State House has refuted claims made by National Chairman of Civic United Front (CUF), Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, that there are plans to extend the tenure of President Jakaya Kikwete and his government beyond the year 2015.
Prof Ibrahim Lipumba
President Kikwete assumed power in a landslide victory during General Election in 2005 and was re-elected for a second and final term in 2010. The term ends in 2015, according to the law. “The claims by Prof Lipumba are unfounded and misleading.
The president is not aware of such plans as insinuated by Prof Lipumba,” the Directorate of Presidential Communications said in a statement.
Prof Lipumba was quoted by a Swahili daily as saying that he had come across ‘secret information’ indicating that the tenure of President Kikwete’s government will be extended to 2017, since there are ‘fears’ that the process of revising the constitution will not be ready by 2014.
“It is better for Prof Lipumba to come out and tell the public who is behind the plan so that the truth can be known,” read part of the statement. Adding; “President Kikwete urges politicians and the general public to shun dishonesty as doing so distract the people and waste their time by concentrating on things that do not exist.”
The statement further noted that President Kikwete is highly optimistic that the new constitution will be ready by 2014, to allow General Elections to be conducted through the new basic law.
