Simba retains UWT top post

As she nearly scuffles with Bhanji
The outgoing chairperson of the ruling CCM�s women wing, (UWT), Sophia Simba, arrives at Mipango Hall in Dodoma, where elections were held yesterday. Simba is being challenged by Same East Legislator, Anne Kilango Malecela. (Photo; Correspondent Ibrahim Joseph)

CCM Women’s Wing chairperson Sophia Simba yesterday retained her position as chairperson of the wing, defeating two other candidates.

Reliable information from the election meeting venue affirmed that Simba scooped 719 votes out of 1,038 total votes cast while Same East MP Anne Kilango-Malecela collected 310 votes and MaryRose Majinge obtained seven votes, with two votes spoilt.

Until the newspaper went to press the results were yet to be officially announced by the presiding officer, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Prof Anna Tibaijuka.

Earlier on the polling faced temporary disruption after incumbent chairperson Sophia Simba and East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Shyrose Bhanji nearly came to a scuffle.

The mishap occurred during the preliminary phase of each candidate explaining herself to delegates from all regions, a moment after Bhanji asked a question to Simba on how the latter would help to ensure the party wins the 2015 general elections.

Bhanji fielded the question to Simba with the feeling that she did not see how the incumbent candidate would contribute to ensure the party wins the 2015 general elections as she does not seem to hold women public rallies to woo more women to join CCM.

However, the EALA legislator found herself in difficult time after delegates started booing her, causing her to be interrupted as she reframed her question. Most delegates appeared to be annoyed by the question and vividly defended the incumbent.

Answering the question, Simba accused Bhanji of being ignorant with behind the scenes politics, as Simba also doubles as minister for Community, Gender and Children.

Reacting to claims that as chairperson she was not criticizing the party and the government even when they make mistakes, she said she was not ready to do so due to the simple principle of collective responsibility.

“I cannot criticize my party in Parliament. Members of Parliament from CCM are not supposed to criticize the party for the objective of weakening it,” she asserted.

Simba said in 2010 she supported UWT, crisscrossing the country in search for votes for President Jakaya Kikwete before the president himself declared that his victory of over 80 per cent was significantly contributed to by women.

As Simba was going back to her place she found Bhanji seated in her seat, which visibly annoyed her, before delegates from Dar es Salaam asked the EALA member to vacate the seat.

The incident nearly caused havoc as Simba was heard as telling Banji that she was too powerful for her, something that got Bhanji irritated.

As Bhanji was losing temper some delegates had to intervene by asking the EALA member and corporate spokesperson to leave the place to avoid further disputes.
Another bizarre incident occurred at the meeting as news broke stating that allowances meant for 40 delegates from the Coast region had gone missing.