simplemind
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 10, 2009
- 16,409
- 9,183
Lowassas
juggernaut rolls
on, and
Mwalimu cant
stop him this
time
By Jenerali Ulimwengu
Posted Saturday, July 4 2015 at
19:14
IN SUMMARY
How many of those who oppose
Lowassa within CCM can withstand
the steamroller that the man has
unleashed on his way to Ikulu?
Overkill is the word. Over the top.
OTT. It speaks to a situation where
one does much more than one
needs to do to achieve what one
wants to achieve, in love as in war.
It evokes scenarios of the magnate
who offers his goldmine for the
hand in marriage of a famed
beauty whose father only wants a
pair of oxen to till the land, or of
an army that pulverises a whole
village to flush out a rebel in
hiding. It conjures up the spectacle
of a hammer being used to kill a
fly.
Its what has been happening in
this country over the past few
weeks as a whole platoon of CCM
members have been going round
the country seeking out fellow
party members to sponsor them,
hoping to become the ruling partys
candidate in the presidential
election slated for October this
year.
The platoon includes more than a
couple who are considered jokers,
riders on a merry go-round
sanctioned by the general why-not-
me atmosphere generated by the
cheapening of the office of the
president, the perception that one
doesnt need anything special to do
the job, because presidents, over
time, have proved to be ordinary
mortals.
More than the rumour mill suggests
that actually no less than two
individuals in the fray are certified
mental cases with dossiers at the
local psychiatric hospital.
Others, less extreme than that, are
being seen as people of the future
making themselves known today
for a more serious essay later.
But some are very serious indeed,
and could have been recognised as
worthy contenders for any national
office on another day.
They include a former judicial
officer, who is probably the only
person I know who has been, more
or less simultaneously, chief
justice, army general, church organ
player and (now) politician, having
been a noted basketball ace on the
way here.
The field also includes a former
national spy chief-turned-diplomat-
academic, a former deputy
secretary-general of the UN and a
former Speaker of the National
Assembly, and a plethora of sitting
ministers, which makes you
wonder who is running the country
right now.
Its a colourful crowd, no doubt,
and one that could have had
Tanzanians scratching their heads
pondering the diverse qualities on
offer. But the show has already
been stolen by one of them who
seems to have run away with the
trophy before the race has even
been flagged off.
Edward Lowassa wants to be
president, and he has gathered
such steam in his quest as to look
unstoppable. He has collected
sponsors and supporters
countrywide on a scale that all his
rivals put together cannot equal:
Where the requirement was a mere
four hundred or so signatures to
allow him to file the requisite
forms, he has handed in about a
million, making the party
requirement look silly.
Party bigwigs from different eras
of the countrys history have been
unabashed in their public support
for this candidate. Social media
platforms are flooded with his
portraits and Friends of Lowassa
messages. Attempts have been
made to clear his name regarding
the independent energy contract
scandal over which he resigned as
premier eight years ago.
There have been statements to the
effect that founding father Julius
Nyerere never opposed him in a
past attempt to become president,
and that is a lie. As though it
mattered. It doesnt matter now
whether or not Nyerere opposed
him in the past; he cannot oppose
him now, and the man is rocking
and rolling.
Lowassa is on a catch-me-if you-
can lap that has left everyone
agape.
Now the process of sifting through
the candidacies gets underway, as
party structures decide whom to
axe and whom to bless, this to be
done in two weeks or so.
juggernaut rolls
on, and
Mwalimu cant
stop him this
time
By Jenerali Ulimwengu
Posted Saturday, July 4 2015 at
19:14
IN SUMMARY
How many of those who oppose
Lowassa within CCM can withstand
the steamroller that the man has
unleashed on his way to Ikulu?
Overkill is the word. Over the top.
OTT. It speaks to a situation where
one does much more than one
needs to do to achieve what one
wants to achieve, in love as in war.
It evokes scenarios of the magnate
who offers his goldmine for the
hand in marriage of a famed
beauty whose father only wants a
pair of oxen to till the land, or of
an army that pulverises a whole
village to flush out a rebel in
hiding. It conjures up the spectacle
of a hammer being used to kill a
fly.
Its what has been happening in
this country over the past few
weeks as a whole platoon of CCM
members have been going round
the country seeking out fellow
party members to sponsor them,
hoping to become the ruling partys
candidate in the presidential
election slated for October this
year.
The platoon includes more than a
couple who are considered jokers,
riders on a merry go-round
sanctioned by the general why-not-
me atmosphere generated by the
cheapening of the office of the
president, the perception that one
doesnt need anything special to do
the job, because presidents, over
time, have proved to be ordinary
mortals.
More than the rumour mill suggests
that actually no less than two
individuals in the fray are certified
mental cases with dossiers at the
local psychiatric hospital.
Others, less extreme than that, are
being seen as people of the future
making themselves known today
for a more serious essay later.
But some are very serious indeed,
and could have been recognised as
worthy contenders for any national
office on another day.
They include a former judicial
officer, who is probably the only
person I know who has been, more
or less simultaneously, chief
justice, army general, church organ
player and (now) politician, having
been a noted basketball ace on the
way here.
The field also includes a former
national spy chief-turned-diplomat-
academic, a former deputy
secretary-general of the UN and a
former Speaker of the National
Assembly, and a plethora of sitting
ministers, which makes you
wonder who is running the country
right now.
Its a colourful crowd, no doubt,
and one that could have had
Tanzanians scratching their heads
pondering the diverse qualities on
offer. But the show has already
been stolen by one of them who
seems to have run away with the
trophy before the race has even
been flagged off.
Edward Lowassa wants to be
president, and he has gathered
such steam in his quest as to look
unstoppable. He has collected
sponsors and supporters
countrywide on a scale that all his
rivals put together cannot equal:
Where the requirement was a mere
four hundred or so signatures to
allow him to file the requisite
forms, he has handed in about a
million, making the party
requirement look silly.
Party bigwigs from different eras
of the countrys history have been
unabashed in their public support
for this candidate. Social media
platforms are flooded with his
portraits and Friends of Lowassa
messages. Attempts have been
made to clear his name regarding
the independent energy contract
scandal over which he resigned as
premier eight years ago.
There have been statements to the
effect that founding father Julius
Nyerere never opposed him in a
past attempt to become president,
and that is a lie. As though it
mattered. It doesnt matter now
whether or not Nyerere opposed
him in the past; he cannot oppose
him now, and the man is rocking
and rolling.
Lowassa is on a catch-me-if you-
can lap that has left everyone
agape.
Now the process of sifting through
the candidacies gets underway, as
party structures decide whom to
axe and whom to bless, this to be
done in two weeks or so.
