Embarassing Elections

Augustine Moshi · Feb 4, 2009

What does it feel like to have elections that are widely hailed as being democratic? We wouldn't know since we haven't had anything like that in Tanzania.

International Observers at the 1995 general elections are on record as saying that they witnessed irregularities that they hadn't seen anywhere else in the world! Many Tanzanians felt that CUF won those elections handsomely on the Isles, and that Mrema beat Mkapa in the Presidential elections!

So, the 1995 general elections satisfied neither our citizens nor international observers!

Most of us were satisfied that the 2000 general elections were won by Mkapa, but once again, many cases of intrigue and manipulation were observed. There were stories of widespread rigging that was carried out by national security organs, with the blessing of the NEC (National Electoral Commission).

It is interesting to note that in places like Bariadi, the very prominent candidate there, Cheyo (alias Mapesa), did not even get credited with his families' ballots. That is how bad the rigging was!

The recent election case that pitied Dr. Slaa against some CCM loser was instructive. It brought to the fore how NEC officials are directly used by some parties to alter election results.

The recently held by-elections in Musoma and Mbeya are nothing to be proud of. We heard of cases of actual fights using bush knives in Musoma. In Mbeya, no more than 35% of the registered voters bothered to show up! The reason was that Judge Makame found himself some silly excuse that enabled him to bar the peoples' choice. The main winner in the Mbeya by-election was none other than Judge Lewis Makame.

The Electoral Commission bears much blame. It seems to work for one particular party. It is designed to be under the ruling party. The head of the NEC is appointed by the leader of the ruling party. That is manifestly wrong. The entire commission ought to be formed by parliament and be answerable only to parliament.

We envy countries like Ghana where elections are internationally acknowledged as being democratic. We need to review the NEC and the appropriate laws before the next general elections

Zero · Feb 4, 2009

I guess we share the same sentiment. I have always been asking myself; Who votes for CCM? and why? I have been asking myself this question because in the pre-elections period, most of us would be complaining about the evils of the government and how the government has screwed us (infact thats what we are doing now). And then comes the elections, CCM wins by a landslide victory. Its obviuos that there is rigging in most if not all elections in this country. Its time we publicly (through demonstrations or go slow) denounce our elected leaders. Its time they know that we didnt vote for them.

Gelange Vidunda · Feb 4, 2009

Don't get carried away with mundane innuendos! Those of us in the cities think we know it all but you will be surprised its in the rural areas where CCM get their votes, its in the rural areas where the opposition have won handsomely and not in the cities. Tunawajua akina Lipumba na Mrema lakini huko vijijini wanajulikana CCM, Mwalimu Nyerere etc.

I sincerely doubt it that Mrema beat Mkapa in 1995. How does one know if Chenge's family did not back him? Come on now?? Eti watu waliuwawa Zenji wakazikwa kwenye mass grave - lipo wapi hilo kaburi la mseto? It so happens that the the ruling party was in place and thats why NEC was established and it doesn't mean if another party happens to win then they will select a new NEC. Kwanza iregularities nini bwana? Irregularities zipo kila sehemu duniani hata uchaguzi uliomchagua Obama kulikuwepo na irregularities, iwe sis?

William J. Malecela · Feb 4, 2009

1.

Many Tanzanians felt that CUF won those elections handsomely on the Isles,

- Huu ni ukweli kwa 100%.

2.

and that Mrema beat Mkapa in the Presidential elections!

- Huu ni uongo kwa 100%.

Elusive · Feb 4, 2009

Independent electoral commisson is the only answer to the elections.

William J. Malecela · Feb 4, 2009

Independent electoral commisson is the only answer to the elections.

- Vipi ilikuwepo kwenye uchaguzi wa rais USA kule Florida mwaka 2000, au huwa inakuja Tanzania tu!

- Maana wananchi wengi waliokufa tayari walishiriki kupiga kura ule uchaguzi, au?

S. S. Phares · Feb 4, 2009

Elusive said:
Independent electoral commisson is the only answer to the elections.

How can you have "Independent Electoral Commission" in a country where only a 25% (or less) of the voters know the meaning of the "Independent Electoral Commission"??.

Furthermore, out of that 25%, it is only 20% among them care about voting for the right candidate. The rest care more about the party, who is running for what sit does not matter much to them.!!

Education is right answer for all our problems.

Manitoba · Feb 4, 2009

Kama mwaka 2004 hivi kuna mshakaji alienda kwenye research mikoa ya kusini; purely academic, hausiani na siasa. Kuna kijiji kimoja walipokelewa na nyimbo za "chama", meza zimepambwa na kanga za CCM. Wakati wanaagwa wakaombwa wampelekee salamu Nyerere.

Kuna kazi kubwa sana inatakiwa kufanywa.

Recta · Feb 4, 2009

Itachukua miaka mingi sana kwa Upinzani kushinda uchaguzi na kuunda serikali, hasa Serikali ya Muungano. Sababu kubwa ni kwamba, upinzani unatumia muda mwingi sana kutamka neno CCM badala ya hata jina la chama chao wenyewe. Ukweli ni kwamba, wanapofanya hivyo (kwa kudhani wanaibomoa CCM), wanakuwa wanaijenga zaidi. Na ndio maana CCM haina lolote la kusema kuhusiana na kutumika kwa jina lao (maana wanajua ni kwa manufaa yao). Vivyo hivyo, wananchi wengi wenye hasira na CCM hulitamka sana jina hilo. Hivyo watu wengi hujaribu kutafuta habari zaidi kuhusiana na CCM. Hii inafanya watu wengi wajue CCM kuliko chama kingine chochote cha siasa. Labda ndio maana hata Mh. Rais alisema, inawezekana upinzani usishinde kabisa na kuongoza nchi.

Ndugu zangu siasa ni ngumu sana, hasa ukiwa mpya kwenye uwanja huo. Wengi wetu tunadhani wananchi wanaopiga kelele kuhusu CCM wanaichukia. Sio kweli. Ukweli ni kwamba, wanatamani CCM mpya tu, basi. Hata humu ndani wapo wengi wanaosema CCM haifai, ila ikifika uchaguzi wanaichagua tena kwenye ngazi zote. Hilo sio kosa. Kosa ni kuchagua kiongozi usie na imani ya uwezo wake.

Uchaguzi huru na wa haki hautegemei International observer kuamua kama ulikuwa huru na wa haki. Uhuru na u-haki wa kuchagua unaanzia kwenye fursa ya kushiriki kwenye kuchagua, kuchagua kwenyewe na hatimae matokeo na jinsi yanavyotolewa. SI lazima uchaguzi huru na wa haki uwe ni ule tu ambao serikali iliyopo madarakani inaposhindwa.

Alpha · Feb 4, 2009

Yebo Yebo said:
Education is right answer for all our problems.

Bingo!

Kiranga · Feb 4, 2009

Seif Sharif Hamad alishinda urais Zanzibar albeit kwa margin ndogo. Salmin Amour kwa msaada wa "Baba Kabwela" wakapiga goli la kisigino.

What a shame!

Augustine Moshi · Feb 5, 2009

Nawashukuru wachangiaji wote, hata wale wenye mawazo nisiyoyakubali.

Naomba niwanukuu kama ifuatavyo:

Gelage Vidunda

Kwanza iregularities nini bwana? Irregularities zipo kila sehemu duniani hata uchaguzi uliomchagua Obama kulikuwepo na irregularities, iwe sis?

Kuna makosa madogo ya kibinadamu na outright theft. Yaani CUF ishinde Zanzibar halafu CCM itangazwe kuwa ndio mshindi kisha useme ni irregularities ndogo? Marekani mnakotoa mfano hashindi huyo lakini akatangazwa mshindi yule.

Field Marshal ES:

Many Tanzanians felt that CUF won those elections handsomely on the Isles, - Huu ni ukweli kwa 100%

Click to expand...

Naona Kiranga naye anaunga mkono ukweli kwamba Hamad alishinda uchaguzi 1995 Zanzibar.

Sasa kama ni ukweli 100% CCM iliiba uchaguzi wakati huo, kwanini tudhanie iliacha wizi tangu hapo? Kichaga tunasema Mbuzi anayekula magadi hawezi kuacha

Yebo Yebo

How can you have "Independent Electoral Commission" in a country where only a 25% (or less) of the voters know the meaning of the "Independent Electoral Commission"?

We had an independent electoral commission in Zambia when Frederick Chiluba beat UNIP, and the conditions were similar to ours. Inawezekana kabisa kuwa na Tume Huru ya Uchaguzi Tanzania. Tangu nikiwa shule ya msingi tulikaririshwa yafuatayo: Inawezekana, timiza wajibu wako What was that all about?

Recta

Uchaguzi huru na wa haki hautegemei International observer kuamua kama ulikuwa huru na wa haki

Hata kwenye ndondi kuna refa. Sasa CCM ikisema ulikuwa wa haki, na wengine wote wakasema ulikuwa si wa haki, nani atauambia ulimwengu yaliyojiri? Lazima kuwe na mashahidi. Na mashahidi huru husikilizwa.

Recta

Si lazima uchaguzi huru na wa haki uwe ni ule tu ambao serikali iliyopo madarakani inaposhindwa

Lakini serikali iliyoko madarakani ikitumia Polisi, Jeshi na Usalama wa Taifa kuhodhi madaraka kama inavyofanya CCM, basi tunashindwa kuwa na uchaguzi huru.

Recta

Itachukua miaka mingi sana kwa Upinzani kushinda uchaguzi na kuunda serikali, hasa Serikali ya Muungano. Sababu kubwa ni kwamba, upinzani unatumia muda mwingi sana kutamka neno CCM badala ya hata jina la chama chao wenyewe

Ndivyo KANU na UNIP walivyokuwa wamedhani. Hata hivyo vyama hivyo vilingolewa na upinzani.

Watanzania wanajua CCM na mtangulizi wake TANU, vimehodhi madaraka kwa mika 47. Na hali ya wananchi inazidi kuwa mbaya kila kukicha. Hata maji ya kunywa hawapati tena?

Kukiwa na uchaguzi huru, lazima CCM itawekwa benchi kwa angalau miaka 10.

Pundamilia07 · Feb 5, 2009

Wengi tunashindwa kufanya homework zetu vizuri pale tunapoona kuwa CCM inashinda viti vingi.

Ni ukweli usiofichika kuwa candidates wengi wazuri hugombea kupitia CCM, hawa ni wagombea ambao hukubalika katika majimbo yao. Hata ukiangalia baadhi ya wale waliosimama kwa ticket ya za vyama vya upinzani nao wanakuwa wametokea CCM, tena wakati mwingine ni mara tu baada ya kura za maoni.

Pili, bado wananchi walio wengi wanaimani na CCM kama chama. Popularity ya CCM na yenyewe pia huongezea ushindi kuwa mkubwa.

Kwa mfano, kule Pemba chama cha wananchi CCW (CC M iliyogeuzwa kuwa W) yaani CUF, ni popular na wananchi wa Pemba wanaimani na chama hicho, japokuwa si wagombea wote wa CUF wanakubalika.

Namba ya ushindi wa CCM itapungua tu endapo hayo niliyoyataja hapo juu yataathirika. Kinyume cha hapo ni kipigo tu.

William J. Malecela · Feb 5, 2009

- Mkuu Pundamilia07 maneno yako ni kweli tupu, hawa good candidates wakishaingia CCM wanabadilika na kua sawa na wengine mafisadi, inasikitisha sana.

Shapu · Feb 5, 2009

Yebo Yebo said:
How can you have "Independent Electoral Commission" in a country where only a 25% (or less) of the voters know the meaning of the "Independent Electoral Commission"??.

Furthermore, out of that 25%, it is only 20% among them care about voting for the right candidate. The rest care more about the party, who is running for what sit does not matter much to them.!!

Education is right answer for all our problems.

...and moreover less than 10% of the total population do vote!!

Koba · Feb 5, 2009

...no doubt CUF walishinda 1995 Isles Presidential Election,Mrema alipata 35% ambayo nina uhakika ilikuwa zaidi ya hiyo ila sina uhakika kama alishinda!

Zero · Feb 5, 2009

Tujitahidi sana kwenye civic education na kuwahamashisha watu (hasa vijana) kutumia haki yao ya kupiga kura ili kuleta mabadiliko na maendeleo. Maeneo ya mijini vijana wengi tena wasomi, wamekata tamaa kabisa. Wengi hawapigi kura inapofika uchaguzi. Its time turudi kwenye the right track na kuamini kura yetu moja inaweza kuleta mabadiliko.

Mahmoud Shariff Qaasim · Feb 5, 2009

time will tell

Recta · Feb 5, 2009

Field Marshall ES said:
- Mkuu Pundamilia07 maneno yako ni kweli tupu, hawa good candidates wakishaingia CCM wanabadilika na kua sawa na wengine mafisadi, inasikitisha sana.

Mkuu FMES, sio kwamba wanabadilika. Ila kinachotokea ni kwamba kuna utaratibu mkali sana wa kuzuia hao wazuri kuonyesha makucha yao ndani ya ngazi za siasa kwenye CCM. Kiongozi wa kisiasa wa CCM anatakiwa kufuata taratibu ndefu na ngumu za kuelezea mambo anayohisi yanakwenda kinyume na matarajio ya wengi. Kumbuka mkuu, wakati wa uchaguzi, wanasiasa huachiwa kusema lolote, ili mradi ashinde. Baada ya ushindi, kila mtu anatakiwa ku-observe taratibu za kichama katika kutoa maoni. mifano ya waliopata matatizo ni mingi na sidhani kama nahitaji kuirudia.

Mkuu, sababu kubwa inayofanya CCM ishinde wala si wizi wa kura. Bali ni sera (ambazo si lazima ziwe zinatekelezeka) na mitandao mikubwa ya uhamasishaji wapiga kura kukichagua. Nasema si wizi peke yake kwasababu, hata wapinzani wangeweza kuiba kura pia. Kwani wao hawashiriki uchaguzi?

Sababu ya pili ni ya kikatiba. Hii mjadala wake ni mkubwa zaidi.

Sababu nyingine, ni maandalizi ya vyama vya upinzani. Vyama vya upinzani inapofika wakati wa uchaguzi ndipo wanapoanza kutaja sera zao. Hivyo kusababisha visiaminike sana kwa wapiga kura. Wakati mwingine huwa natamani sana wapinzani wangeweza kuandaa sera zinazoweza kukubalika na kuwahakikishia ushindi wakati wa chaguzi mbali mbali. Kuna makosa mengi sana katika sera nyingi zinazotumika na hasa katika utekelezaji wake. Ila ni mara chache sana utasikia sera mbadala kutoka upinzani (ama labda zinawafikia wachache sana).

Augustine Moshi · Feb 6, 2009

Recta

Nasema si wizi peke yake kwasababu, hata wapinzani wangeweza kuiba kura pia. Kwani wao hawashiriki uchaguzi?

Wapinzani wangeibaje kura wakati wizi unategemea kushirikishwa Polisi, Jeshi na NEC? Kutokana na mfumo uliopo, Polisi, Jeshi na NEC wako upande mmoja na CCM. Ni juzi juzi tu maofisa wote wa ngazi za juu wa vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama walikuwa wanatakiwa kuwa wana CCM.

Sababu nyingine, ni maandalizi ya vyama vya upinzani. Vyama vya upinzani inapofika wakati wa uchaguzi ndipo wanapoanza kutaja sera zao. Hivyo kusababisha visiaminike sana kwa wapiga kura

Kwani vyama vya upinzani Zambia na Kenya ni tofauti sana na vya kwetu? Mbona vimeshinda?

Swala la msingi kwa Recta na wengine hapa ni hili: Mtasemaje CCM haibi kura na huku mnakubali iliba ushindi Zanzibar 1995?

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