Optimism, joy as JPM takes over ruling party leadership

Dodoma. Members of  the CCM extra-ordinary congress have expressed optimism that their new party national chair John Magufuli will steer it to greater heights.

Speaking here yesterday, where they voted in Dr Magufuli to succeed former President Jakaya Kikwete, they said that he is the right man to assume the reins of the party and make it a strong and a united front.

Addressing the congress on behalf of the party’s elders, former party secretary general Yusuf Makamba said CCM members stand ready for Dr Magufuli to take them back on the right track.

“My friend Kikwete used to baptise the opposition with water, now they should get prepared for the baptism of fire under our new chairman Magufuli. We all know him as a no nonsense leader, and we dearly need him and welcome him at this particular moment and time,” he said.

Mr Makamba also said that Dr Magufuli would cleanse the party of corruption as this had permeated almost every section of the political outfit.  

“Kikwete hates corruption so much that he denied his best friend (Edward) Lowassa CCM’s presidential ticket because he was unqualified. Magufuli hates corruption even more and he is cleansing the government of graft. This anti-corruption drive is now welcome in the party.”

CCM Zanzibar’s Urban Region of Zanzibar chairman Borafa Silima Juma said the opposition should forget to unseat CCM now that Dr Magufuli is taking over the party.

“They couldn’t defeat us at the last year’s elections, Dr Magufuli took over the country with unprecedented speed to the awe of all Tanzanians.  Now he is taking the party as well, what else can we get from him if not more gains in all coming elections,” he said.

Njombe CCM regional chairman Japhet Sanga urged all CCM members to accord their support to Dr Magufuli and build their party around him and through him.

“Who is doubting Dr Magufuli’s performance? who is not sure in here that he will not deliver? Is there anyone who is more fitting and capable to bring about the positive changes that all good and loyal CCM supporters were craving for, and Magufuli is going to take us there, I have no iota of doubt over the matter,” he said.

The views of the CCM bigwigs are shared with other congress members, Mr Faki Juma from Zanzibar said that the party got a new chairman who is capable of steering the party when it is going through a lot of changes.

“We are marching forward, we want to clean our party from all demons most specifically corruption and rival camps, and Dr Magufuli is the right commander to lead us to that path,” he said.

Ms Linah Muro from Arusha said that Dr Magufuli has the support of majority of Tanzanians from his short presidential stint, and that support is a jewel to the party. 

“The truth is, our party’s popularity had been badly tarnished, Tanzanians were increasingly losing confidence in CCM and its government, but that support and popularity is now coming back home, thanks to Dr Magufuli,” she said.

Mr Peter Lusajo from Mbeya also said that he was sure that Dr Magufuli’s influence will send shockwaves to the opposition come 2020 general election.

“We don’t even talk about the presidency, because that is assured. The people are now supporting us, there are even those who are openly admitting that they regret voting for opposition last year. That tells you we will reclaim most of the constituencies that we lost in the past elections.”

The congress meeting was yesterday characterized by a euphoric mood, with party members singing and praising their outgoing Chairman Kikwete and welcoming Dr Magufuli to the helm of the party.