SPEAKER WETANG’ULA REVEALS SH94 MILLION DAMAGES FROM PARLIAMENT INVASION, URGES RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY
In a startling revelation, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula disclosed that property valued at Sh94 million was ravaged during the recent anti-Finance Bill protests that saw Parliament breached by demonstrators on June 25, 2024.
Addressing the media, Wetang’ula detailed the extensive damage inflicted when protesters stormed the august house, breaking furniture, damaging buildings, and even smashing a television screen
The protests, which erupted in opposition to the Finance Bill, 2024, escalated into a chaotic scene as demonstrators breached Parliament barricades, uprooted the national flag, and clashed with security forces.
Reports indicate that gunfire ensued, resulting in injuries among protesters before they managed to enter the premises. Inside, offices were set ablaze, critical equipment was vandalized, and other valuable items were destroyed.
The violence prompted members of the National Assembly to adjourn early, with plans to reconvene on July 23, 2024.
Speaker Wetang’ula emphasized that despite the extensive damage, taxpayers would not bear the financial burden, as an insurance firm would cover all costs for replacing damaged items and repairing structures. He underscored that no MPs or parliamentary staff lost their lives or sustained injuries during the invasion, although the sanctity of Parliament itself had been violated.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, Wetang’ula condemned the violence and lamented the desecration of Parliament’s grounds. He described the breach as a severe blow to the country’s democracy, stressing that such acts of vandalism and aggression undermined the foundational principles of governance and public order.
“The gory images of wanton destruction and desecration by individuals posing as peaceful protesters are regrettable,” Wetang’ula remarked solemnly. He mourned the loss of lives near Parliament precincts and reflected on the profound impact of the breach on the nation’s security and democratic institutions.
“The sanctity of Parliament has been violated, lives have been lost, and our democracy has been severely tested,” Wetang’ula declared, highlighting the gravity of the breach and its implications for Tanzania’s governance.
