Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
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[h=1]Waziri Membe atangaza kutogombea Ubunge tena[/h]
History has a penchant of repeating itself in the strangest of circumstances: Who would have known neither Malecela nor Kolimba will be in the presidential ccm preferential list let alone the 1995 presidential ballot box?
For beginners John Samuel Malecela was the then First Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania while Kolimba was the powerful Secretary General of CCM doubling as an MP and a cabinet Minister in the president's office.
The erstwhile protagonists could not see eye to eye for a simple reason: They both deluded themselves in their hearts that the then President Ali Hassan Mwinyi was their political mentor clearing their way to inherit his job.
As the two engaged in pillow fights, little did they take into consideration the rise of G-55 parliamentary caucus with only one intent: an establishment of Tanganyika government! In those days of dictatorship of Nyerere-ism that political hankering was tantamount to treason. The then G-55 was a culmination of 55 MPs behind the formation of an independent Tanganyika government within the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
Since both Malecela and Kolimba perceived the Augusta House- Bunge- as their staple source of power then they genuflected to G-55 to secure their political support! Both Malecela and Kolimba tacitly spine up the spinal cord of the G-55, little did they realize it was a byproduct of their presidential ambition gone haywire that will ultimately bring them down.
Where Mwinyi's presidential preference remain unknown to this date, but many a political pundit suspected he was grooming both Malecela and Kolimba to succeed him. It was like hitting two birds with one stone!
With G-55 almost getting what they wanted, Mkapa whose burning presidential ambitions were closely guarded in his heart - something both Lowassa and Membe's quixotic bids are not- pursued Nyerere to Butiama to seek his personal intervention against the duo. Mkapa who went on to have a last laugh in 1995 presidential elections knew Nyerere would view the establishment of Tanganyikan government as an assault to his legacy that was well animated by his personal role in the establishment of the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
Nyerere whose entire political career was built around building bureaucratic machinery, cashed in on ccm policy formulation procedures to bring down the political curtain for both Malecela and his erstwhile nemesis in Kolimba. Nyerere wrote a book titled "Hatma ya uongozi wetu..........." but he focussed on leadership ineptitude of both Malecela and Kolimba while veering away from bandying Mwinyi in the process!
That was a bit un-Nyerere, of course, for obvious reasons: Normally, Nyerere would blame the transgressor and his accessories for the malaise, but not in this case! . Nyerere capitalized on lack of ccm internal party organs participation in reaching momentous decision like formation of Tanganyikan government as a scapegoat to declare both Malecela and Kolimba as weak leaders unfit for high offices they were occupying.
With Nyerere; in writing, casting a vote of no confidence in the Mwinyi government.......the writing was on the wall and Mwinyi acted swiftly to banish both Malecela and Kolimba from the cabinet, a gratitude of imposed self-resignations. Without senior and lucrative cabinet posts to mobilize resources necessary to wage a successful presidential bid, Malecela is believed to secretly married Tatu Hawa Ntimizi as a sure way to secure funds from oil-rich Arab nations. When Mkapa came to the grips with this, he rushed back to Butiama and Nyerere closed all avenues that would have catapulted Malecela to power with now famous May Mosi speech in Mbeya where he said......................"those parlaying cash to get to state house should be feared more than leprosy." it was a speech that resonated well with voters though it did little to dissuade Malecela from seeking the highest job in the government.
When Malecela filled the ccm presidential forms in 1995, Nyerere again reared his head in the ccm central committee and Malecela was coerced to withdraw his presidential bid. In 2005 Malecela made a vain attempt to vie for presidential vacancy but was told in the central committee by no other than Pius Msekwa that he should permit Mkapa to endow the nation with a capable leader.....................there is still a lively debate whether JK presidency is better than Malecela presidency would have been! The debate only makes sense in the corridors of academics and to the junkies of conjectures.
Though Kolimba- on his way to Mandela land- had made futile attempts at the then Dar-Es-Salaam International Airport to criticize Nyerere's handling of the G-55 saga, many thought that is where Kolimba had signed his political obituary. Nyerere's era was of obedience to him and those who dared challenge his authority were quickly dispatched to political oblivion just like another rebel in Oscar Kambona who was forced to flee from his land of birth only to return at senility and find actually the nation has totally and unambiguously outlived him............................he was no longer a relevant force to our national political discourse.
Kolimba to remain relevant in our political arena had the audacity to question ccm's capability to get us to the Promised Land.....................the nexus of his anguish was ccm lacked long term strategies and over-relied on short term and medium term ones......................his critics were quick to remind him that why did he not institute those long term development plans while he was the highest ranking executive in the party as the Secretary General?
Kolimba was invited to tell his side of story at ccm central committee only to capitulate before he had finished to read a well prepared script. Conspiracy theorists led by no other than the fiery Reverend Mtikila had conjured up tales of Kolimba was a victim of political assassination plot; but, to his tireless legal exertions Mtikila was convicted in a court of law for fanning unrest and rumour-mongering................after he had failed to establish the real cause of Kolimba's death beyond what post mortem reports had clearly stated that Kolimba died of aorta fatal burst. Kolimba had a history of heart problems and his wife lucidly reassured the nation that there was no foul-play leading to the demise of her husband. Mtikila's efforts to exhume the Kolimba's body were mercifully screeched to a halt by the court of law for lack of substantial justification.
In Malecela v. kolimba tug of political wars there are lessons one can draw that mimic the emergence of Lowassa v. Membe political fights:-
1) In these two cases, there is a delusional sense of entitlements. I keep wondering what have Lowassa and Membe do to the nation to convince themselves the presidency is theirs for the taking.......In either case, we garner a can of betrayal to the national cause and nothing more to write home about.
2)Like in Malecela v. Kolimba, both Membe and Lowassa perceive they have a tacit support of the incumbent. In his deceitful heart, Lowassa feels Jk still owes "a return of favour." Lowassa believes if he had not sacrificed his presidential ambition in 2005, it was ex-Premier Frederick Sumaye who would have gone on to be the president and JK now has to return the favour! For Membe, years in foreign ministry service under Jk as minister for foreign affairs and now Membe occupying the same seat let alone the far-fetched inlaw-ship qualifies him to be our next leader.
3) Just like Mwinyi in "Malecela-Kolimba" presidential project, JK can not tell the nation what Lowassa or Membe have done to deserve this presidential pat on the back.
4) Just Like Mwinyi who was also eager to appease Christians by returning a favour he had enjoyed in his leadership, JK feels compelled to show he is above religious schisms now snowballing around us by giving back to Christians the presidency. In both cases, flimsy national interests can be made to justify such a demeanour. While Membe religious affiliations remain controversial but Lowassa's record is all but Christian! Amassing wealth from public coffers is not in anyway living a Christian life. So Christianity emblems are being paraded to sate personal avarice now dominating the political portfolio.
5) Where both Malecela and Kolimba failed to achieve their political aims one wonders whether both Lowassa and Membe have let out the cat too soon and give their political rivals an opportunity to do them a "Mkapa" guillotine
6) In 1995 Malecela was sunk for hoarding too much "dirty cash" and since both Lowassa and Membe are deploying the same means one has to wonder whether the same omen will befall their presidential ambitions.
7) With Chadema now a political force to reckon with and knowing Dr. Slaa was robbed of victory in 2010 triggering the establishment of new political order in a constitutional setup one has to ask himself how far will Jk ignore ccm rank and file and impose one of his presidential sidekicks. Will that not be too much a price to pay if ccm just like Kanu goes on and lose 2015 election at the luxury of jostling for personal interests?
8) With Membe who is believed in 2010 had to buy off his political rivals to win his parliamentary constituency now declaring he wil not run for that office are we not seeing the end of political careers of both Lowassa and Membe? Few really expect Lowassa' bloated ego to permit him to vie for MP category come 2015..............it is the presidency or nothing else. Once Lowassa and Membe are out of the presidential race what else can they bank on if not a life in forced retirement?
9) With CCM at loggerheads and JK growing weaker in a lameduck session, will JK not falter just like Mwinyi did in his futile endevours to impose his own presidential preference?
10) In 1995 there was no solemn outcry for new constitutional order like today and such a constitutional quest is likely to be transfered to rank and file members in all political parties demanding more political space........can JK really handle this or the whole succesion politics will spillover beyond ccm central committee and her sidekick in national council of puppets?
These and other questions call for patience: in waiting for time to tell us the truth............
