TANZANIA: Opposition party hails leader's defection

Members of Tanzania's main opposition National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR) party have hailed the resignation and defection to another party of their leader Augustine Mrema, whom they accuse of "dictatorship". The Tanzanian 'Guardian' daily on Monday said Mrema had resigned, citing infiltration of the party by "state agents". "I have discovered that NCCR is not a party to bring about true political reforms in the country as it is infested with government spies and a 'state-sponsored organisation'," Mrema was quoted as saying. Mrema, a former home affairs minister and deputy prime minister, announced his defection to the little-known Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) at a news conference on Sunday after an abortive NCCR rally in Dar es Salaam. At least 11 people were injured and 165 arrested during a police operation to stop the "unauthorised meeting" going ahead. Senior officials of the NCCR told IRIN on Tuesday Mrema's defection had come as a "great relief". They described him as a "stumbling block" to the party's progress and a "dictator" who did not follow the party's constitution. "Finally the crisis is over. People will now hear what the opposition have to say," NCCR's legal adviser Sengondo Mvungi said. Mrema's "obsession" with going to State House had over-simplified NCCR's goal to come up with an egalitarian system, and this had led to a protracted power struggle between Mrema and NCCR's Secretary-General Mabere Marando, Mvungi said. "His defection helps us prepare better for next year's general election," he added. Meanwhile, Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa on Monday pardoned more than 4,000 inmates convicted of petty offences as the country marked its union day. The clemency did not cover those convicted of drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, car theft, sexual harassment and robbery, press reports said.