Tanzanias Former PM switches allegiance to Opposition (Ukawa)

RETIRED Prime Minister, Mr Frederick Sumaye, yesterday defected from Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and joined the coalition of four political parties, Ukawa, ahead of elections as campaigns officially kicked off yesterday.

Mr Sumaye served as PM for ten years from 1995 to 2005. Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Sumaye said his decision was not occasioned by anger for not being nominated as 2015 CCM presidential flag-bearer, but rather wanted to support the opposition to become strong as an alternative to take power.

“Effective today, I am no longer a CCM member and I am joining UKAWA. No one can guarantee permanent membership with any party.

I have no grudges against CCM’s presidential candidate, Dr John Magufuli, who is a good performer or harbouring feelings of resentment against CCM itself, only that I am against the party system that interferes even with technical matters at different levels of operation,” Mr Sumaye alleged.

Clarifying on factors that led to his ‘tough’ decision that was opposed by his family members, Mr Sumaye said it was necessary for the opposition to accommodate experienced public officials for smooth running of the next government.

“A strong opposition will prompt CCM to pull up its socks. A balanced strength between political parties gives voters a better choice of parties to vote for.

No party can remain in power forever no matter how popular it might be,” he observed. He paid tribute to opposition parties’ national leaders, Mr James Mbatia (NCCR-Mageuzi), Dr Willibrod Slaa, Freeman Mbowe (Chadema) and Prof Ibrahim Lipumba for the painstaking task of forming an opposition that was steadily gaining popularity.

However, Mr Sumaye revealed that he was not pleased with his former party’s presidential nomination procedure in Dodoma, as he knew before hand that some kind of sabotage would hinder him from making it to the final. Mr Sumaye joined the opposition (UKAWA) insisting that the issue concerning the specific party that he joined within the coalition would be known in due time.H

owever, a political analyst from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Benson Banna, said despite the fact that Mr Sumaye exercised his constitutional right to quit CCM, the move opens public debate on the issue of integrity, honesty and trustworthiness of the former prime minister who served under the system he now criticises.

“Change of political wind cannot be considered a justification for swayed integrity. Perhaps a specialist in psychology can help us understand the conduct of leaders of his character.

There are leaders like Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Mr Cleopa Msuya, Mr John Malecela whose political ambitions were not fulfilled but decided not to quit the party,” Dr Banna explained.

Dr Mohammed Ismail of Open University said there was nothing wrong with defection only that the abandoned party should not play down such a move, but rather search where it has gone wrong for necessary and timely adjustments.

“Since political parties in Tanzania are entrenched in a democratic background, any offended party member should build the culture of raising voice from within instead of taking defection as the only option. Loss on one side is an advantage to the other side,” Dr Ismail noted.