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Now Chadema drops single candidate idea
2005-05-19 08:23:40
By Guardian Correspondent
CHADEMA is no longer interested in having a united opposition ahead of the October 30 general election, the opposition party’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe, said yesterday.
Mbowe told the media in his office in Dar es Salaam that the idea of fielding a single candidate to take on CCM’s contestant was no longer viable.
'The opposition is currently badly divided and some parties are embroiled in endless wrangles which make it difficult for us to continue advocating for a united front against CCM in the forthcoming elections, 'he said.
He said, however, that Chadema would pick a candidate who would give CCM’s Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete a 'run for his money' in the poll and scoffed at suggestions that Kikwete was acceptable across the political spectrum.
Mbowe took a swipe at Kikwete for promising Tanzanian youths jobs, saying creating jobs for youths was something CCM had not been able to do in the four decades it had been in power.
He also said Chadema would no accept “frustrated” CCM stalwarts who were contemplating defecting to the opposition ahead of this year’s elections.
“We’ll slam the door in their faces because we believe that they are spent forces that cannot bring about positive change,” Mbowe said.
Chadema had taken comprehensive measures to strengthen itself and did not need “outside” help in the run-up to the poll, the Chadema boss added.
He said the party was currently establishing itself in rural areas where the vast majority of Tanzanians lived, adding that the results of the drive would be seen during the elections.
Mbowe said earlier this year that the opposition must forge a united front against CCM if it hoped to defeat the ruling party in October.
The call was, however, immediately rejected by Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) Chairman Augustine Mrema who said uniting was not a guarantee for success in the elections.
Not surprisingly, Mbowe last week launched a scathing attack on Mrema, accusing him of undermining the opposition from within, ahead of the poll.
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