Elections 2010 Kwanini hakuna international media coverage ya Tanzania election

[Lucchese DeCavalcante]

Wakuu huu uchaguzi kwa kweli unaelekea waweza kuwa na zengwa yaani vyombo vya habari kama BBC, CNN etc hawafuatilii uchaguzi huu kabisa yaani kwenye website zao hawana article zozote zinazogusia japo kidogo kuhusu October 31 2010 Tanzania general election?

 

[Watu]

Wakuu huu uchaguzi kwa kweli unaelekea waweza kuwa na zengwa yaani vyombo vya habari kama BBC, CNN etc hawafuatilii uchaguzi huu kabisa yaani kwenye website zao hawana article zozote zinazogusia japo kidogo kuhusu October 31 2010 Tanzania general election?

Matokeo wanayajua, hakuna cha kutangaza

 

[Kudi Shauri]

AFRICA CONFIDENTIAL ya Friday 22nd October 2010 had this to say on TZ elections:

FRIDAY 22nd October 2010
Vol 51 N0 21
Print version PDF Version (398kb) RSS TANZANIA
Challenging the CCM
The rise of the opposition Chadema party will not threaten the CCM's majority but it will make the election battles fiercer

The majority of the governing party, Chama cha Mapinduzi, is unlikely to be overturned at the 31 October election. There are nevertheless widespread expectations of good results for the opposition. The Parliament which was dissolved in July had a CCM majority over all the opposition seats combined – 277 of 322 – but this time around, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) looks set for a strong showing.

Illustrative of the new possibilities for the opposition is the candidacy in Tarime of Chadema's Mwikabe Mwita Waitara, a former CCM Youth League leader in Tanga region who was unceremoniously expelled from the party after a row with CCM bigwigs. Waitara comes from one of the biggest clans in the area, in the north-west bordering Kenya and Lake Victoria, and is highly regarded in Tarime town and the surrounding villages. He has managed to win a significant following among owners of small and medium businesses, who are backing his campaign fund with their money.

The campaign bears a strong resemblance to that of the late Chacha Wangwe, who had no money but harnessed a popular protest against the CCM candidate to win against the odds. He died in a car crash outside Dodoma two years ago. Wangwe's successor as member of parliament for Tarime was Charles Mwera Nyanguru, who defected to the Civic United Front (CUF) after he failed to prevail over Waitara in the selection process. Mwera's chances of victory are thought to be remote.

Waitara is a powerful orator and a political science graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam. The CCM's chances of success against him are considered poor but the party sees the seat as a vital target. Waitara's CCM opponent will be Nyambari Nyangwine, who comes from the same clan (Mwilegi) as Charles Mwera but has a reputation for arrogance. CCM bigwig Enock Mwita Chambiri, who has a lot of influence in the area and is vying for a seat in Babati, makes frequent visits to Tarime to campaign for Nyangwine, who is at a great disadvantage in not having a permanent residence in the constituency, where local issues and ties are seen as particularly important to electors.

Tarime is the only area where the CCM is regarded as the opposition and Chadema as the natural governing party. If, by some remote chance, the CCM won the elections there, the consensus is that there would be widespread mayhem as voters would believe the result had been fixed. Chadema is widely regarded as having replaced the CUF as the second-largest party and its most credible challenger, which is a first for the CCM offshoot. Chadema is likely to win seats in constituencies such as Ubungo (Dar es Salaam), Moshi Urban (where it hopes to hold the seat of Philemon Ndesamburo) and Arusha Urban.

Since the advent of multiparty politics in 1995, Wilbrod Peter Slaa's Karatu constituency has been a Chadema stronghold and attempts by the CCM top brass to woo voters in the area have borne no fruit. With Slaa standing for the presidency, the candidate is expected to be Reverend Israel Yohana Natse, once Slaa's right-hand man. The CCM is fielding Wilbord Slaa Lorri, former Director of the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Commission, in a blatant attempt to exploit possible confusion over the names.

Possible gains for Chadema
A generally held view is that Chadema is likely to make significant gains in the constituencies of Hai in Kilimanjaro region and Kawe in Dar es Salaam. In the Nyamagana constituency in Mwanza, Ezekiel Wenje, a newcomer to politics, is giving the Minister for Home Affairs, Lawrence Masha, a run for his money in the campaign so far. Nevertheless, the CCM is likely to try everything in its power to avoid losing the seat.

Another constituency likely to go to the opposition is Vunjo in Kilimanjaro. Chadema is also likely to retain Kigoma North, held by the youthful Kabwe Zuberi Zitto. Mbeya Urban is the locus of another determined attempt to oust the CCM incumbent. Joseph Mbilinyi, a hip-hop artist better known as Mr II or Sugu, is standing for Chadema against the CCM's Benson Mwailugula Mpesya.

Vigorous as campaigning has been, many observers viewed the stern warnings of possible disruption to the polls by the Chief of Staff of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF), Lieutenant General Abdulrahman A. Shimbo, as the biggest threat to electoral peace so far. Several influential clergy and politicians declared that the army was making an attempt at intimidation after statements he made at a joint press conference with the Tanzania Police and its top officers early in October.

Shimbo had said that certain parties were predicting bloodshed at the polls and warned that the police and army were ready to deal with this should it happen. ‘The opposition parties must accept the results,' he said, adding that they were investigating people intent on disrupting the elections and noted that there was ‘an unbecoming trend and behaviour' among political parties in their approach to the polls.

Wilbrod Slaa had earlier alleged that the government had told various state agencies to ensure a CCM victory but Shimbo strongly denied this. Of the contentious constituencies, electoral observers see Tarime as the main possible flashpoint. The European Union expressed its dismay at Shimbo's statement. The Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, David Martin, said he was ‘really disappointed'. The TPDF had never said anything similar, whether in conjunction with the police or not, in the run-up to any previous elections.

The strength of the CCM's campaigning recalls that of an opposition party attempt to gain power, not one trying to keep it. Plentiful resources to woo electors have been deployed, including placards, scarves, key-rings, caps, T-Shirts, banners and other paraphernalia. Though missing from the currency, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete's face is everywhere else and his posters far outnumber those of the other candidates. Taking its cue from Chadema which has been using a helicopter in its presidential election campaigns, the CCM has gone one better and hired two, the presidential chopper plus an escort.

Tanzanians are generally loathe to comment on the health of others and this could be benefiting the President, 60, as he has fainted while on the campaign trail in the past, leading to questions about his general health. The major political issues that are coming out strongly include proper management of national resources, health, agriculture and mining contracts, which Chadema has promised to look at afresh. Reconstituting the National Electoral Commission is another big issue. The NEC has been accused in the past of favouring the governing party. Chadema has also pledged, if elected, to amend the 1996 Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service Act and to form an agency that would have its allegiance to the nation rather than to individual leaders.

Since last year, when the CCM and the main opposition party in the Isles, the CUF, decided to bury the hatchet and amend the constitution to create a Government of National Unity accord aimed at bringing about lasting peace, campaigns have been peaceful. During violent elections in Zanzibar in 2005, several lives were lost. The present campaign, where all sides are preaching harmony, is in strong contrast with the often vicious rhetoric of the past. Observers consider the process in Zanzibar peaceful so far but fear possible overzealousness by the police. As well as the EU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also sent in a strong observer team, led by the Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande.


Kudi Shauri

 

[Chelenje]

may be tanzania hawaijui

 

[Mkulima mimi]

Kama mwananchi ni wachochezi mtaweza kuwavumilia aljazeera!

 

[Lucchese DeCavalcante]

AFRICA CONFIDENTIAL ya Friday 22nd October 2010 had this to say on TZ elections:

FRIDAY 22nd October 2010
Vol 51 N0 21
Print version PDF Version (398kb) RSS TANZANIA
Challenging the CCM
The rise of the opposition Chadema party will not threaten the CCM's majority but it will make the election battles fiercer

The majority of the governing party, Chama cha Mapinduzi, is unlikely to be overturned at the 31 October election. There are nevertheless widespread expectations of good results for the opposition. The Parliament which was dissolved in July had a CCM majority over all the opposition seats combined – 277 of 322 – but this time around, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) looks set for a strong showing.

Illustrative of the new possibilities for the opposition is the candidacy in Tarime of Chadema's Mwikabe Mwita Waitara, a former CCM Youth League leader in Tanga region who was unceremoniously expelled from the party after a row with CCM bigwigs. Waitara comes from one of the biggest clans in the area, in the north-west bordering Kenya and Lake Victoria, and is highly regarded in Tarime town and the surrounding villages. He has managed to win a significant following among owners of small and medium businesses, who are backing his campaign fund with their money.

The campaign bears a strong resemblance to that of the late Chacha Wangwe, who had no money but harnessed a popular protest against the CCM candidate to win against the odds. He died in a car crash outside Dodoma two years ago. Wangwe's successor as member of parliament for Tarime was Charles Mwera Nyanguru, who defected to the Civic United Front (CUF) after he failed to prevail over Waitara in the selection process. Mwera's chances of victory are thought to be remote.

Waitara is a powerful orator and a political science graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam. The CCM's chances of success against him are considered poor but the party sees the seat as a vital target. Waitara's CCM opponent will be Nyambari Nyangwine, who comes from the same clan (Mwilegi) as Charles Mwera but has a reputation for arrogance. CCM bigwig Enock Mwita Chambiri, who has a lot of influence in the area and is vying for a seat in Babati, makes frequent visits to Tarime to campaign for Nyangwine, who is at a great disadvantage in not having a permanent residence in the constituency, where local issues and ties are seen as particularly important to electors.

Tarime is the only area where the CCM is regarded as the opposition and Chadema as the natural governing party. If, by some remote chance, the CCM won the elections there, the consensus is that there would be widespread mayhem as voters would believe the result had been fixed. Chadema is widely regarded as having replaced the CUF as the second-largest party and its most credible challenger, which is a first for the CCM offshoot. Chadema is likely to win seats in constituencies such as Ubungo (Dar es Salaam), Moshi Urban (where it hopes to hold the seat of Philemon Ndesamburo) and Arusha Urban.

Since the advent of multiparty politics in 1995, Wilbrod Peter Slaa's Karatu constituency has been a Chadema stronghold and attempts by the CCM top brass to woo voters in the area have borne no fruit. With Slaa standing for the presidency, the candidate is expected to be Reverend Israel Yohana Natse, once Slaa's right-hand man. The CCM is fielding Wilbord Slaa Lorri, former Director of the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Commission, in a blatant attempt to exploit possible confusion over the names.

Possible gains for Chadema
A generally held view is that Chadema is likely to make significant gains in the constituencies of Hai in Kilimanjaro region and Kawe in Dar es Salaam. In the Nyamagana constituency in Mwanza, Ezekiel Wenje, a newcomer to politics, is giving the Minister for Home Affairs, Lawrence Masha, a run for his money in the campaign so far. Nevertheless, the CCM is likely to try everything in its power to avoid losing the seat.

Another constituency likely to go to the opposition is Vunjo in Kilimanjaro. Chadema is also likely to retain Kigoma North, held by the youthful Kabwe Zuberi Zitto. Mbeya Urban is the locus of another determined attempt to oust the CCM incumbent. Joseph Mbilinyi, a hip-hop artist better known as Mr II or Sugu, is standing for Chadema against the CCM's Benson Mwailugula Mpesya.

Vigorous as campaigning has been, many observers viewed the stern warnings of possible disruption to the polls by the Chief of Staff of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF), Lieutenant General Abdulrahman A. Shimbo, as the biggest threat to electoral peace so far. Several influential clergy and politicians declared that the army was making an attempt at intimidation after statements he made at a joint press conference with the Tanzania Police and its top officers early in October.

Shimbo had said that certain parties were predicting bloodshed at the polls and warned that the police and army were ready to deal with this should it happen. ‘The opposition parties must accept the results,' he said, adding that they were investigating people intent on disrupting the elections and noted that there was ‘an unbecoming trend and behaviour' among political parties in their approach to the polls.

Wilbrod Slaa had earlier alleged that the government had told various state agencies to ensure a CCM victory but Shimbo strongly denied this. Of the contentious constituencies, electoral observers see Tarime as the main possible flashpoint. The European Union expressed its dismay at Shimbo's statement. The Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, David Martin, said he was ‘really disappointed'. The TPDF had never said anything similar, whether in conjunction with the police or not, in the run-up to any previous elections.

The strength of the CCM's campaigning recalls that of an opposition party attempt to gain power, not one trying to keep it. Plentiful resources to woo electors have been deployed, including placards, scarves, key-rings, caps, T-Shirts, banners and other paraphernalia. Though missing from the currency, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete's face is everywhere else and his posters far outnumber those of the other candidates. Taking its cue from Chadema which has been using a helicopter in its presidential election campaigns, the CCM has gone one better and hired two, the presidential chopper plus an escort.

Tanzanians are generally loathe to comment on the health of others and this could be benefiting the President, 60, as he has fainted while on the campaign trail in the past, leading to questions about his general health. The major political issues that are coming out strongly include proper management of national resources, health, agriculture and mining contracts, which Chadema has promised to look at afresh. Reconstituting the National Electoral Commission is another big issue. The NEC has been accused in the past of favouring the governing party. Chadema has also pledged, if elected, to amend the 1996 Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service Act and to form an agency that would have its allegiance to the nation rather than to individual leaders.

Since last year, when the CCM and the main opposition party in the Isles, the CUF, decided to bury the hatchet and amend the constitution to create a Government of National Unity accord aimed at bringing about lasting peace, campaigns have been peaceful. During violent elections in Zanzibar in 2005, several lives were lost. The present campaign, where all sides are preaching harmony, is in strong contrast with the often vicious rhetoric of the past. Observers consider the process in Zanzibar peaceful so far but fear possible overzealousness by the police. As well as the EU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has also sent in a strong observer team, led by the Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande.


Kudi Shauri

very good article with a detailed analysis on Tanzania elections

 

[kiraia]

Nimeipenda sana habari ya Africa Confidential, hawa ndio wako fair kwenye habari zao na media za Tanzania wanatakiwa kujifunza kuwa fair kama hawa jamaa.