|
Karume predicts CUF’s demise
2005-11-26 09:15:24
By Lucas Raphael, PST, Tabora
Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume has predicted the demise of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).
Karume, who is also vice-chairman of the ruling CCM, said at a public rally in Tabora on Thursday that CUF was in doldrums after its defeat in last month’s elections in Zanzibar, adding that it would not be long before the party disintegrated.
He said despair was now setting in among the CUF rank and file after the party’s ’dismal’ showing in the 1995, 2000 and last month’s elections and criticised its leaders for having an ’obsessive fixation’ with State House.
”The party’s leaders’ sole interest is to occupy State House. They have no other goals apart from taking over at State House and this will lead to the party’s collapse in the near future.
’I foresee CUF members and supporters quitting the party en mass and joining CCM, the only party that has the people’s interests at heart,’ President Karume said.
On CCM’s victory in the October 30 elections in Zanzibar, Karume said Zanzibaris had made the ’right’ choice and called on Tanzanians to hand CUF another ’humiliating’ defeat in the December 14 general election.
’There is nothing they can do for you. Do not be deceived. Vote for CCM and forget about CUF,’ President Karume said.
He maintained that the Zanzibar elections were free and fair, adding that Zanzibaris knew exactly what they were doing when they re-elected CCM.
President Karume said it was time the international community refused to be deceived by CUF.
He likened CUF to a frog that claimed ownership of the water in a well that it never took part in digging.
|
