News:

The Guardian Newspaper of 12^th August 2013 and nearly all newspapers in Tanzania have recently reported the event of shooting of the Secretary General of Supreme Council of Muslims in Tanzania Ustadh Ponda Issa Ponda.

This occurrence seems to be controversial as Ustadh Ponda and his followers have put it clearly that Ponda was shot by police while the government denies it. Despite this, the government confirms that it wanted to arrest Ponda and the police only fired in the air to disperse his followers who accompanied him but denies shooting him.

The surprising thing about the denial by government is that it is only by the local media. As for foreign media especially British newspapers like Daily Telegraph, Mirror together with Sky News, and the government had earlier accepted responsibility by its police in shooting Ponda and linking him with scalding by acid of two British ladies of Jewish descent from London. The event happened towards the end of Ramadhan in the old city of Zanzibar.

Comment:

The measures taken by the Tanzania government after this event like President Kikwete shortly visiting the two ladies while in hospital, the president of Zanzibar talking about the event in his Eid Baraza speech, Zanzibar Information Minister calling an impromptu press conference with reporters, the Zanzibar government announcing a reward of Tshs. 10 million, the government starting discussions on the need to have laws to regulate acids, and if that is not all, the Tanzania police announcing a Tshs. 100 million reward. This is ten times more than the reward by Zanzibar for anyone giving information leading to the capture of the criminals. All these are indicators of massive pressure from Britain while it aims to cultivate political fruits than legal ones.

Based on that, it is clear Britain pressured the government of Tanzania to arrest Ponda at all costs so as to link him with the issue of the two ladies. Tanzania took those measures with extreme force. The main reason of Britain pressuring Tanzania into this trap is to cause friction between CCM and its government on one side against Muslims. This will help create a good political opportunity for its party of CHADEMA. It seems when America saw the trap, it ordered the government of Tanzania to deny shooting Ponda even though it had earlier confirmed so.

Traps and political games in weakening influence between Britain and America is a matter that is expected to gain momentum especially during the period towards the general election. Also especially after Britain increased its hopes with the complete return of Kenya to its fold through a fraudulent win by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Masoud Msellem

Deputy Media Representative

Hizb ut Tahrir / East Africa