Chadema youth wing faults AG over `plan` to restrict demos

By Devota Mwachang`a

Chadema Youth Council National Chairman John Heche (R) with the council`s chairman for Mbeya Region, Emmanuel Mwakajila, at a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) youth council (Bavicha) yesterday challenged attorney general (AG) Fredrick Werema’s remarks that the government would amend a law on demonstrations.

Addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday Bavicha chairman John Heche said the move was intended to stop his party from conveying its message to the people.

He explained that Chadema’s demonstrations across the country helped the party to get its message across on issues that hindered the country’s development.

He mentioned some of the issues which had been addressed by the party during demonstrations as the power crisis, the high costs of living, illegal demolitions, human rights and depletion of national resources like minerals.

“The demonstrations have prompted the government to reduce sthe ugar price which was very high in previous months,” he said adding that Chadema would continue with its peaceful demonstrations.

The Bavicha chairman said he was taken aback by the AG’s remarks on the government’s intention to introduce the law limiting demonstrations while there were many bad laws which needed urgent amendments but the government ignored them.

He explained that the government would be denying people their constitutional rights if it restricted peaceful demonstrations as that would contravene the right to freedom of expression and association.

Heche noted that Chadema planned to organise another demonstration if the government continued with its plans to restrict peaceful demonstrations which raised public awareness.

Meanwhile, the Bavicha chairman told Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai and Chama Cha Mapinduzi MPs to be careful while making decisions in the National Assembly because they were lowering its credibility.