Links three of them with new party
Some high-profile members of CCM have angrily reacted to allegations that they intend to defect and form a new party, saying they are part of a smear campaign spearheaded by a local media mogul and business tycoon of Asian origin.
One former prime minister went a step further, describing the tycoon as a spoiler whose mission is to manipulate the envisaged party as an agency for the twin objective of discrediting his political rivals, and cleansing an image badly dented by linkage to various mega corruption scandals.
“If you read this story (published by a Kiswahili mainstream tabloid yesterday), you will automatically know who influenced it and what his mission is…but when the time comes, we shall name and shame him publicly, ” the ex-premier who declined to be named for the time being, told The Guardian on Sunday.
He asked angrily, “Why should I form a political party? What do I want? I have served this country as Prime Minister and my integrity is highly respected…I won’t allow those whose background as well as nationhood is doubtful, to discredit me.”
The former PM added that, the business tycoon believes that “he is wiser than everybody else in this country. But his days have been numbered and when the right time comes, he would be held accountable for the damages he has caused in this country through the corrupt deals.”
The Guardian on Sunday yesterday also chanced to speak to two out of three former Prime Ministers accused of being behind the proposed new political party called Chama Cha Jamii (CCJ), but all of them were not ready to be named for the time being.
Reacting on his alleged connection to CCJ, Kishapu legislator Fred Mpendazoe said, “It is ridiculous to relate me with someone whose tribe is totally different from mine…I am a Sukuma and my alleged brother is a Kurya; this is thus a deliberate malicious smear campaign against me.”
“I am a member of the ruling party…I will not defect to any other political party unless asked to do so by my people (Kishapu constituents)”, ” Mpendazoe told The Guardian on Sunday. He further insisted, “The people of Kishapu, whom I represent, have the mandate for any decision I make, and never can I make a decision on my own,”
Asked to give his views about the alleged planned new party, Mpendazoe replied, “They might have acted boldly on the pressing need of filling a gap caused by big cracks within the ruling party.”
“CCJ founders have shown by action that things are not quite right and they have also exercised their constitutional rights,” he said.
According to Mpendazoe, in a country where opposition parties have proved very weak with some of their top leaders rallying behind the ruling party, the founders of CCJ might have sensed an opportunity to establish a new party to fill the political vacuum caused by lack of a strong opposition camp.
He added: “The danger here is that these events are unfolding at a time when we are heading towards the general elections. Do you expect these elections to be pluralistic? That is why I think public opinion has seen the problem, and suggesting the solution of bringing in a new party, as we all believe that opposition is not enemity but competition.”
Ilemela legislator Anthony Diallo denied any involvement in the new party, dismissing off-hand, the report in the tabloid, which implicated him as one of its architects. He said: “They sound like they want me to join the fold, but the invitation is invalid,” he said, quoting a local adage: “Monitor lizards would love to have crocodiles in their entourage.”
Diallo said: “In the first place I am totally in the dark over who are behind the formation of the party, let alone getting involved. It could be true that its founders constitute a splinter group from Chama Cha Mapinduzi for their own good reasons, but I have no reason whatsoever to run away from my party.” Reflectively, the Ilemela MP thought that there could be a sinister move by whoever plotted his artificial involvement with the new political party, believing this campaign had an aim of mudslinging him, with an ultimate goal of damaging his position.
All in all, Diallo questioned the credibility of newspapers that went loud on such a sensitive issue without taking the trouble of contacting him as he was readily available to give his part of the side. But, contacted yesterday, Kyela legislator Dr. Harrison Mkwakyembe replied, “Just ignore them…a lot has been written by some media about me but there’s not an iota of truth in the stories.”
On Friday, an email message was circulated to various people, alleging, among other things, that some 12 MPs from the ruling party who have been front-liners in the anti-corruption crusade against corruption are planning to form a new political party before the end of this month.
The email further alleged that the 12 MPs met in London in December last year at the same hotel where ex-Energy and Minerals Minister Nazir Karamagi signed the controversial Buzwagi Mineral Development Agreement, to strategise on the issue.
But the email didn’t give any credible details to justify the authenticity of these serious allegations.
Another prime minister who served during the second phase regime distanced himself from the planned new party, saying he was aware on who was behind the smear campaign to damage his image within the ruling party by associating him with the CCJ.
“I have weathered so many storms within my party, but our grave mistake was liberalising our politics in the 1990s; a situation that allowed mercenaries using the business umbrella to invade us…I will face this man at the Central Committee, ” declared the former premier who, like his counterpart, declined to be named said.
He added, “Whether there will be a new party or not is none of my business but my concern is that we have reached a point where invaders who have no history with our struggle can decide to frame those who served this nation honestly
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