Mlonganzila
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- Feb 28, 2013
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Is Magufuli the man Nyerere sought?
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By Mwassa Jingi
The year 1995 was of great social changes for Tanzania. The first multiparty elections were held in that year after three decades of single party system. Within that period of time, the country passed through different stages of social change, almost in all aspects of life. So, in this year the country was to test for first the time a constitutional limit in which the president would serve only two terms of five years each.
President Ali Hassan Mwinyi was to complete its second term in office and pave the way for a new leader to be elected through a general election involving several political parties. President Julius Nyerere had stayed in office for 23 years.
The fear of these changes raised Mwalimu Nyerere from his rest as retired president and decided to actively participate in the process of getting the new leader. Through a press conference, Mwalimu addressed the nation, citing about six crucial issues that he wanted a new president to tackle them so as to save the country from self-destruction.
He maintained that, after 30 years of independence, Tanzania's social fabric was under test. The country was suffering under the scourge of high level corruption, religiosity and tribalism. Furthermore, Mwalimu wanted a new president to deal with included people's ill-feelings on the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and poor collection of tax.
Mwalimu Nyerere thus went on to underline basic qualities of the kind of person that he thought was qualified to be the next president.
However, Mwalimu's speech was received with mixed feelings by general public. One journalist asked Mwalimu if such kind of a person would be found among Tanzanians. Though embarrassed with that question, without any hesitation, quickly Mwalimu responded by saying that there were so many Tanzanians of high integrity that would fit to lead Tanzania and enabled it to pass safely through that turbulent moment.
According to Mwalimu, the problem was not that Tanzania had no a person with presidential qualities but the problem was how to get him, in particular from ruling party which Mwalimu said it was suffering from a cancerous leadership.
When the process of nomination began within CCM Mwalimu got himself involved. His participation in the CCM primaries ended with Benjamin Mkapa as its presidential candidate; a man though infamous politician, secured Mwalimu's full endorsement. Thinking Mkapa was the right choice, Mwalimu travelled across the country campaigning for Mkapa; asking Tanzanians to vote for him because he was 'Mr Clean' and he would lead a war against corruption successfully.
Unfortunately, Mwalimu didn't live long enough to see the end of Mkapa's administration in 2005. Mr Mkapa did something as the third President of Tanzania. He revived the economy, serviced internal and external debts and was saluted by international community for his good leadership in comparison to his predecessor.
However, not many were happy with how he finished his tenure. After Mr Mkapa, CCM ushered in Jakaya Kikwete. He tried to accomplish much, but left the country under the same scourge of corruption and high embezzlement almost in all sectors.
Now we have Dr John Magufuli, a man who began his presidency with a style of his own. If we had to ask Tanzanians today, who among the two predecessors of Magufuli and Magufuli himself they think would fit exactly the qualities underlined by Mwalimu in 1995 for a person who would fearlessly fight against corruption. No doubt, many would say Magufuli is the one.
Mwalimu hinted that, a serious person who really hates corruption can be seen from his face. His words must match with his appearance as he utters his words. President Magufuli's words do match his facial expression - at least this far, three months since he ascended to office. He has proved to be firm. The system President Magufuli inherited is rotten.
As such a day hardly passes without hearing the news of a senior officer being sacked - all for corruption allegations. May be it is too early to accurately assess President Magufuli against his predecessors. Let's give him time. Nyerere sought a leader of integrity, is he the one?
In today's political environment it is very difficult to get people of integrity in public leadership. Even President Magufuli himself is aware of this syndrome, because he must have experienced hardships when forming his government.
He was forced to appoint pure bureaucrats as members of Parliament so that he could include them in his cabinet. If our politics are wrong we shouldn't anticipate getting good leaders of high integrity. Although he has proved to possess some of the qualities that Mwalimu Nyerere sought in the next leader of the country, his party, CCM, will need a lot of fixing so that it would be able to match his pace.
The biggest test is the Zanzibar crisis. President Magufuli says it is beyond his scope, and that all matters rest with the Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Is it true?
President Magufuli must embrace truth in whatever decision he makes.
Source:
Is Magufuli the man Nyerere sought?.[/FONT]
cc: Masikini_Jeuri .Mlonganzila
[/SIZE]
By Mwassa Jingi
The year 1995 was of great social changes for Tanzania. The first multiparty elections were held in that year after three decades of single party system. Within that period of time, the country passed through different stages of social change, almost in all aspects of life. So, in this year the country was to test for first the time a constitutional limit in which the president would serve only two terms of five years each.
President Ali Hassan Mwinyi was to complete its second term in office and pave the way for a new leader to be elected through a general election involving several political parties. President Julius Nyerere had stayed in office for 23 years.
The fear of these changes raised Mwalimu Nyerere from his rest as retired president and decided to actively participate in the process of getting the new leader. Through a press conference, Mwalimu addressed the nation, citing about six crucial issues that he wanted a new president to tackle them so as to save the country from self-destruction.
He maintained that, after 30 years of independence, Tanzania's social fabric was under test. The country was suffering under the scourge of high level corruption, religiosity and tribalism. Furthermore, Mwalimu wanted a new president to deal with included people's ill-feelings on the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and poor collection of tax.
Mwalimu Nyerere thus went on to underline basic qualities of the kind of person that he thought was qualified to be the next president.
However, Mwalimu's speech was received with mixed feelings by general public. One journalist asked Mwalimu if such kind of a person would be found among Tanzanians. Though embarrassed with that question, without any hesitation, quickly Mwalimu responded by saying that there were so many Tanzanians of high integrity that would fit to lead Tanzania and enabled it to pass safely through that turbulent moment.
According to Mwalimu, the problem was not that Tanzania had no a person with presidential qualities but the problem was how to get him, in particular from ruling party which Mwalimu said it was suffering from a cancerous leadership.
When the process of nomination began within CCM Mwalimu got himself involved. His participation in the CCM primaries ended with Benjamin Mkapa as its presidential candidate; a man though infamous politician, secured Mwalimu's full endorsement. Thinking Mkapa was the right choice, Mwalimu travelled across the country campaigning for Mkapa; asking Tanzanians to vote for him because he was 'Mr Clean' and he would lead a war against corruption successfully.
Unfortunately, Mwalimu didn't live long enough to see the end of Mkapa's administration in 2005. Mr Mkapa did something as the third President of Tanzania. He revived the economy, serviced internal and external debts and was saluted by international community for his good leadership in comparison to his predecessor.
However, not many were happy with how he finished his tenure. After Mr Mkapa, CCM ushered in Jakaya Kikwete. He tried to accomplish much, but left the country under the same scourge of corruption and high embezzlement almost in all sectors.
Now we have Dr John Magufuli, a man who began his presidency with a style of his own. If we had to ask Tanzanians today, who among the two predecessors of Magufuli and Magufuli himself they think would fit exactly the qualities underlined by Mwalimu in 1995 for a person who would fearlessly fight against corruption. No doubt, many would say Magufuli is the one.
Mwalimu hinted that, a serious person who really hates corruption can be seen from his face. His words must match with his appearance as he utters his words. President Magufuli's words do match his facial expression - at least this far, three months since he ascended to office. He has proved to be firm. The system President Magufuli inherited is rotten.
As such a day hardly passes without hearing the news of a senior officer being sacked - all for corruption allegations. May be it is too early to accurately assess President Magufuli against his predecessors. Let's give him time. Nyerere sought a leader of integrity, is he the one?
In today's political environment it is very difficult to get people of integrity in public leadership. Even President Magufuli himself is aware of this syndrome, because he must have experienced hardships when forming his government.
He was forced to appoint pure bureaucrats as members of Parliament so that he could include them in his cabinet. If our politics are wrong we shouldn't anticipate getting good leaders of high integrity. Although he has proved to possess some of the qualities that Mwalimu Nyerere sought in the next leader of the country, his party, CCM, will need a lot of fixing so that it would be able to match his pace.
The biggest test is the Zanzibar crisis. President Magufuli says it is beyond his scope, and that all matters rest with the Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Is it true?
President Magufuli must embrace truth in whatever decision he makes.
Source:
Is Magufuli the man Nyerere sought?.[/FONT]
cc: Masikini_Jeuri .Mlonganzila
