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Govt now distances itself from changes in Bakwata leadership
2008-07-19 09:20:40
By Gadiosa Lamtey
The government said it has nothing to do with top leadership changes in the Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata) as alleged by some sections of the media.
Home Affairs deputy minister Hamis Kagasheki said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that the ministry, through the registrar of civil society organisations, gives a go-ahead to any CSO that complies with the conditions and terms of registration, after which it is free to carry out activities in accordance with its constitution without interference from the government whatsoever.
Kagashaki was speaking at a news conference to give government position on the ongoing Bakwata leadership crisis.
``The government has nothing to do with the replacement of top Bakwata leaders. Their constitution guides them on how to appoint leaders and dismiss them, nothing more, nothing less. I want Muslims and the people in general to understand this,`` said the deputy minister.
Kagasheki explained that the current crisis in Bakwata followed complaints by seven people about a letter written on March 30, 2006 to the registrar of socitieties concerning concentration of powers in the Tanzania Muslim supreme leader, the Mufti, to dismiss top leaders even those appointed by a national meeting.
The deputy minister said the registrar received information through the media that Bakwata leaders were dismissed allegedly after the government had directed it so.
He said such information was misleading because the registrar had never received such information.
Recently, the Mufti of Tanzania, Sheikh Shabaan Simba, made drastic changes in the top leadership of Bakwata, including dissolving the `Ulamaa` council and dismissing seven top leaders.
Those dismissed were deputy Mufti Abubakar Zuberi, chairman of the national executive council Khamis Mattaka, secretary of the Ulamaa council Hassan Chizenga, his deputy Abdushakur Omar, and two other members, Suleiman Kilemile and Hamid Jongo.
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