| Report places CCM ahead of others in 2015 polls | Send to a friend |
| Wednesday, 22 February 2012 11:06 |
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The Political Platform Reporter Dar es Salaam. While desperate politicians are already eyeing the 2015 General Election three years on, public opinions are coming out with some placing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ahead of others. Unconfirmed stories say some high profile figures are crisscrossing different avenues of the country to pave the way for the country’s big political experience. The CCM’s prominence, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), comes despite the country’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), posing a big threat to the ruling party. The presidential post would continue to be in the CCM’s courts with Chadema having a big chance of securing an even greater representation in Parliament, EIU, a specialist publisher serving companies that establish and manage operations across national borders, confidently reports. The source of business developments, economic and political trends, government regulations and corporate practice information worldwide says the discontent at domestic economic conditions will dominate the headlines from time to time, but they would not be a major threat to overall political stability in the country. The 60-year old media outlet says ‘Unless the dominant CCM badly mismanages the conditions’, the rival political party, which has since the 2010 General Election been busy establishing a high profile countrywide, would not be much of a threat as envisaged. Having initiated the process of rewriting a new constitution and promising to ‘clean up’ his party, the report gives President Jakaya Kikwete credit, saying his strides would help CCM to clinch the top seat again come 2015. With the ruling party not fully realising some of its rivals’ demands ‘for fear of losing more grounds, it looks as though that all will not go well on the side of the opposition’, EIU says, adding’: “The opposition’s desire for a constitution according less power to the presidency and a more level playing field at elections is unlikely to be fully realised, but should see the 2015 election conducted under at least a slightly fairer constitution,” reads part of the EIU 24-page report. Assuming it remains united, CCM is likely to remain on top at elections with whomever candidate to be nominated being installed president. The opposition is, however, likely to continue making gains and there is a prospect that a genuine multiparty democracy will start to emerge, ending the CCM’s domination since independence, according to the report. But Tutorial assistant at the University of Dar es Salaam Paschal Mdukulo, believes the President has a daunting homework to accomplish if he intends to leave his party cling to power come 2015. “People are no longer voting for a party, but an individual…this is the politics of the day,” he explains, adding: “The President has to ensure lives of the majority of Tanzanians improve as he promised for voters to trust his party once again. But this is not what is exactly happening on the ground.” Mwesiga Baregu, the Professor of Political Science and International Relations with the St Augustine University of Tanzania (Saut), however, sees the report as misleading if the country’s political situation is anything to go by. “Some Members of Parliament were even against the Constitutional Review Act 2011 Amendment Bill and changes the party wants to effect,” says the scholar, concluding: “This means whatever President Kikwete is positively doing might be adding credit to his name, but not to the party.” CCM has been implementing a lot of reforms lately, but the majority of its followers were not backing them, the scholar, who doubles as Chadema Executive Committee member, observes, saying CCM was just trying to cling to power against what he calls ‘public opinion’. Prof Baregu calls on the ruling party, which, he says, was pursuing the footprints of Kenya African National Union and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, which ruled Zambia for 20 years, to read the writings on the wall. Mbeya-based political commentator Bernard Mukasa says giving the country a relevant supreme law should not be construed as a gift from CCM, but rather as the ruling party’s cardinal responsibility. “Yes, CCM can secure credits locally and internationally, but Tanzanians need more than that…have their lives been improved,” queries Mukasa, cautioning: “The new supreme law should be drafted in such a way that it facilitates to improve peoples’ lives. The same constitution will otherwise be used for ousting CCM.” Tanzanians cannot eat the new law, which, afteral, is just a document, but it will gratify them if it forges economic equality, in particular, he clarifies. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
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