Lowassa’s U-turn on Katiba process

[Ng'wamapalala]

Chadema presidential candidate Edward Lowassa said yesterday he supports the proposed new constitution as drafted by the Judge Joseph Warioba-led Constitution Review Commission.

He said if elected president in the October polls, he would move fast to bring to fruition the dream by Tanzanians to have a new constitution as captured by the people-driven commission.

The former Prime Minister who recently defected from CCM to Chadema said support for the Warioba Draft Constitution was one of the agreements in Ukawa—the opposition coalition under which he would contest the presidency. “We don’t need to continue supporting the proposed new constitution that wasn’t the choice of the people,” said Mr Lowassa at a massively attended rally.

The gathering was one in a series of countrywide rallies meant to introduce the Ukawa flag bearer and his running mate, Mr Juma Duni Haji, besides seeking voters’ endorsement for their presidency bid.

Before his defection, Mr Lowassa went for a CCM ticket but was locked out early at the first stage in a contest that was won by works minister John Pombe Magufuli. The former PM will now have a chance to square it out with his erstwhile party colleague at the ballot.

While in CCM, Mr Lowassa backed the proposed new constitution as re-drafted by the Constituent Assembly (CA). The opposition to the CA document by members of the Opposition led to a walkout that eventually gave birth to the Ukawa grouping.

Ukawa which has since metamorphosed into a political movement drew support from groups that were against the “dilution” of the Judge Warioba Draft Katiba.

The main sticking points that divided the CA included the type of Union government, with CCM rooting for the current two-government system while the largely opposition members wanted three.

Yesterday, Mr Lowassa declared that Zanzibar would be given full autonomy under a new Union structure under his government. This position was reinforced at the rally by Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe who told the rally that Chadema which welcomed the commission’s Katiba proposals former PM to join them knew he would support their stance.

Mr Lowassa asked the ecstatic supporters waving the flags of the four main parties in the coalition to vote for him and Mr Seif Shariff Hamad who is running for the Zanzibar presidency for the fourth time with the Civic United Front ticket. Mr Hamad is the First Vice President under the Government of National Unity (GNU).

He said the first step towards realising a new and prosperous Tanzania was to vote the Opposition into power. “If you elect me and Mr Hamad, you will see how fast this country develops. It will not be business as usual because with all our resource endowment we still lag behind small countries and are trailing behind all our EAC partners in the poverty alleviation drive,” he said.

He reiterated his warning against attempts to interfere with the elections in October, saying there was little else that could stop the public from voting out CCM that has ruled the country for more than 50 years. “CCM’s time is over. There is no one who will stop the people desire to bring change now,” said Mr Lowassa. The former PM appealed to former colleagues in CCM to cross over and be part of what he described as historic triumph over CCM by the masses.

Mr Haji said CCM should be ready to accept defeat and learn from the history of other independent parties that have since fallen by the wayside. He cited Russia, Ukraine and Egypt.

“There is nowhere in the world where the state overrun the power of the masses,” said Mr Haji, an erstwhile CUF member and health minister in Zanzibar’s GNU to join Chadema in order to qualify as Mr Lowassa’s running mate.

In his remarks, Mr Hamad asked President Jakaya Kikwete and his Zanzibar counterpart to prevail against the use of armed forces and other security personnel in the elections. He claimed that those in government were abusing their power.

“My brother and friend Kikwete; please ensure you leave this country peaceful as you found it because there is no way that CCM can be saved now,” he said, noting that a gang calling itself Janjaweed in the Isle was terrorising perceived opposition supporters.

Mr Mbowe assured the rally that despite many challenges, Ukawa would stand together in the resolve to beat CCM. “We have a long way and have withstood the test of time to say confidently that we can now lead this country better,” said Mr Mbowe.

Mr James Mbatia of NCCRMageuzi repeated the warning that Ukawa would instruct its lawyers to record all the human rights violation committed by state agencies in the campaigns so as to take appropriate remedy, including suing those responsible at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

SOURCE: The citizen

 

[Ng'wamapalala]

Political U-turns not so bad... provided they work! We all know voters also do U-turns all the time!

Is it time to applaud politicians who U-turn?

If we look at other side, U-turn creates the impression of lack of grip and direction, and chaotic decision making to a politicians. Now, Mr Lowassa is open to attack, criticism, and ridicule from the opposition to Three tier government.

Lowassa U-turn is not new, politicians will promise just about anything to get elected. Unfortunately, as we know all too well, most of these pledges are consistently forgotten and broken, swept under the rug until the next election cycle.

Nawaza tu kama hii U-turn ingetokea kama angekuwa amevaa nguo za kijani na njano zenye nembo ya jembe na nyundo!

Mpaka Uchaguzi upite, tutaendelea kusikia mengi kutoka kwa wanasiasa wetu!

 

[Eric Cartman]

Popularity of a politicians grows as a result of their long standing views and social principles they held high.

Mtu yeyote anaye badilika kimsimamo haraka namna hiyo siyo wa kuaminiwa kabisa Lowassa kwa sasa atasema chochote kuwavutia wafuasi wa UKAWA if anything anaonyesha ni mwanasiasa muongo, asiye na morals na pengine kweli ana agenda binafsi za kulifilisi taifa.

 

[Cham Bee]

Ni bora ale peke yake kuliko lile kundi zima la ccm aka mchwa.

 

[Mfikirishi]

You are against wananchi if you don't support what they die-hard support.... Brilliantly played U-turn by Mr. Lowassa.

 

[kapotolo]

Msimamo wake mwanzoni ulikuwa serikali 3 (According to Polepole). Nadhani CCM wakambadilisha lakini kwa sasa amepata jukwaa la kusimamia msimamo wake wa awali (Serikali tatu)

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mtu anapoamua kubadili mawazo juu ya jambo linalohusiana na msimamo au kanuni fulani ni lazima awe na sababu za msingi za kumfanya kubadili mawazo. Kubadili mawazo kwa sababu ya sababu fulani za msingi ni jambo la kawaida na ni sehemu ya maisha, na hasa katika siasa. Kwa mfano, mtu akiamua kubadili mawazo juu ya suala la Muungano kwa mfano ni lazima ana sababu; kwamba alichokuwa anaamini kilikuwa hakina msingi na sasa ameona mwanga fulani. Lowassa anaweza kweli amebadili mawazo kwa sababu sasa ameona mwanga.

Lakini katika mazingira ya siasa za sasa ni vigumu kuona jinsi gani ameweza kugeuza mawazo baada ya kupewa nafasi ya kugombea isipokuwa amekubali kubeba mawazo ya wale ambao sapoti yake anaihitaji ili kuweza kwenda Ikulu. Kwa sababu hiyo itambidi aibeze CCM, aseme kinyume na yale aliyoyasema akiwa CCM na itabidi ajioneshe kuwa sasa amevaa joho jipya la upinzani. Kama hili ni suala la moyoni au la kisiasa tu hakuna anayejua. Isipokuwa angalau kama ametamka kwa kauli yake basi inabidi tukubali kwa kauli yake hiyo. Ila akishinda au kushindwa ndio tutajua anasimama wapi hasa kwani akishinda halafu akaamua kutokutoa full autonomy na akasimamia suala la Serikali Mbili kama alivyofanya akiwa CCM CDM watamfanya nini?

 

[Ng'wamapalala]

Popularity of a politicians grows as a result of their long standing views and social principles they held high.

Mtu yeyote anaye badilika kimsimamo haraka namna hiyo siyo wa kuaminiwa kabisa Lowassa kwa sasa atasema chochote kuwavutia wafuasi wa UKAWA if anything anaonyesha ni mwanasiasa muongo, asiye na morals na pengine kweli ana agenda binafsi za kulifilisi taifa.

Mkuu,
Popularity of a political party and politicians grows in Tanzania as a result of flip-floping!

CHADEMA baada ya kupiga teke its core principle (Ufisadi), Now, the party is riding high!

Even Lowassa is going to ride high after u-turn!

My bro, this is Tanzania!

 

[jogi]

Mtu anapoamua kubadili mawazo juu ya jambo linalohusiana na msimamo au kanuni fulani ni lazima awe na sababu za msingi za kumfanya kubadili mawazo. Kubadili mawazo kwa sababu ya sababu fulani za msingi ni jambo la kawaida na ni sehemu ya maisha, na hasa katika siasa. Kwa mfano, mtu akiamua kubadili mawazo juu ya suala la Muungano kwa mfano ni lazima ana sababu; kwamba alichokuwa anaamini kilikuwa hakina msingi na sasa ameona mwanga fulani. Lowassa anaweza kweli amebadili mawazo kwa sababu sasa ameona mwanga.

Lakini katika mazingira ya siasa za sasa ni vigumu kuona jinsi gani ameweza kugeuza mawazo baada ya kupewa nafasi ya kugombea isipokuwa amekubali kubeba mawazo ya wale ambao sapoti yake anaihitaji ili kuweza kwenda Ikulu. Kwa sababu hiyo itambidi aibeze CCM, aseme kinyume na yale aliyoyasema akiwa CCM na itabidi ajioneshe kuwa sasa amevaa joho jipya la upinzani. Kama hili ni suala la moyoni au la kisiasa tu hakuna anayejua. Isipokuwa angalau kama ametamka kwa kauli yake basi inabidi tukubali kwa kauli yake hiyo. Ila akishinda au kushindwa ndio tutajua anasimama wapi hasa kwani akishinda halafu akaamua kutokutoa full autonomy na akasimamia suala la Serikali Mbili kama alivyofanya akiwa CCM CDM watamfanya nini?

watamnyang'anya kadi ya uanachama.

 

[TEKNOLOJIA]

Feeling threatened now?Mr Lowassa amemfunga mdomo Polepole kwamba UKAWA imekiuka misingi yake yenyewe kwa kumchukua Lowassa,aje na wimbo mwingine sasa.Katiba mpya inarudi tena kuwa ajenda kuu ya UKAWA ktk kampeni,CCM mnachukia mkisikia neno katiba ya wananchi maana mgombea wenu mwenza mama Samia alikuwa naibu spika wa bunge wa maalum la katiba lililochakachua maoni ya Watanzania.Lowassa is taking the wind off your sail now,I know you didn't expect this from him that's why you're in a panic mode.

 

[KIM KARDASH]

Baada ya uchaguzi lowassa ataanzisha chama chake kitakachokua na mseto wa wale aliotoka nao ccm na baadhi ya aliyowakuta chadema,hiyo ndio long term plan yake,hiiya sasa ni short term plan tu,hutaki unaacha.

 

[Eric Cartman]

Mkuu,
Popularity of a political party and politicians grows in Tanzania as a result of flip-floping!

CHADEMA baada ya kupiga teke its core principle (Ufisadi), Now, the party is riding high!

Even Lowassa is going to ride high after u-turn!

My bro, this is Tanzania!

I agree, though isn't that an enough reason not to trust such people.

Walau ata hao CCM wanamisimamo inayo eleweka mtu asiekupa ahadi au anabadilisha ahadi anaweza kukukana saa yoyote lake likimwendea kama team UKAWA walivyo watupa akina Dr.Slaa na Prof.Lipumba.

Sasa unajiuliza hawa watanzania wana waamini vipi watu wa aina hii there is one conclusion in all this to me Lowassa ni muongo, aliweza wageuka wenzake wengi waliomsupport wakishindwa warudi kusaidia uchaguzi leo wapo waliobaki na wengi waliomfuata ni kwa sababu ya kukatwa surely this is not a man of his word atawageuka tu na UKAWA huko mbele ndio hulka yake inaonekana, yaani hawa watu wanaomuunga mkono Lowassa ni matatizo matupu.

 

[KIM KARDASH]

Hayo maneno kaenda kuyasemea kibanda maitiiiii...mwanza,dar na mbeya hakusema,anajua ndio wanachopenda kusikia watu wa kibanda maiti.

 

[Ng'wamapalala]

Msimamo wake mwanzoni ulikuwa serikali 3 (According to Polepole). Nadhani CCM wakambadilisha lakini kwa sasa amepata jukwaa la kusimamia msimamo wake wa awali (Serikali tatu)

Sidhani kama Lowassa alikuwa muumini wa serikali tatu.

Hebu msikilize hapa anavyopinga serikali tatu!

 

[Ng'wamapalala]

kisiasa tu hakuna anayejua. Isipokuwa angalau kama ametamka kwa kauli yake basi inabidi tukubali kwa kauli yake hiyo. Ila akishinda au kushindwa ndio tutajua anasimama wapi hasa kwani akishinda halafu akaamua kutokutoa full autonomy na akasimamia suala la Serikali Mbili kama alivyofanya akiwa CCM CDM watamfanya nini?

kwa katiba hii ya mwaka 1977 iliyojaa nguvu za madaraka ya Rais. Hata kama Lowassa akibadili mawazo kama atakuwa Rais( highly unlikely), ninaamini CHADEMA hawawezi kumfanya lolote.

Rais Kikwete aliamua kuanzisha mchakato wa katiba kimabavu ndani ya CCM pamoja na kwamba haikuwa ndani ya Ilani ya Uchaguzi, hakuna aliyemfanya lolote zaidi ya wazee (wahafidhina) kunung'unika kichini chini.

 

[Tai Ngwilizi]

Sioni la kushangaza hapo, kama ni u turn Lowassa alishapiga tangu siku alipojiunga na UKAWA kupitia CHADEMA, Lowasa alijua UKAWA is primarily about the new constitution, hapo ndio mzizi wa kila kitu... yaani hakuna katiba ya UKAWA hakuna UKAWA, hapo ndio palipofanya watu waweke kila kitu pembeni waungane, hivi vyama vinne vina itikadi tofauti na mengi tu wanayopingana na kupishana wenyewe kwa wenyewe, ila vinakubaliana katika mambo mawili makuu...la kwanza rasimu ya katiba, la pili kuitoa ccm madarakani, wanachama wa hivi vyama wengi wao ni walala hoi ambao bila kujali tofauti za itikadi zao wanaishi maisha magumu chini ya utaratibu uliopo unaozidisha gap kati ya matajiri na maskini na kunyanyasa wale ambao ni tishio kwa utawala wa chama tawala hili tayari linawaunganisha pamoja. Lowasa kwa kusema mwenyewe kwa kauli yake kwamba atasimamia katiba iliyotakiwa na wananchi na iliweka UKAWA pamoja ni jambo la baraka kwa nchi hii, Lowasa asingeweza kwenda UKAWA kusimamia katiba iliyopitishwa na ccm hali akijua wazi ukawa ni Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi.

tunaihitaji hii katiba mpya ya wananchi like never before, katiba iliyopitishwa na ccm haitupeleki popote hata tumweke pale magogoni malaika original fresh kutoka mbinguni.

 

[TEKNOLOJIA]

kwa katiba hii ya mwaka 1977 iliyojaa nguvu za madaraka ya Rais. Hata kama Lowassa akibadili mawazo kama atakuwa Rais( highly unlikely), ninaamini CHADEMA hawawezi kumfanya lolote.

Rais Kikwete aliamua kuanzisha mchakato wa katiba kimabavu ndani ya CCM pamoja na kwamba haikuwa ndani ya Ilani ya Uchaguzi, hakuna aliyemfanya lolote zaidi ya wazee (wahafidhina) kunung'unika kichini chini.

Hivi kweli Kikwete alitaka kuleta katiba mpya au yalikuwa ni maigizo yake tu?Why did he cave in?

 

[MCHUMIA JUAN]

msimamo wake mwanzoni ulikuwa serikali 3 (according to polepole). Nadhani ccm wakambadilisha lakini kwa sasa amepata jukwaa la kusimamia msimamo wake wa awali (serikali tatu)

kwan mnamuamin polepole ambaye mmemtus juz tu kwel siasa mbaya mkiona haki yenu imetajwa bac anafaa

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

watamnyang'anya kadi ya uanachama.

wataanzaje?

 

[Mary Assey]

Sidhani kama Lowassa alikuwa muumini wa serikali tatu.

Hebu msikilize hapa anavyopinga serikali tatu!

Siku zote huwezi kukata tawi la mti uliokalia, Lowassa alipokuwa CCM asingeweza kwa vyovyote kwenda kinyume na matakwa ya chama hata kama moyoni mwake akiona hayafai. Ila kwa sasa kwa vile hayuko huko anaweza kabisa kubadilika na kufanya kile umoja wa UKAWA unakitamani kukifanya. Elewa kwamba hapo hafuati matakwa yake anafuata matakwa ya Umoja huo. Tuondoe wasiwasi kama tumeamua kubadilika tusonge mbele bila kuogopa.

Tanzania mpya inawezekana!