Mixed reactions as opposition beckons

UDSM Political Science Department senior lecturer, Dr Benson Bana

Mixed feelings reigned yesterday when the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) declared that it had opened doors for Monduli lawmaker Edward Lowassa to join the rainbow movement that seeks to take over power from the ruling CCM.

Both political analysts and ordinary people commended the move while others asked Chadema to apologise before enrolling him as a party member.

University of Dar es Salaam Political Science Department senior lecturer Dr Benson Bana said the first thing Chadema should do is to apologise to Lowassa for  having tarnished his image in the past.

“Chadema leaders have been accusing Lowassa as corrupt …. I wonder why they have now decided to take him in as their presidential candidate …. They should first apologise and declare him a clean guy,” Dr Bana said.
He said that by joining Ukawa, Lowassa will make history in this country because it has never happened for a presidential candidate from the ruling party to ditch it to the opposition after missing a nomination chance in the former party.

 “It will be very opportune time for the opposition if Lowassa joins the ranks with the major aim of improving the status of the coalition party and bring in competitive politics in the nation. However, if he is seeking for political post that might break apart this rainbow coalition,” he said.

Prof Mwesiga Baregu of St Augustine University of Tanzania said: “May be the Monduli MP felt bad after seeing right was not done in the entire CCM presidential selection process in Dodoma mid this month that is why he has decided to secure his political right in a other party where he thinks he can find what he needs.”

According to Prof Baregu, it is better to get a new system of leadership, and this is what can make Tanzanians experience the change they want.

“I think Lowassa looked for the change outside CCM after the presidential selection process disappointment and he has seen that Ukawa is the right place to bring the kind of changes he wants,” he said.

For his part, University of Dar es Salaam education don and political activist, Prof Kitila Mkumbo said Ukawa will have a difficult time as it will cost it to travel all over the country to explain that the Monduli MP is clean and what they said was not true.

“What I remember, it is the same Chadema which spoke out all over that Lowassa was a power monger and I wonder how they are going to prove to the public that they now believe he is no longer a corrupt leader,” Prof Mkumbo said.

Hamad Munisi, a Kimara resident said: “I wish he could join Chadema even now, I don’t know why he is delaying to announce his move. That is wonderful news which I believe any person who wants development may wish to hear,” he said.

According to Munisi, the ruling CCM’s decision to remove his name in the presidential contest bid at the very initial stage in Dodoma was not right.

“If Lowassa will be received in the opposition coalition – in Chadema in particular - I believe he would be in the party where he will be able to implement his aspirations.

He said should Lowassa announce his early cross over to the opposition, it is most likely that more people will turn out to register for the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) so that they take part in the October General Election.

Robeta Robert, a resident of Ilala said withdrawing from the ruling party and joining Chadema may not be a solution for Lowassa’s presidential aspiration.

“His decision is not right to me. I am also irresolute to believe that he will succeed to get what he wishes in Chadema. I only see that his journey may be worse than ever before” she said.

Julius Ngosha, a resident of Sinza said Lowassa is a human being and Tanzanian just like any other person, so he has a right to choose what he wants.

“The Constitution is very open where it gives a person political freedom of either to join or to withdraw their membership from any political party,” he said.

He added: “I don’t see any problem for him to join Chadema. His decision is not a problem as he is right according to the Constitution.... If we may recall, the late Mwalimu Nyerere, had at one time said that CCM was not his mother, meaning that a person can shift from one party to another as they wish”.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN