Six in court over Bububu poll chaos

By Talib Ussi , The Citizen Correspondent

Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Six people appeared in the Mwanakwerekwe District Court here to answer charges of taking part in chaos and violence that occurred during the Bububu Constituency by-election on Sunday.

The six people, believed to be members of the Civil United Front (CUF), were charged with causing grievous bodily harm to others. However, they were released on bail after each one of them paid Sh500,000. 

Reading the charge sheet, magistrate Janeth Norra, said the accused, whose names could not be immediately obtained, committed the crime on September 16 at the Bububu area in Zanzibar. However, a drama ensued at the court after police refused to release the suspects despite the court granting them bail.

The Citizen witnessed a senior CUF official asking the police to release the suspects, but all accused were whisked away in a police vehicle. “You cannot take these people away because they have been granted bail. You should release them,” insisted Mr Salum Bimani, the CUF director of Information.

The six accused were amongst 12 people, including the CUF legislator for Mtoni, Mr Faki Haji Makame, questioned by police on Monday in connection to chaos that erupted on Sunday’s by-election. Police informed that Mr Makame did not appear in court yesterday because investigation into his case was not completed.

Tensions started after people believed to be supporters of CUF tried to block some voters at the Bububu polling station in Zanzibar town, claiming that they (the voters) were imposters brought in by CCM to boost the winning chances of the ruling party.

CCM retained the House of Representative seat in the by-election when Mr Hussein Ibrahim Makungu was declared winner. However, the runner-up, Mr Issa Khamis Issa, of the CUF rejected the results, citing irregularities.

The by-election was held to fill a seat vacant by the late Salum Amour Mtondoo in March.

Source: The Citizen (18/09/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/51-other-news/25837-six-in-court-over-bububu-poll-chaos