Defeat to Nagu blurs Sumaye’s Ikulu goal

Monday, 01 October 2012 07:53

Mr Frederick Sumaye Arusha/Katesh. Frederick Sumaye, a political titan who, as one-time prime minister has been a potential future president, lost his bid for re-entry into CCM’s powerful  National Executive Committee (NEC) yesterday.It’s the latest signal  of a  radical shift in tradition by the long-ruling party, which had an unwritten code of  retaining  in its major  policy formulation and decision-making organs, heavyweights within active service as well as in retirement, for as long as they lived and wished. Mr Sumaye lost to Dr Mary Nagu, one of  the female political shining stars,  in   the race for  a representative of Hanang district, Manyara region, in NEC. The lady who dislodged Mr Sumaye from a position that under the old order would have been his for keeps, is the minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Investments and Empowerment). The election results were announced at 1:00 am yesterday after considerable delay and amidst signs that the poll appeared to have  not only divided CCM members down the middle but certainly dealt a crippling blow to whatever political ambitions Mr Sumaye may have nursed for the future. Dr Nagu, who is the MP for Hanang, beat her predecessor and longest serving premier in the country’s history. She garnered 648 votes against Mr. Sumaye’s 481 in the tense contest at the district CCM office in Katesh. The defeated aspirant, who has been a member of CCM’s NEC since the 1990s, could not be reached  for his reaction on the outcome. One of his close associates told The Citizen over phone that he did not want to be bothered with questions on the results of the election which had Hanang and the entire Manyara on tenterhooks. “Mzee has made it clear he does not want phone calls related to the election results”, one of them said, adding, however, that he had already notified his closest friends and political associates on what had happened to him. Reports from Katesh said although  Mr Sumaye conceded defeat, he had to personally recount the votes to verify them in the wee hours of Saturday night while the confident Dr. Nagu assigned the task to one of her  aides. The former premier was a Hanang legislator for 20 years  (1985- 2005)  after which he stepped down to vie for the Union Presidency but was among  the nearly a dozen candidates who did not secure CCM candidature for the presidential race won by President Jakaya Kikwete. His aspirations for the country’s highest office, gave room for Dr Nagu, then a cabinet minister, to vie for the Hanang parliamentary seat which she easily won that year and retained it during the 2010 General Election. Although the two most popular and powerful leaders in Hanang district appeared to be political allies, the situation changed dramatically from August this year when both of them aspired to become NEC representative  for Hanang district. Initially the CCM political committee for Manyara region nominated and cleared only the former premier  to stand unopposed. However, in a new twist on September 8, Dr Nagu was reinstated  in the race. The committee had earlier claimed that the minister had been left out on grounds that as MP for Hanang and Cabinet minister, she was weighed down by too much work. It subsequently transpired that her reinstatement as contestant was intended to avert a possible rift in the ruling party. But yesterday’s result  has caused jitters amongst some party followers, who fear that, it may cause cracks  and weaken cohesion, in the light of the Opposition in the area seeming to be consolidating significantly. Some CCM members who spoke from Katesh on condition of anonymity said they could not understand why the election meeting which was scheduled to start at around 10 am on Saturday was delayed until 1 pm. The actual voting for the NEC representative began minutes past 7 pm as the exercise was preceded by  the election of other party officials, including the district CCM chairman. Others queried the legitimacy of Manyara regional commissioner Elaston Mbwilo supervising the poll. One member who spoke on condition of anonymity said besides Dr Nagu and Mr. Sumaye, there was another candidate who vied for the much coveted post, one Leonsi Marmo from Miaschiron area. He opted out shortly before the tension-filled poll which some people, especially allies of the former PM, claimed was marred by irregularities, including the dimly-lit and congested hall as well  as alleged presence of “strangers”. In his brief  remarks after the official results were announced,  Mr. Sumaye did not openly criticise the process or reject the results but warned that corruption could one day cost the ruling party heavily in sustaining its leadership. There had been growing tension at Katesh, the Hanang district headquarters, in the  few days preceding the poll. A fortnight ago, the name of Dr. Nagu was omitted from the list by the CCM leadership in Manyara region in preference of Mr.Sumaye. Later, however, Dr. Nagu’s name was brought back into what could not strictly be characterized as a David-versus-Goliath affair, since, her rival’s prime ministerial and long parliamentary career notwithstanding, she is a high achiever and immensely popular in her own right. The voting process at Katesh started close to noon on Saturday amid tension and apparent division among the supporters of the two candidates.The process ended at dawn yesterday when the results were officially announced. It was RC Mbwillo who announced the final results to end anxiety which had gripped Hanang district and the entire Manyara region. Dr. Nagu and Mr. Sumaye hail from Endasak village along the Katesh-Babati highway and have been in active politics since 1995 and 1985 respectively. Katesh is considered the stronghold of the minister while Sumaye has a large following in Endasak and adjacent areas. The latest development may affect the political fortunes of  Mr. Sumaye,  whose name often  crops up in speculations over  potential future presidents under the CCM ticket. During the polls, Mr. Michael Bayyo was elected the Hanang District CCM chairperson. He defeated the close rivals Hassan Hilbagiroy and Goma Gwaltu. In neighbouring Mbulu district Zacharia Paul Isaya retained his position as the district chairman of the ruling party while Fratey Massay was elected NEC representative. The latter defeated Gesso Bajuta and Naftal Naaman. In Babati Urban, Ally Msuya was elected the district chairman. He defeated Nada Maary and Faustin Bura. One Ally Sumaye won the NEC seat slot, according to Loti Ole Mesele, the district CCM secretary. In Kiteto,  the winner for the district chairman’s  seat is Mwendadi Kinyua while Emmanuel Papian took the NEC representative’s  seat. Similar polls for Babati Rural and Simanjiro districts will be held today. (Reportered by Zephania Ubwani in Arusha and Joseph Lyimo in Katesh)