ANALYSIS:
CCM cadres’ new book revisits
Mkapa’s troubled legacy
IN our society, there is a group of people who felt relieved, perhaps, that the death of the country’s founder Father and longest serving Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chairman, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, meant also a death of courageous people who could take the bull by the horns and criticize high profile politicians and bureaucrats.
This group of people thought that Nyerere’s demise paved way for a new era of leadership irresponsibility, greed and looting of public resources and that nobody would question, enquire or straight away criticize them in public for their irresponsible behaviour in public office.
But they have been proven wrong. A new book by veteran journalist, television talk show host and one-time CCM national executive committee (NEC) member, Makwaiya wa Kuhenga, in collaboration with one of Mwl. Nyerere’s sons, Madaraka Nyerere and veteran politician- cum-former Mwalimu’s closest aide, Joseph Butiku, indicates once again that CCM, and indeed Tanzania, has no shortage of courageous, visionary and upright men who can dare to challenge the system, be it a former president and CCM national chairman.
In the book titled: ’CCM na mustakabali wa nchi yetu,’ which literally means, ’CCM and our nation’s destiny’, deals blow after blow to the immediate former president and CCM national chairman, Benjamin William Mkapa.
The authors in unison condemn the era of the former party national chairman; his avoiding to meet and talk over issues of interest to the party and nation as a whole; his disdain of his peers and the sudden usurpation of party by a class of filthy rich people, often with questionable character. The chairman’s behaviour gave rise to a culture of gossip and bad mouthing among the top brass of the party, signifying a major rift within the party.
The authors also question why the ruling party under former chairman Ali Hassan Mwinyi silently abolished the Arusha Declaration, including its leadership code of conduct, which resulted into free-wheeling accumulation of ill gotten wealth, with the rich vying for leadership positions through bribery, deceit and other dirty tricks.
The book accuses Mkapa of entertaining hearsays and gossips which led to divisions within the top hierarchy of the party which was once revered and respected across Africa and the world. The party leadership sometimes trampled on members’ rights by changing important procedures and regulations. When those disenchanted asked for clarification, during meetings, they got jeered off by other members.
The book also mentions the fraudulent deletion of immediate former CCM vice chairman for the Mainland John Malecela, from the list of presidential aspirants in 2005 just because the former prime minister had not conferred with Mr Mkapa as chairman prior to his picking presidential nomination forms.
The veteran CCM members and Mwl. Nyerere’s son question CCM´s loss of vision and direction in terms of formulating the five years development rolling plan, which was last done in 1981, hence impacting negatively on the part of the government. The authors wonder whether the party is any longer in charge and holding the government accountable.
Because of lack of a visionary leadership that sidelined some critical voices, CCM under Mkapa did sow seeds of racial discrimination especially during internal party nominations and primaries. The authors cite examples of former Prime Minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, who was opposed by some Zanzibar caucus members as being of Arab origin, and having played a role in the slaying of former Zanzibar President Abeid Karume.
It condemns a new culture of stage managed public rallies convened by the party and often addressed by senior party leaders including the national chairman and secretary general, to issue party membership cards to opposition cross-overs and wonders whether such people share a strong belief in CCM´s ideals.
The book, the first of its kind to be written by the ruling party’s members in the past ten years or so since the late Mwl . Nyerere wrote, ’Uongozi wetu na hatima ya Tanzania,’ in 1995, ends with a number of suggestions to current President Jakaya Kikwete , who is also the party’s national chairman:- avoid entertaining gossip, rediscover the Arusha Declaration and preside over the writing of a new constitution to replace the one party 1977 Constitution.
The authors advise Mr Kikwete to take the leadership in enacting a new constitution that will also reduce excessive powers of the presidency, which has routinely been abused by some individuals to advance personal rather than national interests while at Ikulu.
This group of people thought that Nyerere’s demise paved way for a new era of leadership irresponsibility, greed and looting of public resources and that nobody would question, enquire or straight away criticize them in public for their irresponsible behaviour in public office.
But they have been proven wrong. A new book by veteran journalist, television talk show host and one-time CCM national executive committee (NEC) member, Makwaiya wa Kuhenga, in collaboration with one of Mwl. Nyerere’s sons, Madaraka Nyerere and veteran politician- cum-former Mwalimu’s closest aide, Joseph Butiku, indicates once again that CCM, and indeed Tanzania, has no shortage of courageous, visionary and upright men who can dare to challenge the system, be it a former president and CCM national chairman.
In the book titled: ’CCM na mustakabali wa nchi yetu,’ which literally means, ’CCM and our nation’s destiny’, deals blow after blow to the immediate former president and CCM national chairman, Benjamin William Mkapa.
The authors in unison condemn the era of the former party national chairman; his avoiding to meet and talk over issues of interest to the party and nation as a whole; his disdain of his peers and the sudden usurpation of party by a class of filthy rich people, often with questionable character. The chairman’s behaviour gave rise to a culture of gossip and bad mouthing among the top brass of the party, signifying a major rift within the party.
The authors also question why the ruling party under former chairman Ali Hassan Mwinyi silently abolished the Arusha Declaration, including its leadership code of conduct, which resulted into free-wheeling accumulation of ill gotten wealth, with the rich vying for leadership positions through bribery, deceit and other dirty tricks.
The book accuses Mkapa of entertaining hearsays and gossips which led to divisions within the top hierarchy of the party which was once revered and respected across Africa and the world. The party leadership sometimes trampled on members’ rights by changing important procedures and regulations. When those disenchanted asked for clarification, during meetings, they got jeered off by other members.
The book also mentions the fraudulent deletion of immediate former CCM vice chairman for the Mainland John Malecela, from the list of presidential aspirants in 2005 just because the former prime minister had not conferred with Mr Mkapa as chairman prior to his picking presidential nomination forms.
The veteran CCM members and Mwl. Nyerere’s son question CCM´s loss of vision and direction in terms of formulating the five years development rolling plan, which was last done in 1981, hence impacting negatively on the part of the government. The authors wonder whether the party is any longer in charge and holding the government accountable.
Because of lack of a visionary leadership that sidelined some critical voices, CCM under Mkapa did sow seeds of racial discrimination especially during internal party nominations and primaries. The authors cite examples of former Prime Minister Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, who was opposed by some Zanzibar caucus members as being of Arab origin, and having played a role in the slaying of former Zanzibar President Abeid Karume.
It condemns a new culture of stage managed public rallies convened by the party and often addressed by senior party leaders including the national chairman and secretary general, to issue party membership cards to opposition cross-overs and wonders whether such people share a strong belief in CCM´s ideals.
The book, the first of its kind to be written by the ruling party’s members in the past ten years or so since the late Mwl . Nyerere wrote, ’Uongozi wetu na hatima ya Tanzania,’ in 1995, ends with a number of suggestions to current President Jakaya Kikwete , who is also the party’s national chairman:- avoid entertaining gossip, rediscover the Arusha Declaration and preside over the writing of a new constitution to replace the one party 1977 Constitution.
The authors advise Mr Kikwete to take the leadership in enacting a new constitution that will also reduce excessive powers of the presidency, which has routinely been abused by some individuals to advance personal rather than national interests while at Ikulu.
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