|
CCM starts counting losses
2005-08-12 08:07:26
By Judica Tarimo , SAUT
The opposition made inroads into CCM political territory yesterday when a nomination loser, Michael Mangwangwa abandoned it yesterday for NCCR-Mageuzi.
Mangwangwa, a seasoned politician and until yesterday CCM political hawk, claimed the party had rigged him out during nomination for the Mpanda Central parliamentary seat.
Observers said the veteran politician’s move is the boldest and most high profile yet in a series that is expected to follow after CCM completes its list of candidates.
A number of politicians, among them five cabinet ministers and a number of deputy ministers, controversially lost at nomination and triggered allegations of poll irregularities.
Most of them have petitioned their losses and the party secretariats ruling could also set in motion defections that could dent the party image.
Mangwangwa, who was attempting to capture the Mpanda Central Member of Parliament, announced he would vie for the seat on opposition ticket.
Political analysts described the switch as a serious blow to the ruling party, which only last week was basking in the glory of receiving defectors from opposition parties.
Yesterday, NCCR-Mageuzi officials said Mangwangwa’s defection was just the beginning of a stream of defections that are expected to follow as the clock ticks away to the October 30 D-day.
This is just the beginning. More politicians of calibre are weighing their options in CCM before abandoning it.
We will not disclose at this stage the names of those who are disenchanted with CCM, NCCR-Mageuzi secretary-general, Polisya Mweiseje, told news reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he received Mangwangwa.
Mangwangwa joined CCM in the 1970 when it was still known as Tanganyika African Union (TANU).
He was the secretary-general of the party in Mwanza in 1970’s.
NCCR-Mageuzi also recruited a member from Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), Richard Mkune, who is also gunning for the Iringa Urban seat in the October elections.
Speaking after renouncing CCM membership, Mangwangwa said it was next to impossible for 200 CCM members to choose a representative for the entire Mpanda Constituency.
’It is impossible for 200 CCM members to decide the fate of all residents in the constituency. That’s why I am joining NCCR to provide residents with a wider choice,’ said Mangwangwa.
”They are the ones to decide who is the best leader and not a handful of CCM members. Let’s people decide and choose their own leaders,” he added.
In unexpected statement, he defended the performance of opposition parties, which he said had matured politically.
’The opposition is not gang of hooligans as CCM politicians claim,’ Mangwangwa.
Mkune, a teacher and former vice-president of the Tanzanian Teachers Union (TTU) said: ’Residents of Iringa-Urban requested me to contest the seat. I wouldn’t like to let them down and that’s why I am joining the race.’
Mkune lost the seat when he contested on TLP ticket in the 2000 general election.
|
