AUTHORITIES BAN DISPLAY OF COFFINS IN POLITICAL RALLIES OBSERVE RULE OF LAW.. DON'T TEST OUR PATIENCE ,SAYS RC

The  Regional Commissioner for Arusha, Mr Daudi Felix Ntibenda

Carrying coffins to prophesy demise of any political party has been banned in Arusha  by local authorities.

While the whistle for the political campaigns  towards the October 2015 General Elections has just been blown, the use of blasphemous  paraphernalia  such as coffins, insulting toys and other horrid caricatures have been banned from use within Arusha Region.

Electoral Coordinator for Arusha, Mr Richard Kwitega made the declaration during his recent meeting with representatives of political parties operating in the region, at threshold of campaigns for various positions, including presidential, parliamentary and ward councillorship.

Apparently, some individuals have been sculpturing typical caskets intending  to use them  to foretell   burial of  their opponent parties. Others had even gone to the extent of fashioning out life-size toys bearing faces of their antagonists for the sheer purpose of humiliating them during campaign processions and rallies.

“We won’t hesitate to take to task parties, their leaders or supporters who misuse other people’s flags either as sources for jokes or trying to burn, destroy or tamper with them in anyway, to aid their political campaigns,” warned  Mr Kwitega, insisting that, campaigners should either go about their crusades in civilized manners or risk serious penalties from the electoral commission.

In another development, the Education Commission  in Arusha  has also banned political parties from using school grounds to stage their rallies, instructing them to take the meetings elsewhere, because in the past, vandals who accompany such events have been destroying public properties and, or beating up students.

Meanwhile, The  Regional Commissioner for Arusha, Mr Daudi Felix Ntibenda reminded parties that, with or without the campaigns, the area must adhere to the rule of law as well as maintaining peace.

“Some of us are not politicians,  we remain the authorities who must ensure that tranquility is maintained regardless of the pending elections, therefore nobody should take advantage of this season to test our patience,” warned Mr Ntibenda.
 Arusha has also banned the use of loudspeaker announcements after dusk. The authorities have directed politicians to only make such announcements between 8.00 am in the mornings and 6.00 pm in the evenings and this should apply throughout the seven constituencies, not just the city center.