Saada Mkuya, Hussein Mwinyi fight for nomination in Isles

FINANCE Minister Saada Mkuya Salum winds up debate on the government’s 2015/16 budget estimates in Dodoma yesterday.

THE Minister for Finance, Ms Saada Salum Mkuya and the Minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, are among several Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) candidates fighting tirelessly to be nominated as flag bearers on the party’s ticket in their respective constituencies.

Ms Mkuya is vying to become the party’s candidate in Welezo constituency where she is being challenged by six opponents, while Dr Hussein Mwinyi is probably lucky, as he has a single rival in Kwahani constituency.

Dr Mwinyi, if endorsed by the party, will be contesting for the third time in the same constituency, while Ms Mkuya, a relatively new politician, will be standing for the first time in the constituency.

She was nominated an MP by President Jakaya Kikwete, after he appointed her deputy minister in the ministry of Finance in 2012, before taking over as full minister in January 2014 following the death of the incumbent, Mr William Mgimwa.

Meanwhile, the deputy Minister for Home affairs, Mr Pereira Silima, is battling to retain his Chumbuni constituency in his efforts to retain his seat in the Union parliament.Mr Silima is facing opposition from three fellow CCM members. Meanwhile, deputy minister for East African Cooperation, Dr Abdalla Juma Abdalla, is facing opposition from five CCM members in Malindi constituency.

Dr Abdalla was previously the lawmaker for Rahaleo constituency, which was recently abolished in the wake of new constituency boundary demarcations in Zanzibar island.

/Daily News.