Kikwete 'saddened' by stoning of motorcade
By The Citizen Reporter
THE CITIZEN
President Kikwete was "deeply saddened" by the stoning of his motorcade in Chunya District, Mbeya Region, on Wednesday evening, a State House official said yesterday.
Communications director Salva Rweyemamu told the BBC that the President, whose limousine and escort vehicles were not affected, was informed of the incident at Kanga Village after arriving in Mbeya.
"The President expressed his deep sorrow when told of the stoning," Mr Rweyemamu said in an interview last evening from Mbeya where he was accompanying President Kikwete on a tour of the region.
He said the villagers stoned several cars in the motorcade out of anger at around 7.30pm after the convoy did not stop to allow the President to greet local residents who had been waiting for him for several hours.
"The President usually stops to greet the people during his visits. However, there was no time for this on Wednesday evening. What happened at Kanga was a spontaneous reaction by some people who were angry at not getting the opportunity to see the President," Mr Rweyemamu said.
Asked why President Kikwete could not stop and greet the villagers even for a few minutes, Mr Rweyemamu said it was getting late, and this had ruled out the possibility of the Head of State stopping again before arriving in Mbeya.
He added that there was a big crowd of people who were singing and chanting in anticipation of being addressed by President Kikwete. Mr Rweyemamu noted that President Kikwete had earlier addressed public rallies in Makongolosi and Mkwajuni areas in the same district.
Two people were injured and six cars, including one carrying a Cabinet minister, were slightly damaged in the incident. Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports that police had arrested several suspects in connection with the stoning.
However, Mbeya regional authorities could not be reached for comment on the incident and reports circulating on the Internet that several people were injured and admitted to hospital during an operation to trace the suspects.
Following the incident, Civic United Front secretary-general Seif Shariff Hamad urged the President to initiate a national debate to discuss the "worrying political situation in the country".
Mr Hamad told The Citizen in his office in Dar es Salaam that political developments in the country called for quick action to prevent the situation from deteriorating. He added that the Mbeya incident is a sign that people were getting tired and needed to be reassured.
"We need to have a national dialogue involving all stakeholders, including community-based organisations, religious leaders, politicians, academicians and human rights activists to rescue the country," he noted. He said the Government should look at its own performance and tackle problems that were bothering the people.
Meanwhile, President Kikwete yesterday advised Tanzanians living in Zambia who had been issued a repatriation notice to return home.
He made the remarks after receiving information from Mbozi District Commissioner Halima Kihemba that about 250 Tanzanians living in Zambia had been ordered to leave the country.
" I advice them to strictly adhere to the order issued by the government of Zambia without any delay," he said.
Additional reporting by Brandy Nelson