I am not going to Ikulu to 'harvest' – Sitta

  Lowassa gets 3,000 sponsors on the spot

Transport Minister Samuel Sitta

Transport Minister Samuel Sitta led the pack in picking forms for seeking nomination as CCM presidential candidate at the party headquarters yesterday,

Two ministers took forms yesterday, minister Sitta as well as the Fisheries and Livestock Development Minister Dr Titus Kamani, plus a nominated MP,

That brought the number of those picking forms to 13, with Finance Deputy Minister Mwigulu Nchemba and Mussa Mwapango expected to pick forms today.

 

Minister Sitta arrived in a bus T 542 DBE he said he would use to go around the country to seek signatures of CCM members supporting his nomination bid.

 

He said he would use the bus along with his supporting staff so that they do not use huge amounts of money travelling in separate vehicles.

 

In like manner as former premier Edward Lowassa, minister Sitta was accompanied by eight MPs, including Tabora Urban MP Aden Rage, Mbeya Special Seats MP Hilda Ngoye and wife Margaret, who is also Tabora Special Seats MP.

 

After picking the forms, he said his principal priorities as fifth phase president would be the defense of the union, by sorting out sticky points in the Proposed Constitution.He reiterated his earlier affirmations of fighting corruption, enhancing motivation among producers and in the civil service, strengthening the ruling party and separating business and politics.

“The Leaders Ethics Commission should be more empowered legally so that when it puts to task leaders breaching ethics it should not be questioned in any quarter,” he stated.

 

In contrast, minister Dr Kamani said if he is nominated and elected, he would work on the problem of killings of people with albinism and enhance modernized agriculture.

 

Meanwhile, a large number of Mwanza City residents gathered at the airport and Grand Hall to receive former premier Lowassa when he arrived in the course of his journey of hope, to seek sponsors for the nomination.

 

He obtained 3,127 sponsors during the visit, of whom 1,671 were from Nyamagana district and 1,456 were drawn from Ilemela district.

 

A large procession of motorcycles, cars and pedestrians marked the arrival of the frontline contender in the city, where district CCM secretary Elias Mpanda said many people had come out to sponsor Lowassa as they believe that he is an efficient administrator.

 

Shinyanga regional CCM chairman Khamis Mgeja said the Lake Zone was a strong Lowassa support base. In his remarks, Lowassa said this year’s electoral process is different from the previous.

 

He said this was a difficult time for the country, and the ruling party was being closely looked at, and is in a position to win the general elections by selecting people who are capable of defending the interests of the country.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN