JK, Lipumba to meet on religious conflicts

Civic United Front national Chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba leaves the press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday where he spoke of the actions by his party to help maintain peace and tranquility after some Muslims threatened to march to the Prime Minister�s office to voice their grievances.

Civic United Front (CUF) national chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba has said he will meet with President Jakaya Kikwete to help find solutions to the ongoing religious conflicts in the country.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Prof Lipumba said he had the opportunity to talk to the President yesterday on the issue, and discovered that the latter was deeply concerned over the situation.

He said that he will also talk to religious leaders about the fundamental principles that need to be observed to bring about mutual respect and tolerance in order to build a nation of equal rights to all believers.

“I believe that the President will do his best to find a solution to the ongoing religious conflicts in the country,’’ he said.

However, Prof Lipumba blamed the government for failure to talk to Islamic religious leaders on the protests held by their believers rather than just leave the matter to the police force, which he said embarked on use of force, sometimes endangering peace.

“It is logical for the government to meet with the Islamic leaders and hold peaceful talks rather than leave the situation to Commander Kova to issue threatening statements as the only communication language between Muslims and their government,” he observed.

Prof Lipumba’s statement comes after the leading opposition party, Chadema urged the government to take precautionary measures to preserve public peace and stability recently, by working with Muslim organisations to avoid unnecessary alienation which can disrupt peace.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam recently, Chadema legal advisors Mabere Marando and Prof Abdallah Safari, said public unrest and demonstrations threaten national unity and arise from unsolved queries and irresponsibility of government officials to end long time disputes in the Muslim community.

Meanwhile, first Vice President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Seif Shariff Hamad, has said the recent mayhem caused by the Islamic Revival Forum (Uamsho) had detrimental effects to the economy, peace and national unity.

Speaking at a public rally he said the acts have tarnished the good image of Zanzibar Island to the outside world. The disorder led to the killing of police constable Said Abdulrahman on October 17, this year.

e said, he was not happy with the murder of the policeman who was returning home from work.

“The government and its security organs have the obligations to protect people’s rights and search for all those involved instead of harassing innocent persons,” he said.

He added: “I speak with a low tone today, since I never thought that such acts could happen in Zanzibar, especially at this time when we are implementing the Government of National Unity pact,” the VP said.

It is possible that such acts were done purposely to wipe out the government of national unity which was formed after the November 2010 consensus, he said.

However he urged wananchi to be stable and refuse to harbour such acts which could lead to conflicts and retard economic development.

On the changes in the constitution, he urged the Constitutional Review Commission to conduct its work more diligently and respect people’s views.

However responding to Maalim Seif claims, CCM National Executive Committee deputy secretary of ideology and publicity Issa Haji Gavu, said the GNU is made of the ruling party CCM and CUF and it was improper for Maalim Seif to make his comments about it in a public rally.

It was not acceptable to see people’s rights being violated without the government taking measures to address the situation, he said.

Gavu said according to the Zanzibar Constitution, article 12 (1), all people are equal before the law and have all rights without any discrimination.