Police interrogate kawe lawmaker

Kawe MP Halima Mdee

 Police in Dar es Salaam yesterday interrogated two Members of Parliament and some councilors of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) for some hours over last weekend’s chaos after city authorities adjourned the Dar es Salaam mayoral election.

 

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commissioner Simon Sirro admitted to have detained Kawe MP Halima Mdee and Ubungo MP Saed Kubenea.

He said the two MPs were among people being sought by the police in connection with the chaos on Saturday after Dar es Salaam Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Theresia Mmbando announced the postponement of mayoral election.

 

Members of the Coalition of People’s Constitution (UKAWA) wanted Mmbando to allow the meeting to go on as planned and announce the new date for the election and also furnish them about the court injustion that led to the postponement of the election in the first place.

 

Sirro said that police went to Mdee’s residence at Kawe so that they could take her to the Central Police Station but she refused to board the police and instead used her own vehicle. He denied rumors that security was tight at Mdee’s residence.

 

According to Sirro, Mmbando who was assaulted and her clothes torn during the fracas has since been taken to the hospital for further check-ups and treatment.

 

Last Saturday, fracas ensued at Karimjee Hall after a verbal exchanges between members of UKAWA and CCM delegates after City Council Deputy Director Sara Yohana called off the Dar es Salaam mayoral election indefinitely.

 

According to the city council acting director, the postponement announcement came after they received a court injunction said to have been issued earlier before the delegates entered the polling venue. 

After the meeting was opened, the acting director then announced adjournment of the election in compliance with the court order.

 

The injunction was also posted on the door leading to the hall outside and it partly read: “This court hereby orders that an interim order is granted that election of the mayor and deputy mayor of Dar es Salaam City Council is suspended pending hearing and determination of an application filed by applicants”.

 

According to the injunction letter, it was issued by the court on February 5, 2016. 

 

“We have met here today for the purpose of electing a city mayor, but this morning I have received a court injunction order which orders suspension of the election. However, it does not specify the expiry date, but it will be valid for six months,” Yohana said.

 

This is when all hell broke loose, with some delegates angrily confronting her while others walked out of the venue.