Sumaye mum on his political future as more heads roll in CCM elections

Former Prime Minister Fredirick Sumaye Dar es Salaam. Former Prime Minister Fredirick Sumaye, who harbours presidential ambitions, is keeping mum over what his weekend defeat at the hands of Dr Mary Nagu in CCM National Executive Committee polls means for his political future.It is shaping up as a poor hunting season for other political heavyweights too, including the deputy minister for Labour and Employment Makongoro Mahanga and former assistant CCM secretary general and retired brigadier general Hassan Ngwilizi.  They too were felled in the National Executive Committee elections.  Mr Sumaye’s loss to Dr Nagu, a Cabinet minister and the MP for Hanang, blocked his  return to CCM’s powerful NEC, a move that is likely to alter his political roadmap. He declined to comment on the matter yesterday. He told The Citizen in a telephone interview: “I have received many calls requesting me to comment on my defeat. I am not going to say anything for now. I will talk to the media in two to three days’ time when I arrive in Dar es Salaam.” Dr Nagu beat her predecessor—and the longest serving premier in the country’s history—when she garnered 648 votes toMr Sumaye’s 481 in the tense contest at the district CCM office in Katesh. Mr Sumaye, who has been a member of CCM’s NEC since the 1990s, has been touted as one of CCM’s political heavyweights who might clinch the party’s nomination in the forthcoming presidential elections. In the contest to represent Lushoto District in Tanga Region in the NEC, Mr Ngwilizi, 68 and currently the MP for Mlalo constituency, lost to businessman Najim Msenga by 244 votes. Mr Ngwilizi garnered 651 votes while Mr Msenga obtained 895 votes. In Ilala District of Dar es Salaam Region, businessman Ramash Patel defeated Mr Mahanga, who is also the MP for Ukonga constutency, by 253 votes. Other constestants who were on the ballot paper included Tahadhari Ditopile, who got 46 votes, and Agustine Simbaulanga who got 135 votes. In Mbeya Region, Prof Mark Mwandosya—Special Assignment minister—was elected to represent Rungwe District after garnering 1,118 votes. Prof Mwandosya, who has been a member of NEC since 2002 and is also an MP for Rungwe East Constituency, defeated Richard Kasesera—the Chief Executive Officer of Business Coalition on HIV/Aids (ABCT), a non-governmental coalition of Tanzanian employers engaged in the fight against HIV and Aids n at the workplace. Mr Kasesera received 198 votes. Asobenye Mwandiga got 28 votes. The returning officer, Magareth Mahenga—who is also Kyela District Commissioner—said Ally Mwakalindile was elected as CCM district chairman after getting 948 votes, defeating  Samwel Mwakyambiki, who got 469 votes, and Antony Mwanjejele with 44 votes. In Dodoma Region, MP for Kondoa South Juma Nkamia, clinched the opportunity to represent Nchemba district in the NEC while George Lubeleje won the NRC position through Mpwapwa District. George Chigwiye was elected as Mpwapwa district chairman. The former Mpwapwa CCM district chairman Godwin Mkanwa won the NEC position in Kongwa District. In Kondoa district, Mohamed Lujuo Moni was elected. In Mara Region, an environment officer in Bunda District Getere Boniphace Mwita will represent the district in the NEC after defeating journalist Cyprian Musiba. Meanwhile, the CCM Publicity secretary Nape Nnauye said the party has succeeded in rooting out corrupt practices in the ongoing internal election process, with only isolated cases reported.The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau announced that it interrogated several CCM members on allegations of corruption. He told The Citizen in an interview: “The media should stop magnifying the situation of corruption in the ongoing internal elections. We have more than 100 districts conducting elections, but even as we have not yet received formal complaints hardly 10 districts have had such cases.”