Lindi
Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Membe insists he is giving up his parliamentary seat in the next General Election, fuelling speculation that he is gunning for the Tanzanian presidency in 2015.
Mr Membe
Speaking at his rural home in Lindi midweek, Mr Membe said he is leaving the legislative challenge to others, and that he hopes his successor will build on the legacy he has built as the MP for Mtama.
The announcement is likely to draw running commentary from pundits and the public alike since in some circles, the Foreign Affairs tsar is thought of as President Jakaya Kikwete’s heir apparent.
Despite being billed as the future commander-in-chief by observers within and outside the ruling party’s upper rungs, Mr Membe maintains he has no plans to run as the CCM presidential candidate in 2015.
When CCM stalwarts descended on Dodoma for the party’s 8th National Congress last November, there were reports of certain factions repositioning themselves as potential Kikwete successors.
One of the camps that was allegedly gearing up to take over in three years was led by the Foreign Affairs minister, according to local press reports.
During his midweek speech at his home in Mtama, Mr Membe could not be drawn into discourse on his future in CCM echelons.
However, the long-serving legislator was adamant that he will be leaving in 2015, saying that 15 years in parliament “were enough.” Other qualified individuals should step up, Mr Membe said.
“I have been your representative for three consecutive terms,” he said adding, “Today, I want to say goodbye because I will not be running for this post again.”
Despite repeated attempts The Citizen on Saturday could not reach Mr Membe for comment as he is reportedly on official leave.
Nonetheless, one of his closest aides who requested anonymity told our reporter that the Foreign Affairs minister’s comments are “nothing new.”
“It is true that he won’t be running [for parliament],” said the aide adding, “It’s not the first time he has said this, and I know he will stay true to his word.”
Last year local media quoted Mr Membe saying that his primary focus is to help President Kikwete complete his term in office. He refused to talk about succession issues.
His decision to step back from politics puts him on equal footing with the likes of Urambo East legislator and former Bunge Speaker Samuel Sitta, who will also reportedly bow out of the parliamentary race in the next General Election.
In his farewell speech in Mtama, Lindi, Mr Membe had this advice for the current crop of public sector leaders: “You need to come together – to unite – to develop your area.”
The Mtama MP also took the trouble to ask Mtwara residents to be patient as the government irons out the kinks around the issue of who benefits from the exploitation of recently-discovered gas resources.
His comments are a direct response to recent protests by Mtwara residents, who recently took to the streets to protest government’s decision to build a 532km pipeline to channel gas to Dar es Salaam.
He reiterated President Kikwete’s assertion that natural resources are a shared asset that should benefit every mwananchi, regardless of where he or she lives.
Events at Mr Membe’s home in Lindi were also attended by Mtwara Urban MP Hasnain Murji, who recently said he would rather lose his House seat than see his constituents lose out on expected gas wealth.
(Additional reporting by Sylivester Ernest in Dar)
Source: The Citizen
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