ES & Mkandara, Kudos! I fully agree, TZ we have millions of excuses. Granted playing field isnt levelled, Incumbency factor, resources na mengineyo..so what? ni wapi..opposition walishawahi kushinda kwa sababu chama tawala kilitaka iwe hivyo especially in Africa? as long as system inaisaidia CCM, forget kupata sheria inayotoa haki sawa kwa wote! Nini kifanyike, operate within and with what you have. It doesnt require new law for me or another JF member kujua kwamba top leaders in CCM ni accomplice wa wizi wa richmond, madini etc! I mean tunaelewa lakini tatizo ni alternative tulizo nazo!
Iam not a politician but Iam very kin with "my secret vote". I always vote my belief and fortunately wengi wetu Tanzania we are slowly coming to terms in dealing with those who tell us on what political values we should believe in. From Senagal to Zambia to Malawi....chama tawala always is strong. waungwana wa chadema et al, we fully appreciate the difficult environment you work in, but hiyo haitoshi..propound policies and try to invest katika uwakilishi wa sauti zetu bungeni, for now dont invest much in presidency maana mkienda bungeni mka-influence mambo, people will trust you more...just saying...
I better call you "Mkuki" - why 'Mikuki?'
I know Mnyika is listening/reading this and internalizing the sense behind it. He is an astute young fellow.
All the Mnyikas in the "Vyama Mbadala" I have a question for you:
Since the last general election (2005), how many of you have gone back and critically evaluated your performances in each of the constituencies where you competed and lost? Have you put in place a better plan for the next election?
This is getting a bit personal, but I've to ask Mnyika specifically - if an election is held today in Ubungo, do you think you stand a better chance than last time? (You don't have to answer this, just keep the answer to yourself). I'm asking because yours was one of the most competitive run. If you have lost ground, ask yourself why, and work hard to reverse the situation; but never be disheartened, because that is the nature of politics.
Now, all of this has to be going on 24/7/52/365/ until the next election, and at the basic level - home by home, and village by village. How else would you expect people to know you exist? I would say, you should forgo the presidency for the moment. Aim at building gradually your parliamentary representation, and the rest will follow in place in due course.
Mzee Es, this topic is another pointer to the very magnifiscent utility of JF. Where else would one find such an insightiful plethora of ideas!