Saturday 22 June 2013

PM under fire over remark



                   
PM Mizengo Pinda 
By Julius Bwahama, The Citizen Reporter  (email the author)

Posted  Saturday, June 22  2013 at  08:54
In Summary
“It is unfortunate. It is a statement not expected from a PM. That is similar to the declaration of war,” said Prof Gaudence Mpangala, a senior political science and public administration lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam.


Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s statement in Parliament on Thursday that State organs should thoroughly beat up people instigating chaos to curb escalating disorder in the country has been greeted with anger, with some observers calling it a declaration of war.
“It is unfortunate. It is a statement not expected from a PM. That is similar to the declaration of war,” said Prof Gaudence Mpangala, a senior political science and public administration lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam.
Responding to a question from Murtaza Mangungu (Kilwa North MP– CCM), who had wanted to know what measures the government was taking to curb escalating violence, the PM said that State organs should not hesitate to beat up people instigating chaos.
“We are fed up with what is happening in the country…we had earlier warned that there would be people who will suffer when the government is forced to use force to maintain peace and order. This is what is happening now, especially in Mtwara,” said Mr Pinda.
According to Prof Mpangala, the statement “is against the Constitution, and principles of rule of law and good governance.”
On his Facebook page, opposition Chadema’s secretary general Willibrod Slaa wondered what section of the law the PM used to justify his statement. “Let them beat us up. Should we not complain when the government is taking the country into a hole?” he asked.
s that the statement he made in Parliament would warrant police officers to harass people is baseless. They are entitled to use reasonable force... It is high time the opposition considers discussing issues rather than rioting,” he said.
Another government official who opted not to be named said that the Article 13 (5) (6) and Article 8 of the Constitution provided good answers to Pinda’s words.
The articles stresses on equality of all persons before the law and their entitlement to that right without any discrimination, to protection and equality. It further states that civic rights, duties and interests of every person and community should be protected and determined by courts or other state agencies established by or under the law.