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- Jan 13, 2010
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Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete has received high praise for the way he has handled the issue of the new constitution, with analysts reporting that it has helped restore faith in the ruling CCM. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) January report for Tanzania, this places CCM in pole position to continue dominating the country's politics despite the threat posed by the opposition, especially Chadema.
According to the report, there are chances that divisions in the party may grow, but they will not harm its chances of winning the 2015 presidential election. There is some consolation for the opposition too, especially Chadema. The report says it will secure greater representation despite CCM's dominance.
EIU, which has been a prime source of information on economic and political trends worldwide for 60 years, reports that Chadema, which has been trying to establish a more high-profile role since the 2010 General Election, will dominate the headlines every now and then. So will the discontent with domestic economic conditions. But both factors will not present a major threat to the overall political stability of the country "unless they are badly mismanaged by the dominant CCM".
It adds that President Kikwete's willingness to spearhead the constitution review process and restructure his party has given him and his party bonus points, especially among cynics. But the opposition's expectations of the new dispensation may be dashed, the report says, given the ruling party's fears that it could lose more ground should it allow this to happen.
"The opposition's desire for a constitution according less power to the presidency and a more level playing field in elections is unlikely fully to be realised," reads the report, "but should see the 2015 election conducted under at least a slightly fairer constitution."
According to the report, there are chances that divisions in the party may grow, but they will not harm its chances of winning the 2015 presidential election. There is some consolation for the opposition too, especially Chadema. The report says it will secure greater representation despite CCM's dominance.
EIU, which has been a prime source of information on economic and political trends worldwide for 60 years, reports that Chadema, which has been trying to establish a more high-profile role since the 2010 General Election, will dominate the headlines every now and then. So will the discontent with domestic economic conditions. But both factors will not present a major threat to the overall political stability of the country "unless they are badly mismanaged by the dominant CCM".
It adds that President Kikwete's willingness to spearhead the constitution review process and restructure his party has given him and his party bonus points, especially among cynics. But the opposition's expectations of the new dispensation may be dashed, the report says, given the ruling party's fears that it could lose more ground should it allow this to happen.
"The opposition's desire for a constitution according less power to the presidency and a more level playing field in elections is unlikely fully to be realised," reads the report, "but should see the 2015 election conducted under at least a slightly fairer constitution."