Dodoma — The debate over whether the prevailing tranquillity in Tanzania constituted real peace or it is just an absence of war rocked the august House yesterday. The assertion by some members of Parliament from the opposition that Tanzania did not have peace because of wanton acts of injustices and infringement of people's rights drew strong condemnation from a ruling party legislator who quoted the holy scriptures to argue his case.
Speaking when debating the Prime Minister's Office 2011/12 budget yesterday, Salum Barwany (Lindi Urban-CUF), Ezekiel Wenje (Nyamagana-Chadema) and Moses Machali (Kasulu Urban-NCCR Mageuzi) said what prevailed in Tanzania was just "tranquillity associated with fear" and not real peace. They cited poverty, gross injustices, excessive use of force by police and violation of people's basic rights as indicators of lack of peace.
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