Kikwete`s trick averts graft in NEC elections

President Jakaya Kikwete

The ghost of bribery and fraud in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Executive Committee (NEC) elections failed in its bid yesterday following unexpected changes to the election’s schedule.

According to a reliable anonymous source at the CCM Headquarters here, some candidates who were out to bribe their way into NEC were left flabbergasted after hearing the changes.

“Some of the candidates knew that the election would have been held today (yesterday) as set on the schedule, but when the chairman arrived he advised the Central Committee (CC) to move the vote back one day,” he said.

“The change was a big blow as the candidates as well as the delegates were informed on Sunday that the election would be held on the very same day…so there was no room for the candidates to grease the palms of the delegates,” said the source.

It was reported that Kikwete’s trick was aimed at fighting corruption which was witnessed during elections in the party’s Women Wing (UWT), Youth Wing (UVCCM) as well as the Parents Wing (Wazazi).

Graft allegations in this year’s elections were first heard from candidates who lost the battle and in speeches by President Kikwete during the opening and the closing of UWT, UVCCM and Wazazi election meetings.

Kikwete warned members that the scourge of corruption threatened to tear apart the country’s oldest political party.

“A party whose cadres are alleged to have been elected through bribery have no place as citizens will look down on them as bad leaders,” he said.

According to unofficial results, 10 seats for the NEC Tanzania Mainland known as ‘The Group of Death”, have been won by Stephen Masatu Wassira followed by Mwigulu Nchemba, Martin Shigela, William Lukuvi, Bernard Membe, Dr David Mathayo, Jackson Msome, Wilson Mukama and Dr Fenela Mukangara.

Those who lost out include Otieno Baraka, Shy-Rose Bhanji, Hadija Faraji, Nicholaus Haule, Dr Hussain Hassan, Rashid Kakozi, Godwin Kunambi, Twalihata Kakurwa, and Anna Magowa.

Others are William Malecela, Salehe Mhando, Ruth Msafiri, Assumpter Mshama, Kesi Mtambo, Christopher Mullemwah, Mwanamanga Mwaduga, Fadhiri Nkurlu, Innocent Nsena, Nussura Nzowa, Richard Tambwe, and Tumsifu Mwasamale.

President Kikwete told the delegates that the winners will be declared today after voting for the national chairman and the two vice chairmen.

Earlier, CCM’s spokesman Nape Nnauye told journalists: “We started our meeting yesterday (Sunday), and so far everything has been conducted the way we planned and we hope to finish tomorrow (today) after we have voted in the Chairman and his two lieutenants.”