Ex-spy chief backs Chadema protests

Dar es Salaam. Former Intelligence chief Hassy Kitine yesterday came out in support of the opposition Chadema’s stance on various issues.He told journalists in Dar es Salaam that demonstrations organised by Chadema across the country in protest at the spiralling cost of living and the party’s demand for the scrapping of sitting allowances were pertinent issues which the country’s leadership should take seriously. Dr Kitine is the first prominent CCM cadre to have publicly supported Chadema’s cause, which has in recent months been roundly criticised by the ruling party and some opposition parties. He said it was a fact that the high cost of living was a heavy burden on Tanzanians, adding that something should urgently be done to address the situation. Dr Kitine, a former Cabinet minister and MP, said whatever Chadema was doing to draw attention to such issues deserved support, and added that the opposition party should not be demonised for practising its democratic rights. He made the remarks when journalists sought his comments on various national issues at the end of a meeting organised by Faidika, a microfinance institution in which he is a director. Dr Kitine said he had also been closely following the debate on whether or not MPs and other holders of public office deserved sitting allowances.“What Chadema is doing is healthy for our democracy because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the views should be constructive…they should not be aimed at destroying the country.” Dr Kitine warned that the widening gulf between the rich and poor was “very dangerous”, saying it posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Tanzania.He said the country could not expect to remain peaceful forever when a few individuals controlled 99 per cent of the economy. Dr Kitine said he was only trying to speak the “truth”, although he was aware that his comments would not go down well in some quarters.“I, like other Tanzanians, am giving my views on various national issues, but I know that some people are not happy with my comments. But even if I don’t say what I am saying, other people will say it.” On the Chadema demonstrations, Dr Kitine said what the opposition party was doing was a challenge to the government and other political parties. “What we need to look at is what they (Chadema) are advocating in their demonstrations. If you talk of life having become unbearably tough, that’s reality because many people are feeling the pinch...I support the demonstrations although I’m a CCM member,” he said. Comparing the reign of retired President Benjamin Mkapa and President Jakaya Kikwete’s Fourth Phase government, Dr Kitine said he had not noticed any major difference between the two phases.He said, however, that things had gone from bad to worse after principles enshrined in the Arusha Declaration were abandoned, adding that people were now freely buying their way into elective office. “In the past, when I was appointed Director of Intelligence by Mwalimu Nyerere and later a minister before I became an MP, the sole motive for seeking leadership was to serve the people,” he said. Dr Kitine said the political landscape had changed dramatically since the Arusha Declaration was shunted aside. It was very difficult in the past for people who had amassed wealthy and failed to explain its source to be allowed to seek elective office, he said. In a swift response, CCM Publicity Secretary Nape Nnauye told The Citizen that there was nothing wrong with convincing people to fight for their rights, adding that the issue was how this was done. “Even CCM has been doing a lot to raise people’s awareness and sensitise them on their rights. Take for instance the decision to construct a secondary school in every ward across the country…this aims at increasing people’s awareness by giving them education,” he said when he toured Mwananchi Communications Limited head office in Dar es Salaam. “The difference is that while we (CCM) are empowering the people by educating them, Chadema stops people from engaging in economic activities by holding demonstrations daily and deceiving them that this is a shortcut to State House,” he said.