ChademaChama Cha Mapinduzielectionshapa kazi tuIndian OceanLowassaMagufuliPresident KikweteTanzaniatravel
Chagua! Vote for me
It wasn’t always this complicated. The CCM have ruled here since the 1960’s, have swept through elections with little to no opposition. Until now, that is. And there is a good possibility that the unthinkable might happen and CCM is dethroned. And many people here think that CCM would be the first to blame.
But let’s first meet John Magufuli, candidate for CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi—Party of the Revolution). John Magufuli is the Minister for Works in the current cabinet, has the reputation of being a hard worker and somebody who does not insist on the status quo. You see his posters all around town.
Hapa Kazi tu (It’s just work)
Mchapakazi (hard worker)
Chagua Magufuli!
CCM did a clever job of pushing their man here, even at the expense of the party. The hammer and plow appear much smaller, are dwarfed by the man himself, the smiling but businesslike grandeur of the elder statesman, the scholar with the PhD in Chemistry. CCM these days is not insisting on brandname recognition. Of course, there’s a reason for this. As much as people are enamored with Magufuli, their patience has run thin with CCM itself. Just how thin remains to be seen come next Sunday, October 25.
If you can’t beat ‘em, try and beat ‘em again. That could almost be the motto of former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, the face of the opposition and the candidate for Chadema, an opposing party. But Edward Lowassa is not your ordinary opponent. He, more than anybody in Tanzania, knows how to defeat CCM. Hardly surprising, considering he was a CCM party member until a few months ago. In 2009, Lowassa resigned in disgrace under President Kikwete and earned himself the nickname lorushua, meaning bribe.
Lowassa wasn’t done with antagonizing his own party just yet. The party suspended him last year after he announced his presidential campaign way ahead of schedule. This would have consequences in 2015.
Word is that Lowassa didn’t care for being stiffed in favor of Magufuli, the chosen candidate for CCM. In fact, Lowassa wasn’t even shortlisted for the CCM. This lack of respect literally pushed him into the welcoming arms of the opposition, a nameless coalition of minor parties who have been too diverse over the years to agree on anything, let alone a candidate who could defeat the CCM. The CCM’s loss of Lowassa could loom large for them.
It is just too early to call now, which is more than we can say for the previous ten elections combined. For each Magufuli poster there is one by Lowassa to match it. For every green banner there is a red, white, and blue banner. It’s fortunate that people are welcoming the challenge, an actual debate that functioning democracies routinely feature.
The fact is, an upset of CCM will lead Tanzania into unchartered territory. This harbors dangers and opportunities. Will the results be accepted? By both sides? By the voters? By the losers? By people in and outside of Bongo? Tanzania is solid enough to withstand these challenges. I don’t see either side as too hostile or threatening. They will likely accept the results. Let’s hope the candidate they support will support them and the country when it is his turn to concede defeat.
CCM did a clever job of pushing their man here, even at the expense of the party. The hammer and plow appear much smaller, are dwarfed by the man himself, the smiling but businesslike grandeur of the elder statesman, the scholar with the PhD in Chemistry. CCM these days is not insisting on brandname recognition. Of course, there’s a reason for this. As much as people are enamored with Magufuli, their patience has run thin with CCM itself. Just how thin remains to be seen come next Sunday, October 25.
If you can’t beat ‘em, try and beat ‘em again. That could almost be the motto of former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, the face of the opposition and the candidate for Chadema, an opposing party. But Edward Lowassa is not your ordinary opponent. He, more than anybody in Tanzania, knows how to defeat CCM. Hardly surprising, considering he was a CCM party member until a few months ago. In 2009, Lowassa resigned in disgrace under President Kikwete and earned himself the nickname lorushua, meaning bribe.
Lowassa wasn’t done with antagonizing his own party just yet. The party suspended him last year after he announced his presidential campaign way ahead of schedule. This would have consequences in 2015.
Word is that Lowassa didn’t care for being stiffed in favor of Magufuli, the chosen candidate for CCM. In fact, Lowassa wasn’t even shortlisted for the CCM. This lack of respect literally pushed him into the welcoming arms of the opposition, a nameless coalition of minor parties who have been too diverse over the years to agree on anything, let alone a candidate who could defeat the CCM. The CCM’s loss of Lowassa could loom large for them.
It is just too early to call now, which is more than we can say for the previous ten elections combined. For each Magufuli poster there is one by Lowassa to match it. For every green banner there is a red, white, and blue banner. It’s fortunate that people are welcoming the challenge, an actual debate that functioning democracies routinely feature.
The fact is, an upset of CCM will lead Tanzania into unchartered territory. This harbors dangers and opportunities. Will the results be accepted? By both sides? By the voters? By the losers? By people in and outside of Bongo? Tanzania is solid enough to withstand these challenges. I don’t see either side as too hostile or threatening. They will likely accept the results. Let’s hope the candidate they support will support them and the country when it is his turn to concede defeat.
0 comments