Dar es Salaam. Chama Cha Mapinduzi may have survived its sternest political
test yet, what with the tactful composition of both the Cabinet for the
Union government and that of Zanzibar, political analysts and the ruling
party’s rivals agree.
President Jakaya Kikwete, who named his ministers on Wednesday and Dr Ali
Mohammed Shein, who finished the task much earlier, can now look forward to
not-too difficult a chore of consolidating their positions and entrench the
party’s stranglehold on power, even as it plans to contain a much stronger
Opposition.
Analysts say Mr Kikwete and Dr Shein’s handling of influential politicians
who were edged out of the race for the presidency by accommodating them in
their governments has been most effective in mitigating divisions within CCM
and protecting the Union from possible disintegration.
The President’s success in balancing the opposing factions within CCM and
defuse campaign tension in Zanzibar by blocking prominent politicians who
were plotting to succeed Mr Amani Abeid Karume is among moves seen as
political genius, at least for now.
Facing the possibility of a serious party division that could have meant a
ballot loss to the Civic United Front in Zanzibar, thrusting of the then VP
Dr Shein in the picture, was one of the first moves by the CCM power
schemers to tame a team that was building around the Union VP Dr Ghalib
Bilal, whose nomination to stand as Mr Kikwete’s running mate was yet
another master stroke, according to political watchers.
A senior political science lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam who
wished not to be named said the inclusion of former Zanzibar Chief Minister
Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha in the powerful Home Affairs portfolio in Kikwete’s
government was a deal struck long ago when he was prevailed to step aside
for Dr Shein.
“The same can be said of former deputy minister in the Union government, Mr
Mohammed Aboud, who had a good chance for the Zanzibar presidency but
accepted to lie low. Now he has been rewarded by his benefactor who
nominated and handed him the powerful docket of Minister of State in the
Second Vice President’s Office,” said the lecturer with close links to CCM.
On the Union side, President Kikwete has picked the likes of former Mr Sitta
whose unexpected shunting off from the Speaker’s seat did not go down well
with many party insiders who feared a backlash from the public that held him
in high esteem due to his fearless anti-corruption stand. Here also comes Dr
Harrison Mwakyembe, whose distinguished political career as no-nonsense
crusader against graft will come to test in his new role as an assistant
minister for Infrastructure.
Opinion is divided whether these political calculations were moves of sheer
power play or for national interests.
Giving his views, Leader of Official Opposition in Parliament Freeman Mbowe
said although political compromise was acceptable in certain circumstances,
it could however, be damaging when such moves jeopardise national interests
or overlooks better choices.
“CCM always looks for compromise between competing factions by sharing
positions of power. This may appear good for the party but in the long run,
it might not be healthy for a country striving to promote democracy,” said
Mr Mbowe who is also the national chairman of Chadema.
But CCM’s publicity secretary, Mr John Chiligati defended the appointments,
saying the President considered nothing else besides personal capabilities,
education and integrity in setting up his Cabinet. He said the rest was
street talk.
Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania (Redet) co-chairman, Dr
Benson Bana, is of the view that President Kikwete did almost perfectly in
balancing opposing factions within his party and kept in pace reconciliation
in Zanzibar.
“Politics is the act of the impossible. It is how you balance opposing
factions and any good leader has to exploit opportunities and calculate
rightly for the interest of the nation and of his party. President Kikwete
has done this brilliantly,” he said.
Assistant lecture at the University of Dar es Salaam’s (Political Science)
Mr Bashiru Ally said what has happened could be explained both in
historical, political, technical and constitution considerations.
But Mr Ally said it is not always a must that the president must play
political maneuvering in forming his government for the interest of the
nation as many would want to believe.
But Dr Noordin Jella of Mzumbe University (Department of Economics) said
even though politicians like to manoeuvre to keep the political tranquility
the exercise may end either way.
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