Z’bar CA member collapses in shock
NCCR-Mageuzi vice chairman (Zanzibar) Haji Ambar Khamis (left) speaks to
journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Second left is party’s national
chairman James Mbatia and vice chairperson (Mainland) Leticia Mosore.
PHOTO | THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT
By The Citizen Correspondent
In Summary
He had a rough time of it trying to prove he had no
hand in the inclusion of his name on the list of CA members who approved
the document presented to President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday.
Dar es Salaam. A member of the disbanded Constituent Assembly from Zanzibar collapsed yesterday as he tried to explain how shocked he was to learn that his name was on the list of members who voted in favour of the proposed constitution. Mr Haji Ambar Khamis was taken to Amana Hospital.
He had a rough time of it trying to prove he had
no hand in the inclusion of his name on the list of CA members who
approved the document presented to President Jakaya Kikwete on
Wednesday.
He told reporters he did not take part in either
preparing or voting on the document. In fact, he added, he had nothing
to do with the document from April after he boycotted sittings of the
assembly together with other members who disputed the manner in which
the assembly was conducted.
He returned to the CA in August but claims he had neither discussed the document nor voted on it.
Mr Hamis is a vice chairman of the opposition
NCCR-Mageuzi in Zanzibar. “I have never participated in approving the
proposed constitution,” he insisted. “The truth is that I have been
pained so much because I don’t know what the future holds for me and my
family.”
The politician, who was once a candidate for the
Zanzibar presidency, broke down during the interview. NCCR-Mageuzi
officials led him out of the office as he appeared to be losing
consciousness.
The Citizen on Saturday’s correspondent in the
company of the NCCR-Mageuzi leaders witnessed him being laid on a bed as
doctors moved to examine him.
NCCR-Mageuzi Chairman James Mbatia, who was the
first to speak at the press conference, said information put out by
leaders of the disbanded CA that Mr Hamis voted for the document was
wrong.
After thoroughly going through a copy of the
proposed constitution, he added, they discovered that name of one-time
party member Haji Ambar Hamis was on the list of those who approved the
proposed Katiba.
Mr Mbatia explained: “On the list of members who
took part in approving the proposed constitution, his (Ambar’s name) is
on the list of CA members from Zanzibar.
But following a discussion with him, Mr Hamis
sincerely assured us he had never participated in preparing or approving
the proposed constitution.”
According to Mr Mbatia, putting the name of the
party’s national leader on the list of those who endorsed the document
without his consent amounts to gross fraud.
“This is embarrassing for Mr Hamis, his family,
his party, members of the Coalition of Defenders of Peoples’
Constitution (Ukawa) and Tanzanians in general,” he added.
Mr Mbatia believes CA leaders made the move
deliberately to mislead the public and warned that it posed a big threat
to the security of the nation, given the potential for violence.
CA Assistant Secretary Thomas Kashilila declined
to respond to the claims, saying he was not the assembly’s spokesperson.
“I haven’t heard such allegations and I am not the spokesperson,” said
Dr Kashilila. He referred this reporter to the CA chairman.
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