late 2005 that he would leave no stone unturned in finding a lasting solution to the Zanzibar political impasse.

The Tanzania National Assembly which started its business Tuesday currently has a total of 321 legislators.