OPERATION SANGARA

Former CUF officials bag elective posts in Chadema
By Joas Kaijage, Bukoba

Former members of the Civic United Front (CUF) have taken up all top leadership posts in Chadema during the district party election general assembly held in Bukoba recently.

The members include former CUF national deputy secretary general (Mainland) Mr Wilfred Lwakatare who defected to Chadema recently along with a surge of disgruntled CUF supporters expressing their concerns over a number of anomalies within their former party.

During the elections held on Tuesday, Mr Lwakatare was elected a member of the party�s district executive committee while the former CUF publicity secretary in Kagera, Mr Renatus Kilongozi was elected Chadema district secretary.

Other former CUF members who were elected in the party�s top brass include Mr Denis Rwegasira who clinched the post of district treasurer along with former CUF staunch member Mr Victor Sherejeh who landed the district chairmanship position.

While Mr Sherejeh had to beat Chadema�s former publicity secretary Betson Mugisha, the elected district secretary and the treasurer sailed unopposed.

The only members from Chadema who were elected during the previous elections include its Kagera regional secretary Ms Conchesta Rwamulaza who in the executive committee membership race she was the second behind Mr Lwakatare.

Chadema in Bukoba municipality and Kagera region in general is gaining popularity following Mr Lwakatare's defection. The former Bukoba Urban MP hold major following and is still ranked among top politicians in the region.

During the elections Mr Lwakatare distributed booklets which contained various speeches he delivered during the past few months to explain the motives behind his defection to Chadema from CUF.

However, while responding to one of the questions after his brief campaign speech, Mr Lwakatare said he was satisfied contesting for the party�s district executive committee membership despite the top leadership post he held before his defection.

He said it was not surprising for him being elected to such a low ranking post because political parties were run as institutions whereby everyday party operations involved all decision making bodies as stipulated in constitutions and not in a form of dictatorship based on respective positions held by individual personalities.

"I don't think my personality has been demeaned by contesting for the post as some people would think I had to contest for the district chairperson seat or any other top political positions,"said Mr Lwakatare