|
CCM dumps 4 ministers, two tycoons
2005-08-16 08:50:48
By Ludger Kasumuni, Dodoma
The CCM National Executive Committee that met here yesterday under its chairman, President Benjamin Mkapa, dropped 50 incumbent MPs who had sought the party’s mandate to defend their seats.
The number includes four cabinet ministers.
NEC has also dismissed petitions by 16 first-timers who were seeking nominations to run for parliamentary seats on the party’s ticket.
Following the reluctance by the party to reverse of the nomination results, there were fears of protracted legal tussles that could dent its public image.
Addressing a press conference after the crucial party meeting, CCM Publicity Secretary who also doubles as Minister for Home Affairs, Omar Ramadhan Mapuri, said NEC had reached the decision after taking into consideration party interests and insisted that the meeting was conducted in a fair and democratic manner.
According to Mapuri, the ministers knocked out of the running are Minister of State, Vice-President’s Office Arcado Ntagazwa, Minister for Energy and Minerals Daniel Yona, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Prof Pius Mbawala and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Dr Abdulkadeer Shareef.
Long serving MPs whose petitions were thrown out include: Njelu Kasaka (Lupa), Eliachim Simpasa (Mbozi West), Prof Henry Mgombeleo (Tabora Urban), Omar Mwenda (Kilwa South ) and Edson Halinga (Mbozi East).
The others are: Charles Kagonji (Mlalo), Dr Hans Kitine (Makete), Dr Aaron Chiduo (Gairo), Semindu Pawa (Morogoro South-East), Christopher Wegga (Mikumi), Oscar Mloka (Morogoro Urban), Ali Karavina (Urambo East), George Mlawa (Kalenga), Thomas Nyimbo (NjombeWest) and Stanley Kolimba (Ludewa).
Also in the list are Gaswa Sebabili (Ngara), Edward Ndeka (Kigoma South), John Singo (Same West), Philip Magani (Ruangwa), Omar Chibu (Kilwa North), Ibrahim Marwa (Musoma Urban), John Mwakipesile (Mbeya Urban) and Alhaji Shaweji Abdallah (Kilosa).
The rest are: Alhaj Ahmed Mpeme (Mtwara Urban), Abdillahi Nankulala (Mtwara Rural), Seleman Lutavi, (Tandahimba), Dr William Shija, (Sengerema), Dr Lawrence Gama (SongeaUrban ), Leonard Derefa (Shinyanga), Hamis Nguli (Singida Urban) and Thaddeus Luoga (Mbinga East).
The 16 first-timers the party ditched include two prominent businessmen who had initially won the nominations.
Mapuri said Yusuf Manji, who won the Kigamboni nomination in Dar es Salaam, and Aziz Abood, who was victorious in Morogoro Urban, were dropped.
Aziz also won the 2000 nomination in the constitituency, but was axed by NEC.
Manji’s position was given to Mwichumu Msomi who came second in the nominations, while Abood’s will be taken by Dr Omar Mzeru, who was also second in the primaries.
Tatu Ntimizi, Deputy Minister for Land and Human Settlement Development, who was third in the nomination in Igalula, was picked by NEC.
Dr Athuman Mfutakamba, who took the lead in the preferential polls in the constituency, was ditched.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Rashid Kawawa was rushed to Dodoma Hospital yesterday after he was taken ill during the NEC session.
Hospital authorities assured CCM top guns meeting here that Mzee Kawawa’s condition had improved. No details were availed.
(see full list of CCM candidates tomorrow)
|
