Nyalandu: Why I quit CCM

Dar es Salaam. Singida North MP Lazaro Nyalandu (CCM) has quit the ruling party (CCM) and plans to join the main opposition party, Chadema, in a move that he said was the begining of a new chapter in the way politics should be done in the country.

Mr Nyalandu announced his surprise decision in a facebook post in the morning yesterday, drawing murmurs and a varied reaction from a cross section of Tanzanians. The subject was the main discussion on social media platforms as commentators offered their views.

The move was quickly welcomed by several leaders in the opposition side including former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe who both said Mr Nyalandu had taken a bold decision in the interest of the country. But his former colleagues in CCM were quick to downplay the effect of the defection saying it will not dent the ruling party in any way. Mr Nyalandu, a former minister for Tourism and Natural Resources who has served as MP for Singida North for 17 years, said he had written to the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Job Ndugai to inform him of his resignation as MP.

The MP said he was leaving CCM owing to the party’s failure to supervise the government, expressing his dissatisfaction with human rights violations. The lawmaker also said there was no clear separation of powers between the three pillars of state – the legislature, executive and judiciary.

“We need a new Constitution that will help us attain our goals and strengthen democracy in the country,” he noted.

He added: “I am quitting the party today October 30, 2017 after serving the party in various posts.... and serving as MP for 17 years.” He also revealed that he plans to join the mmain opposition party Chadema.

“As I leave CCM, I will ask the members of Chadema, if possible, to allow me to join their party in order to be part of the team of Tanzanians wishing to bring positive change in the country through ways that provide room for democracy and freedom of expression,” said Mr Nyalandu in his recorded statement issued from his home in Arusha.

He said he believes that the new constitution is the only solution towards demarcating the separation of powers as well as to ensure transparency, rule of law and good governance. He said the current political leadership in CCM was contrary to the ideals of the founding father of the nation Julius Nyerere.

While the former minister’s dumping of CCM will come as a surprise to many, it was seen coming by others who begun to associate his latest movement and posture as that of a politician not keen to echoe the views of his party. Mr Nyalandu struck the tone of a leader in soul searching and did not shy away from speaking his mind in public in recent times.

The Singida North MP stood in the middle in matters that appeared to divide the ruling party and the members of the opposition and is the lone CCM legislator who openly condemned the assasination attempt on Singida East MP Tundu Lissu of Chadema. Mr Nyalandu has also visited Lissu in hospital, in Nairobi, severally and is said to be among those planning fir his further treatment abroad.

He has called for political tolerance and opposed any moves to disenfrechise members of the opposition. He also used the Lissu case to condemn what he viewed as “politics of hatred.” Yesterday while being interviwed by Deutsche welle radio, Mr Nyalandu said his decision was part of a wider movement for political change in Tanzania.

“My decision is a bigger thing than Nyalandu...it is a discourse that has a cross section of people including Church leaders and others who want to see political civility and effective change that draws strength from all Tanzanians to develop the country,” he said.

On October 19, Mr Nyalandu expressed his intention to table a private member’s motion in the Parliament on setting a condition for the revival of the debate on a new Constitution. With yesterday’s move, it is now not clear whether that intent remains. The push for a new constitution was going to be a tough sell for his former party, CCM, with the ruling party chairman President John Magufuli having declared that it was not at least a priority of his government.

In a statement released shortly after Mr Nyalandu’s resignation, Chadema Central Committee (CC) member, Edward Lowassa welcomed Mr Nyalandu to the party. He added that Mr Nyalandu has a right to quit the ruling party since Mwalimu Nyerere approved the re-adoption of multiparty system.

“I defected to Chadema due to the same reasons…I am now confortable at Chadema as compared to when I was at CCM…I urge other CCM members who are uncomfortable to defect because “there is life outside CCM.” The former Monduli Member of Parliament defected to Chadema ahead of the 2015 General Election and run for presidency against Dr Magufuli the Chadema ticket.

On his part, Mr Kabwe commended Mr Nyalandu for the bold move. According to Mr Zitto the Singida south MP has shown quality of leadership for ditching the ruling CCM. “You have shown leadership...made the right decision in the right time and for the right reason,” said Mr Kabwe. But the CCM secretary for Singida Region Mr Jamson Mhagama dismissed the consequences of the defection of Nyalandu.

Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe also welcomed Mr Nyalandu. Mr Mbowe said reasons cited by Mr Nyalandu are the ones which the opposition party has been advocating for years.

“His reasons for leaving CCM are not valid and are informed by his failure to win a cabinet post in the government of President Magufuli,” said Mhagama in an interview shortly after news of the defection. Mr Mhagama said the former minister had a bright political future only in CCM.

The clerk of the National Assembly Mr Stephen Kigaigai said he wasn’t aware about Mr Nyalandu decision to resign as Singida south Member of Parliament.

“I am hearing the news from you, I haven’t received any letter from Mr Nyalandu or he might have submitted the letter directly to the office of the speaker, so I can’t comment,” said Mr Kigaigai.