CCM presidential aspirants called upon to shun dirty politics, learn from Opposition

Civic United Front (CUF)'s Chairman, Ibrahim Lipumba

Presidential aspirants from the ruling party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) have been urged to learn from opposition leader Civic United Front (CUF)’s Chairman, Ibrahim Lipumba who has shunned dirty politics.

 

The call was made yesterday in Dodoma by CCM’s own Ezekiel Maige who is the Msalala MP, urged the party’s presidential hopefuls to learn the CUF Chairman whom he said declared his intention to vie for presidency without indulging in dirty politics against other members in the opposition coalition UKAWA. 

 

“It is not right to praise the opposition but on this I think our aspirants should learn from them” he explained.

 

Maige warned that the ongoing declaration for presidential race by members of CCM is likely to cause a serious rift in the party.

 

Maige said most of the aspirants have engaged in ‘character assassination’ instead of declaring their priorities in a diplomatic and friendly way. 

“Some aspirants spend at least 80 per cent of their speeches attacking others,” he pointed out.According to him, internal lobbying for the top job in the party is much more intense than even competition between the ruling party and the opposition opponents.

 

“From the look of things, the party will come out of the nomination race more divided than it is now, a situation that does not ogre well for a strong, old party like CCM” he said.

Maige maintained that he has no intention to join the race and that he also does not belong to any camp of those who have declared or those who are yet to declare their interest.

 

He cited an aspirant but refrained from naming them, saying he claimed that the CCM has been hijacked by corrupt people, according to the former minister, the statement is an insult to all party members, including President Jakaya Kikwete who is the chairman.

 

To date, nine CCM members have declared interest to vie for the highest office in the country, and now await party nomination that will be done next month ahead of the October General Elections.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN