Blow for Chadema as Serengeti councillors defect to CCM

What you need to know:

  • A wave of defections is still haunting Chadema after two of its councillors in Serengeti District jumped ship and joined CCM, increasing doubts that the council’s control may also shift to the ruling party.

Serengeti. The opposition Chadema’s camp in Serengeti District has suffered yet another blow due to resignation of two councillors including the district council’s vice chairman.

Three days after party’s lawmaker in Serengeti Constituency, Mr Marwa Ryoba, defected to CCM, defections of the three councillors have increased uncertainties that the main opposition party may lose the council’s leadership.

Councillors, who have defected due CCM as confirmed by the District Executive Director (DED) Mr Juma Hamsini, are Pasto Machota of Ring'wani who was the council’s vice chairman for two consecutive terms.

Another councillor is Mr George Mahemba from Magange who doubles as the Local Government Authority (LGA) chairman in Masinki Village.

Mr Elias Merengo from Rung’abure also resigned one day after Mr Ryoba announced his resignation from the position.

In their resignation letters dated September 29, both Mr Machota and Mr Mahemba said they made such decisions in order to support President John Magufuli’s efforts transforming the country’s economy and protecting rights of the poor people.

Speaking to The Citizen, the council chairman, Mr Juma Porini, said he was surprised because Mr Machota had assured him that he would not defect.

 “If he has denied to have tendered his resignation letter while he has resigned, then there is nothing I can do,” he said.

Chadema won 18 councillorship seats during the 2015 general election, against 12 seats won by CCM.

Early this year, Ikoma and Manchira Councilors defected to CCM after quitting the party. CCM won the seats during the by-election collecting a total of 14 seats against 16 Chadema posts.

The recent resignation of two councillors and a Member of Parliament will make a total of 21 CCM representatives against 20 Chadema seats should CCM win the by-election, something that threaten Chadema’s  reign in the district council.