Big names grace Magufulis presidential campaigns launch

Tanzania is seeking to install its fifth President in the October 25th election that has attracted stiff competition between the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Chadema.

CCM, which has been in power for over 50 years and was founded by Tanzania’s founding father the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, has fronted Dr. John Pombe Magufuli to face eight other candidates at the ballot.

Dr. Magufuli unveiled his campaign on Sunday at the Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam with supporters coming out in large numbers.

Magufuli’s bid has been backed by CCM luminaries who are seen as conservatives despite the rising hunger for social change in the East African country.

His is anchored on the pronouncement of the country’s first President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who called for unity of the party saying that it should not be allowed to split.

However, there has been disquiet in the party that has seen several former top leaders defect to other parties including former Prime Ministers Edward Lowassa and Fredrick Sumaye who are now in Chadema.

Dr. Magufuli’s presidential bid was graced by all living former Presidents of Tanzania, who are also members of CCM.

The two retired Presidents, Ali Hassan Mwinyi (Second President), Benjamin Mkapa (Third President), and the President of Zanzibar Dr. Ali Shein called on the electorate to give CCM first priority and ignore all other parties.

The former and present leaders accused the opposition of lacking an agenda to move the country forward.

Hassan Mwinyi said the opposition was only focused on ejecting CCM from power but not on serving the electorate.

He cautioned that desperation and hunger for change should not be used to divide or remove CCM from power as it is the party that brought independence to Tanzania.

In a well veiled attack on opposition candidate for Chadema Edward Ngoyai Lowassa, the retired President accused him (Lowassa) of lacking moral authority to lead the country since he was accused of graft that led to his resignation in 2008.

On his part, Mkapa noted that CCM has the power and machinery to conduct countrywide campaigns that will ensure it remains in power.

Mkapa, who handed over power to outgoing President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, said that the opposition is still advancing the CCM ideologies and therefore no need to elect it.

He said that Tanzania’s founding father Mwalimu Julius Kabarange Nyerere called for the unity of CCM and the people of Tanzania.

Mkapa said the opposition was only aiming at unseating CCM from State House, something he said can only work in a dreamland.

On his part, Zanzibar’s President Dr. Ali Shein – who is also the CCM’s deputy chair – said the party was still strong and expressed optimism that it will clinch the presidency come October 25th this year.

President Kikwete attacked his former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa on grounds that he failed the integrity test by engaging in corruption and failing to stand by the oath of office that he took swearing to protect the country, it’s people and resources.

Kikwete further, like his predecessors, said the opposition has been working night and day to remove CCM from power with an intention of advancing bureaucracy and dictatorship.

Dr. Magufuli’s presidential campaigns launch attracted thousands of followers with some coming from as far as Dodoma to witness what is being seen as a historic political landscape in the politics of Tanzania.

Magufuli will battle it out with Lowassa and six other candidates in the late October poll. Lowassa is Magufuli’s headache as his earlier meetings have attracted huge crowds that have never been experienced in the history of Tanzania.

Lowassa launches his bid on Saturday, August 30th this year at the Jagwani grounds – the same venue Dr. Magufuli used to do the same.

This year’s election has been termed as a show of might and an experience that has never been witnessed in the history of Tanzania.