After ‘missing in action’ for over two months now, Arusha-Urban MP Godbless Lema had his collar felt in court yesterday where the case filed against him got dropped by state.
Arusha-Urban MP Godbless Lema
State Attorney Elianenyi Njiro explained that the suit was dropped under section 91 of criminal cases. Mr Lema, who missed earlier hearing (August) due to ill health as reported by his attorney, Mr Method Kimomogoro, turned up at the Arusha Regional Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
“At least now I can concentrate on development issues in my constituency,” Lema sighed with relief before driving away. Unlike in the past, there was no fanfare procession to escort the MP.
The incitement case which was facing Mr Lema was previously scheduled to be held here for three consecutive days from August 20 to 22, before it was pushed to October 1 and 2, 2013. Lema’s three months hiatus also saw him missing out the last session of the National Assembly held in Dodoma.
The MP was accused of inciting students of the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA), when he visited the campus on April 24, this year, where he addressed the scholars in an attempt to calm down the irate students, following the death of their colleague, Mr Henry Koga, who got knifed by some unknown motorcycle riders.
State Prosecutor, Mr Elianenyi Njiro, told the court that, Mr Lema’s address incited the students to riot. The irate students also insulted the Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Magessa Mulongo, who went to calm them down.
The prosecutor stated that addressing the students at the ‘Freedom Square,’ Mr Lema breached section 35 and 390 of the penal code when he told the already irate scholars that the RC was dressed and walked as if he was attending a send-off party.
The angry students had later booed at the RC and his delegation before they hurled stones at them. The police were forced to use tear gas bombs to disperse the students.
By YASINTA AMOS, Tanzania Daily News
