Another CCM member eyes Arusha Urban seat

Arusha. Another CCM member has declared his interest in the Arusha Urban seat currently held by Chadema’s Godbless Lema.

Mr  Kim Fute says he will seek CCM’s nomination when the ruling party picks its flag-bearers in June ahead of the October General Election.

 Mr  Lema won the seat in 2010 after defeating CCM’s Felix Mrema, who had been MP since 1998. Arusha Urban was under the Opposition briefly after the reintroduction of political pluralism when Mr Makongoro Nyerere, then of NCCR-Mageuzi, held the seat from  1995 until 1998 when he was ousted via a petition.

Several CCM members have so far announced their intention to vie for the usually hotly contested seat.

They include Mr Philemon Mollel, Mr Victor Njau, Mr Thomas Munisi, Mr Deo Mtui and Mr Godfrey Mwalusamba

 Reports say Mr  Lema will defend his seat in October.

Mr  Fute said yesterday that he has been convinced to vie for MP as he felt Arusha  city needed a strong leadership.

“Once I’m elected, one of my priorities will be to work with stakeholders in order to  improve security of Arusha City which is the safari capital of the country’s tourism industry,” he told The Citizen, adding: “I am not happy when I see this city associated with bomb attacks, political riots and protests. What are the relevant authorities to stem these?”

 In neighbouring Manyara Region, Mr Peter Toima has announced his intention to contest the Simanjiro Constituency seat.

The incumbent  there is Christopher Ole Sendeka, a former CCM youth wing cadre, since 2005. Mr Toima who served as DC for Simanjiro for only a month in 2012 before he was moved to Kakonko in Kigoma, said he would collect nomination forms when the time comes.

He said he was convinced he had the support of the majority people in Simanjiro but admitted he expected a tough duel with the incumbent.