Euphoria as Lema is granted freedom

The Arusha Regional Magistrate’s Court grounds turned into some sort of a ceremony venue when the Arusha Urban Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Godbless Lema, who is facing seditious charges, was released on bail. It was initially speculated that Mr Lema had won his case.

However, this was wrong, misleading information that was circulated to hundreds of the MP’s supporters who thronged the court premises’ fence outside. In reality the politician had just been granted bail after spending four months in custody.

Pandemonium ensued outside the Regional Magistrate’s Court prompting the police to intervene and in fact some of the chaotic youths believed to be supporters of the opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) were arrested in the process in effort to contain the situation.

Some women spread their khangas on the grounds so that the MP could walk on them. Previously inside the court, the Arusha City Mayor, Mr Kalist Lazaro, irked the people who were waiting for the case in the High Court chamber, by trying to force some of those seated on benches to leave their seats so that he and some of his party officials could sit.

Judge Salma Magimbi, who presided at the High Court Registry here yesterday, eventually granted bail to the Arusha Urban legislator, Mr Lema (CHADEMA) on a bond of one million shillings, backed by two sureties.

The outspoken parliamentarian was arrested on November 2, last year, in Dodoma and brought to Arusha to face various charges including that of issuing insulting statements against President John Magufuli and predicting the Head of State’s death.

Since then, he has remained in remand after his bail application flopped. Speaking outside the court, the just released Lema said he witnessed appalling conditions at Kisingo Prison facility and extreme breach of human rights. He stated that he will write an official letter to Dr Magufuli to complain against the penal facility in Arusha.

The Chairman of CHADEMA, Mr Freeman Mbowe, on the other hand said he will contact the Arusha Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Charles Mkumbo, to lodge complaints against police officers who, allegedly, harassed people that turned up at the courts grounds during the MP’s case.