Why Chadema spared errant lawmakers

MPs Saed Kubenea (left) and Anthony Komu attend yesterday’s news conference in Dar es Salaam during which Chadema announced that it had decided not to expel the lawmakers, who admitted hatching a plot to harm Ubungo mayor and fellow cadre Boniface Jacob. They were, however, stripped of leadership positions within the party and ordered to apologise. PHOTO | ERICKY BONIPHACE

What you need to know:

  • Chadema spares MPs from expulsion over the party’s broader interests following admission by the two of guilt in plot to undermine fellow leaders

Dar es Salaam. Chadema MPs Saed Kubenea (Ubungo) and Anthony Komu (Moshi Rural) were lucky to escape with a warning for a mistake that would have earned them expulsion from the party.

The two MPs were staring at the possibility of losing their seats after the party found them guilty of undermining the party by conspiring against some of its leaders.

Deputy secretary general (Mainland) John Mnyika announced that the party’s central committee stripped the two of all their positions in the party and ordered them to apologise.

It was a better bargain for Mr Kubenea and Mr Komu who will now only retain their elected positions after walking away with a “stern warning” and a condition to also offer a public apology to the party leaders and general membership.

It had been anticipated that the MPs would be expelled after they admitted to conspiring to harm Ubungo Mayor Boniface Jacob. Even though it was not made public, it was also understood that the two faced queries over insinuations they had made against the leadership of Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe in a voice clip that Mr Komu inadvertently made public via social media.

Charges against them were seen as strong enough to earn them expulsion, considering that the names of the two have for some time now been linked to a plot to defect to the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi. Chadema has lost six MPs to CCM through defections which Chadema say are orchestrated to weaken it.

Chadema insiders were already baying for the blood of the two MPs ahead of their disciplinary hearing on Wednesday that run into the night. Party activists and supporters took to social media to call for their expulsion to break what they said was a clique conniving with outsiders to wreck the party from within.

But while addressing the media yesterday, Mr Mnyika defended his party’s decision not to expel the MPs for the “broad interests of the party.” The Kibamba MP did not say what these broader interest are but the decision would appear a strategic move by Chadema to a void fresh wrangle in the party as it focuses its energy on a grassroots campaign to re-brand. Just recently, the party announced to boycott all upcoming by-elections saying it seeks to direct its efforts more to rebuilding the party and creating a grassroots movement.

“The decision not to expel them was also informed by the need to discourage the two from defecting to CCM as has been widely claimed,” said one Chadema activist. But according to Mr Mnyika, the party had a mechanism spelt out on what type of punishment it could met on errant members. “Expulsion is not the only option provided by the party’s accountability mechanisms, [as] there are other ways of holding leaders accountable by considering the broad party interests,” he said.

Chadema is currently in a crisis following the string of defections by its civic leaders and MPs as well as numerous cases brought against its top leadership by the government. The party hopes deflecting its energy at the moment may be counterproductive.

While tendering their apology yesterday, Kubenea and Komu said they were remorseful of their “unintended actions.” Kubenea said they “no bad intention” while asking for forgiveness. “I have no intention of defecting…I am strong and that’s why I went for the grilling. Tell CCM I am not their type.”

The same was consistent in Komu’s statement of apology. He said they were in agreement with the verdict reached.