However, the Police Force has maintained that their stance on public meetings remains unchanged. Police had already drawn a line on any rally in the country by banning all political parties meetings, warning that whoever caught defying the directive would be squarely dealt with.
Despite the previous ban, CHADEMA National Chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, told a press conference in Dar es Salaam today that they were prepared for the event.
"The party's lawyers should also meet to review events that have occurred so far in order to take possible legal action against the government," he said when briefing journalists on deliberations reached by party's national executive committee which met last weekend.
Ahead of the planned rallies, Mr Mbowe said the party starts internal meetings to discuss the state of politics in the country.
In a swift response on Mbowe’s remarks, Commissioner of Police for Training and Operations, Mr Nsato Mssanzya, said he was less concerned with the recent declaration by CHADEMA, insisting that country’s laws must be respected.
“It must be understood that the directive previously made regarding public rallies is the one I am concerned about, if they (CHADEMA) met and reached into such agreement regarding the same issue then it is their problem and none of my business,” he told ‘Daily News’ in a telephone interview.
Mr Mssanzya further said both of them (police and the party) operate under certain laid rules and regulations set by the law in which if anyone violates any of them the law will take its course.
He cited an example of what happened once the party tried to block the ruling CCM from holding its general congress in Dodoma. He noted that the same measures applied to tackle that situation was a good example and no need to comment on their new plan.
President John Magufuli on separate events has added his voice on political rallies saying that time for politicking was over until 2020.
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