Video: We did what is best for us - Hakeem

20 July 2012 05:52 am

SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem said that the SLMC is still a part of the ruling coalition and that the decision to contest the Eastern province separately is no threat to the government.

Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters ‘Dar- es- salaam’ Hakeem said that the decision to contest the polls separately was based on  “what was best for the party and its members”

Mr. Hakeem said they were left with two options - when running for the upcoming elections. One was to join the government and contest, and the other was to contest by protecting the individuality of the party.
 
“I am glad we chose to contest as an individual party. It was unfortunate that we could not contest along with the government. But party members and the people have expressed their pleasure over SLMC contesting as a unique party,” he said.
 
Mr. Hakeem said that there was no dispute between the government and the SLMC, and the government had a clear understanding as to why the party has to contest individually. (Kelum Bandara & Nishan Casseem)




Pix By Pradeep Dilrukshana