UKAWA move very tricky

[RUCCI]

Opposition parties have recknoned that, they can't make much headway through separate battles with the ruling CCM, but that, joining forces would enhance their prospects for victory

Ahead of the 2015 general election, political parties under the Coalition of Defenders of People's Constitution (Ukawa) are set to sign a memorandum of understanding as a strategy to defeat the ruling party CCM in the coming general election.

The opposition parties reached the decision in consideration of tough challenge from the ruling CCM, which is well established from village level.

Ukawa members are confident on their move and believe it is high time they dislodged CCM from power.

However, the mission would be possible only if all parties under the coalition will honour their agreements.

On Saturday, the Ukawa co-chairman, Professor Ibrahim Lipumba told journalists that it was the turn for opposition to democratically defeat CCM. He officially declared that Ukawa members will join forces to face CCM in the coming general election and field one candidate in every contested position.

Prof. Lipumba said the MoU will be signed at a public rally in the presence of their supporters on Sunday.

"We are very serious about this, beginning with local government elections, which are due in December," said Prof. Lipumba.

He added that the same thing will continue to next year's general election in which the opposition will field one candidate for one post including the presidential seat.

"Our technical teams are already busy on this historic move," he said.

However, 22 years since the introduction of multiparty system in the country, opposition political parties have been recording poor performance in both general and local government elections.

Among the reasons for opposition poor performance include poor cooperation, poor preparations, disarray and lack of common goals for defeating CCM.

Sometimes, opposition parties have been accusing each other of being puppets of the ruling party.
Some opposition parties accused CUF of collaborating with CCM soon after forming the Government of Nation Unity (GNU) in Zanzibar. The party was nicknamed ‘CCM B'.

In 1995 Chadema formed a coalition with the then leading opposition party, NCCR-Mageuzi. Chadema supported the NCCR-Mageuzi presidential candidate, Mr Augustine Mrema.

Moreover in the 2000 general elections, Chadema did not nominate a presidential candidate and instead the party supported CUF's candidate, Prof. Lipumba.

In 2010 opposition parties were divided and Chadema decided to go it alone as the official opposition in parliament.

In the same year at least seven small opposition parties with no representation in parliament formed a coalition and nominated Mr Fahmi Dovutwa of United People's Democratic Party (UPDP) to contest for the top seat. But five days before general elections, Mr Dovutwa pulled out of the race and asked wananchi to vote for the CCM candidate, Mr Jakaya Kikwete.

On Saturday, the Chadema Secretary - General, Dr Willibrod Slaa told journalists that nothing will see Ukawa members parting ways this time around.

He said Ukawa have a committed vision for the nation and that the katiba process has helped them to realize their duties and necessity to liberate the country and wananchi at large.

"The proposed constitution is a turning point for Ukawa, we will galvanize the public to reject it," he said.

In some countries the coalition of political parties helped to oust ruling parties. In 2002, the 24 year rule of President Daniel Arap Moi and his ruling KANU came to an abrupt end when a coalition of opposition parties decisively defeated it.

President Moi's hand-picked candidate Uhuru Kenyatta lost the election to the longtime opposition leader Mwai Kibaki. He was elected president with 62 per cent of the vote, while Kenyatta received 31.3 per cent.

In the 2013 Kenyan general election, Mr Uhuru who is now President of Kenya contested for the top seat through Jubilee Alliance, which is the alliance of four political parties.

At the time of the election, its members were The National Alliance, the National Rainbow Coalition, the United Republican Party, and the Republican Congress.

With such a vivid example from neighbouring country, it's obvious that opposition in Tanzania are trying their luck by forming a coalition against CCM in the coming elections.

However, the CCM publicity and ideology secretary, Mr Nape Nnauye derided Ukawa's move saying their idea would easy the job for CCM.

"We are happy that opposition are forming a coalition so that we can shoot them down at once," he said.

The CCM Shinyanga region chairman, Mr Khamis Mgeja said members of Ukawa will never defeat his party because they were being pushed by personal interests.

"Our fellows are thinking about personal and political parties' interests and not the public, such poor techniques cannot help them to defeat CCM," he said.

However, political analysts analyse the matter into two ways traffic, the University of Dodoma lecturer, Mr Paul Loisuilie said there was a possibility for Ukawa to defeat CCM if political parties that form the coalition will remain united. He said by forming a coalition, opposition parties have managed to weaken CCM's arguments against oppositions.

"Some political parties have been accused of inculcating tribalism, religion and nepotism, by forming a coalition, all these accusation will just remain to be water under the bridge," he said. On the other side, Mr Loisulie said the opposition will manage to oust the CCM by giving priorities to public interests.

"If opposition parties continue to fight for political and personal interests, it's obvious nothing will be achieved, but if they act the opposite, I can see CCM is in trouble," he said.

The University of Dar es Salaam lecturer, Mr Zachalia Malima said it was obvious that CCM will fix puppets within Ukawa to fall short the coalition.

Mr Malima said the ruling party was aware of the opposition power after learning a lesson from the 2010 general election and that it will do everything in its capacity to ensure divide and rule among opposition political parties in the country.

Apart from CCM techniques, the opposition themselves are not certain in some areas, for example, Mr James Mbatia is showing interest for Vunjo constituency, but we all know that Mr John Mrema of Chadema is also eying the same constituency," he said.

However, Mr Malima said if it happens CCM fails to dismantle the coalition, it is obvious there would be big changes in Tanzania politics.

"They might not win the presidency but they will increase the number of councillors and MPs, which is fair enough for making major changes in the country," he said.

Source: The Citizen

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazin...43776/2495320/-/item/0/-/11vnl1l/-/index.html