INTEGRITY FIRST: Political segregation is taking root

Tanzania is one of the very few countries in Africa, which successfully defeated the concept of discrimination in all its forms, whether racial, religious, sex, or tribal. This, however, didn’t come like manna from heaven. It was serious work by the founder of this nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. There are still so many African countries, including our very neighbours, who are still haunted by tribalism, religiosity or racism. Tanzania is envied by its neighbours for peace and social stability that it has been enjoying since independence, regardless of the high levels of poverty among her people from more than 120 tribes, and the now many political parties fighting for power.

Yet this stability of many decades doesn’t make Tanzania disintegration-proof. As Mwalimu Nyerere rightly argued, African countries are “artificial”, hence determination in consolidating them is still needed.

Tanzania is experiencing political intolerance that may sooner or later plunge the country into political chaos, and even social turbulence. What it took us half a century to build Tanzania as one united nation from 120 tribes can within a very short time be a different story, if we go on embracing the kind of political intolerance practised by the current leadership.

Since the re-introduction of multipartism, the ruling elite is still not happy with the presence of other parties in the country. Political hatred is increasing pitting the ruling party and the opposition. The objective of the ruling party has been to not allow any political party to defeat it through the ballot paper. A good example is what happened in Zanzibar after the General Election of October 25, 2015.

Recently, President John Magufuli, without an invitation, decided to attend a meeting of the CCM university youth wing at Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial college (formerly Kivukoni). In his remarks, President Magufuli said he was always ready to receive a list of CCM youths who are eligible for presidential appointments to various positions. He also blamed the CCM youth wing for not taking advantage of such an opportunity. His remarks was well received by the participants. The President claimed that there are about 80,000 university students affiliated with CCM. This is almost half of all university students across the country at moment. The rest may be are in opposition or belong to no party at all. What impression, therefore, does the President give these non-CCM students? That their President will only appoint members of his party to public service? Is this not political segregation? It is unconstitutional.

Traditionally, we all understand that there are political posts the President will appoint people from his party only. Still, he is not legally bind to do so. These include cabinet ministers, regional and district commissioners.

Segregation in all its various forms should be vigorously condemned by everyone who loves this nation. Our youth must reject the kind of politics that takes the path of segregation, whether it is done by the ruling party or opposition. If allowed, segregationist politics may end up undermine the judiciary. Our constitution empowers the President to appoint judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal. In an environment of segregationist politics, this gives the President room to appoint judges who are known to be relatively inclined to his political interests.

If recent statements from the President are anything to go by, we can rightly speculate that even the office of Chief Justice, which remained without a substantive holder for almost nine months, was awaiting a person who was politically eligible for appointment. It means too that public service is now reserved for young politicians who are members of CCM. Just a look at the list of directors of various councils in local government is telling. Almost all new directors appointed in 2016 were CCM young politicians, who lost during the intra-party primaries. This is despite the fact that these are not supposed to be political posts. Holders of these offices are supposed to be of unquestionable experience and integrity. This is against what Mwalimu Nyerere promoted.

The author is a writer and lawyer based in Dar es Salaam