Udasa: CCM infiltrated our symposium BY KATARE MBASHIRU Dar es Salaam. University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly (Udasa) has admitted that their symposium which was held at Nkurumah hall on Sunday was infiltrated by the ruling CCM cadres who hired a group of youths to sabotage the contributions of some participants. Udasa secretary general Faraja Kristomus told The Citizen in an interview on Tuesday that it was true their meeting was subverted by uninvited youths who were allegedly hired by politicians. The clarification by Mr Kristomus came after widespread reports in various social sites about the circumstances that surrounded the Sunday event which was marred by boos, jeers and finally a walk out towards the end. Udasa was accused of being used as a stepping stone to propel the ruling party’s agenda of a two-government union structure and hitting at the opposition party officials from the Coalition of Defenders of People’s Constitution (Ukawa). On Tuesday, Mr Kristomus said his association was not aware of CCM’s plan and only came to realise it a few hours before the commencement of the event. The symposium was discussing what should be done to ensure that the country got its new constitution. At least ministers Stephen Wassira, Prof Anna Tibaijuka and William Lukuvi as well as deputy minister for Finance Mwigulu Nchemba attended and spoke. “We were shocked to see a number of youths being ferried in UDA buses to the venue...they started entering Nkrumah Hall as early as 10am,’’ he said, also confirming reports some of the ferried youth were seen dishing out money given to them. Asked to give clarification, Mr William Lukuvi, who was the guest of honour and among top CCM officials, said he did not know that people were ferried or hired to attend. “I was in Dodoma, attending a meeting when I was invited by one lecturer to attend the symposium. I never received any invitation from CCM officials, and in fact I was perplexed to meet some CCM members at the meeting,” he said, and dismissed as sensational, claims linking him to the pay-to-attend youth. Reports say the hired participants from different places in Dar es Salaam were paid between Sh500 and Sh50,000 each by cadres from the youth wing of the ruling party. Their major task was to boo those who gave contributions likely to support Ukawa members on the country’s new Katiba. The group was also supposed to cheer all discussants, supporting CCM officials who aired their views at the meeting. Chanzo: THE CITIZEN
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 02:10:41 +0000
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