EMT
Platinum Member
- Jan 13, 2010
- 14,483
- 15,308
Whether or not you support my observations, the fact remain that the opposition is divided. As chaiman of CHADEMA admitted last week, having many political parties does not mean being successful politically. And, this is not the first time. It has been so since 1995, I mean in the last 15 years. If doing the same thing over and expecting a different result tantamount to insanity, then the 2015 election will be a turning point for Tanzanians and its opposition parties. If the opposition proceeds to repeat fundamental mistakes of the previous four election cycles, over a period of 15 years, by splintering, then they would prove to all and sundry that they are all insane. And insanity, according to the law, disqualifies persons from standing for office.
If they, however, decide to do the right thing and unite, as many have called for, then they will be worthy of the privilege to occupy space in public office. But 2015 goes beyond mere occupancy of public office. The next 3 years will be the most crucial period of Tanzanias political history. It will be a time that will call into question the integrity of political opposition, whereby its unity, utterances of democracy, tolerance, public spiritedness, and even internal governance architecture will be scrutinized. The fact that almost all opposition parties have not had a concrete together meeting in more than two election cycles, signals that there are worries of hypocrisy afoot, whereby the opposition party leaders have ceased to perceive their deception by feigning ignorance at their deceit.
All these opposition parties have several things in common: none have demonstrated a democratic culture, albeit that, that is their mantra; they have not practiced it, but preach it really well. None have been able to get into office, they think and say they can, but they have not done so. The signs point to an increasing probability that they will never get in unless they shed their lust for individual power and stop embracing the destructive and arrogant attitude of self coronation. If they continue, then all of them will be left to wonder in the political wilderness, eternally.
The urgency for the opposition parties in Tanzania to be responsible to all Tanzanians has therefore arrived. Suggestions have been bandied about, on the processes and procedures of a formulation of a party of national unity. Debates have been had, tempers have flared even here at jamii Forums, and passions stirred and yet, there have not been any signs that the clarion call by many Tanzanians for a united opposition will be answered. This is the first hurdle that must be stepped over if the opposition really wants to enter the State House.
The fact that CHADEMA and other opposition parties are paying lip service to unity, and doing the complete opposite, signals the power lust for leadership even before theyve reached State House. What will they do, as individuals, when they get there? The time to build a much needed public trust is now. Some of the leaders in political opposition have shown that Tanzania is greater than their own parties, and even themselves. However, the fact is that the political process in Tanzania has deteriorated over the last fifteen years. The statistics tell us that.
The 2010 election sent a strong message signalling disgust at the bickering. Voter turnout was the lowest in the history of the Republic. All this at the behest of an over bearing and intransigent attitude of leaders who seem desperate to get to the State House as individuals instead of representatives of a people. And the people have seen and responded to this by not voting.
Tanzania deserves to have a vibrant political landscape where people are given the best possible options in the leadership contest so that the probabilities of better talent in government can be harnessed. But if the quality of choice is few, so will the voters, as demonstrated in the last election. Tanzanians know what they want, even though they are often discrete about it, for various reasons. Given the right choices, at the right time, they will make the right decision. 2015 is, therefore, the time; perhaps the last time for a long time, to ensure that the vibrancy needed to jolt the body politic back to life again is seized upon.
The call is, therefore, loud, and the message is clear: the opposition must unite, and the leadership issue will not be fought over, or even negotiated away by the few that have refused to live up to their pronouncements of democracy, transparency and good governance.
We need opposition leaders who heed to the voices of reason, who shout for a united front, who clamour for greater political space, who yearn for a democratic process in choosing a capable leader to carry the flag in 2015. The vote will only count if the candidate can stand up and be counted, and a candidate can only stand if the voter can count on him.
Can we count on the opposition to unite, embrace the political will and commitment to see this arduous task through and emerge with a single candidate, elected through a transparent manner and endorsed by all? If the opposition cannot unite and organize a primary, for whatever reason, why should the voters put any faith in them winning, let alone running the country?
If they, however, decide to do the right thing and unite, as many have called for, then they will be worthy of the privilege to occupy space in public office. But 2015 goes beyond mere occupancy of public office. The next 3 years will be the most crucial period of Tanzanias political history. It will be a time that will call into question the integrity of political opposition, whereby its unity, utterances of democracy, tolerance, public spiritedness, and even internal governance architecture will be scrutinized. The fact that almost all opposition parties have not had a concrete together meeting in more than two election cycles, signals that there are worries of hypocrisy afoot, whereby the opposition party leaders have ceased to perceive their deception by feigning ignorance at their deceit.
All these opposition parties have several things in common: none have demonstrated a democratic culture, albeit that, that is their mantra; they have not practiced it, but preach it really well. None have been able to get into office, they think and say they can, but they have not done so. The signs point to an increasing probability that they will never get in unless they shed their lust for individual power and stop embracing the destructive and arrogant attitude of self coronation. If they continue, then all of them will be left to wonder in the political wilderness, eternally.
The urgency for the opposition parties in Tanzania to be responsible to all Tanzanians has therefore arrived. Suggestions have been bandied about, on the processes and procedures of a formulation of a party of national unity. Debates have been had, tempers have flared even here at jamii Forums, and passions stirred and yet, there have not been any signs that the clarion call by many Tanzanians for a united opposition will be answered. This is the first hurdle that must be stepped over if the opposition really wants to enter the State House.
The fact that CHADEMA and other opposition parties are paying lip service to unity, and doing the complete opposite, signals the power lust for leadership even before theyve reached State House. What will they do, as individuals, when they get there? The time to build a much needed public trust is now. Some of the leaders in political opposition have shown that Tanzania is greater than their own parties, and even themselves. However, the fact is that the political process in Tanzania has deteriorated over the last fifteen years. The statistics tell us that.
The 2010 election sent a strong message signalling disgust at the bickering. Voter turnout was the lowest in the history of the Republic. All this at the behest of an over bearing and intransigent attitude of leaders who seem desperate to get to the State House as individuals instead of representatives of a people. And the people have seen and responded to this by not voting.
Tanzania deserves to have a vibrant political landscape where people are given the best possible options in the leadership contest so that the probabilities of better talent in government can be harnessed. But if the quality of choice is few, so will the voters, as demonstrated in the last election. Tanzanians know what they want, even though they are often discrete about it, for various reasons. Given the right choices, at the right time, they will make the right decision. 2015 is, therefore, the time; perhaps the last time for a long time, to ensure that the vibrancy needed to jolt the body politic back to life again is seized upon.
The call is, therefore, loud, and the message is clear: the opposition must unite, and the leadership issue will not be fought over, or even negotiated away by the few that have refused to live up to their pronouncements of democracy, transparency and good governance.
We need opposition leaders who heed to the voices of reason, who shout for a united front, who clamour for greater political space, who yearn for a democratic process in choosing a capable leader to carry the flag in 2015. The vote will only count if the candidate can stand up and be counted, and a candidate can only stand if the voter can count on him.
Can we count on the opposition to unite, embrace the political will and commitment to see this arduous task through and emerge with a single candidate, elected through a transparent manner and endorsed by all? If the opposition cannot unite and organize a primary, for whatever reason, why should the voters put any faith in them winning, let alone running the country?
