"I condemn in the strongest terms any actions that undermine
democracy ... it is wrong, it is not right," he told a news conference,
saying the Dar es Salaam regional office had blocked a pro-democracy
conference organised by the opposition party in the city yesterday by
denying them access to a pre-booked venue.
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda was not immediately available for comment.
"Ultimately, they (CCM) will leave office and they will be in the same position as us ... one day they will go - if not in our time but in our grandchildren's time."
Lowassa, who was the joint presidential candidate for the opposition coalition representing the opposition Chadema party, said his party had organised a conference to discuss the political situation in the country, but had to cancel the meeting after being told the venue at the city council that they had booked in advance was no longer available to them.
The conference was scheduled to be held at the Anatouglo Hall in Dar es Salaam, which is owned by the Ilala Municipal Council.
"Some people are being targeted and harassed by the authorities simply because they support Chadema," he charged.
"The theme of this conference was to bring Tanzanians together to discuss democracy ... we are one country, our people are the same."
Lowassa also criticised President John Magufuli for failing to attend last week's public funeral for victims of the Arusha school bus tragedy that claimed 36 lives.
"As a resident of Arusha, and I think I speak on behalf of other residents of Arusha, I was saddened by President Magufuli's absence at the funeral for victims of the tragic road accident," he said.
"As the president, he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but also the comforter-in-chief when national tragedies occur."
Lowassa said he has nothing against Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who deputised for Magufuli at the funeral, but insisted that the president was conspicuous for his absence.
The former PM also advised the government to handle the issue of fake academic transcripts in the civil service with a "human face," saying the dismissal of over 9,900 public servants and the possible denial of their retirement benefits was a harsh punishment for their wrongdoing.
Lowassa also urged the government to make a formal statement to address the ongoing rise in food prices and called for assistance from the state to Tanzanians who have been affected by flooding across the country.
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda was not immediately available for comment.
"Ultimately, they (CCM) will leave office and they will be in the same position as us ... one day they will go - if not in our time but in our grandchildren's time."
Lowassa, who was the joint presidential candidate for the opposition coalition representing the opposition Chadema party, said his party had organised a conference to discuss the political situation in the country, but had to cancel the meeting after being told the venue at the city council that they had booked in advance was no longer available to them.
The conference was scheduled to be held at the Anatouglo Hall in Dar es Salaam, which is owned by the Ilala Municipal Council.
"Some people are being targeted and harassed by the authorities simply because they support Chadema," he charged.
"The theme of this conference was to bring Tanzanians together to discuss democracy ... we are one country, our people are the same."
Lowassa also criticised President John Magufuli for failing to attend last week's public funeral for victims of the Arusha school bus tragedy that claimed 36 lives.
"As a resident of Arusha, and I think I speak on behalf of other residents of Arusha, I was saddened by President Magufuli's absence at the funeral for victims of the tragic road accident," he said.
"As the president, he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but also the comforter-in-chief when national tragedies occur."
Lowassa said he has nothing against Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who deputised for Magufuli at the funeral, but insisted that the president was conspicuous for his absence.
The former PM also advised the government to handle the issue of fake academic transcripts in the civil service with a "human face," saying the dismissal of over 9,900 public servants and the possible denial of their retirement benefits was a harsh punishment for their wrongdoing.
Lowassa also urged the government to make a formal statement to address the ongoing rise in food prices and called for assistance from the state to Tanzanians who have been affected by flooding across the country.
