CCM leaders not serious in banning debate, again

BY EDITOR

7th June 2015

Editorial Cartoon

We read with shock and disbelief news from Dodoma on Friday that had it plain and clear that CCM leaders have banned presidential hopefuls from participating in political debates organised by various institutions.

According to the NEC Secretary for Organisation, Mohammed Seif Khatib, CCM presidential aspirants  and all other candidates seeking party nomination to various elective posts will now have to wait for further party directives.

Those who closely follow issues on television and radios or read newspapers  probably understand  that the ban imposed on CCM presidential hopefuls may have been triggered following an announcement by the CEOs Round Table of Tanzania to organize a series of debates  with presidential aspirants turning up as key speakers.
According to an advertisement that appeared in newspapers on Friday, the CEOs Round Table had set out to hold the first debate involving six aspirants tomorrow.

Presidential aspirants who were expected to appear as key speakers in the first debate are Former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye, Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, Deputy Minister for Communications, Science and Technology January Makamba, Minister for Transport Samuel Sitta, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu and Deputy Minister for Finance Mwigulu Nchemba.

 In its advertisement the CEOs Roundtable made it clear that the objective of organising such debates was to create a neutral platform whereby voters’ priorities and key challenges facing the public were to be addressed.

If the reader’s memory is still fresh one might remember that this is not the first time CCM bans its aspirants from participating in debates. The same party leadership made that same decision in 2005 when an important television station introduced a programme that involved bringing together aspirants into sharp debates.

There are unconfirmed reports that the TV station was ordered to shelve the programme but its head refused, prompting the station to continue airing the programme involving opposition candidates only.

Though Secretary General Abdurahman Kinana  reportedly  issued a different stand yesterday in Bukoba, the decision announced by the ruling party on Friday was by all standard  not healthy for the nation and for democracy itself simply because it denied the public an opportunity to better understand what each candidate stands for, their plans and  their strengths and weaknesses.

CCM has ruled this country since independence and therefore it must always conduct its activities in a manner that other political parties will borrow a leaf from. Banning its candidates who have so far declared their presidential nomination bid from taking part in debates is a sign of political immaturity.

CCM ought to understand that we, as voters, were and are still eager to know all politicians who have so far declared presidential nomination bids better simply because it is probable one of them becomes the next president.

Not only that but the debates would also help the public understand who the best candidate is among the aspirants rather than wait for the party’s nomination, a process that is often shrouded in secrecy at various points.

CCM must think twice about its decision essentially because holding  to it may incur negative consequences to its candidates as it happened to  some legislative candidates in 2005.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY