CCM distances itself from Lissu’s ‘dirty money’ claims, demands probe

Dar es Salaam. The ruling party, CCM, has unequivocally distanced itself from allegations of corruption surrounding the intraparty elections of the opposition Chadema, as claimed by Chadema’s deputy chairman for Tanzania Mainland, Mr Tundu Lissu.

Instead, a CCM official has urged law enforcement agencies to launch thorough investigation into the matter.

Mr Lissu was recently quoted warning against the use of money in the opposition party’s internal elections, urging members to be cautious of the funds he claimed “have been poured to disrupt the elections.”

In a widely circulated video clip, Mr Lissu vehemently criticises his party's leaders for acquiescing to State House invitations.

He argues that such actions have emboldened the CCM-led government to disseminate misleading narratives of political harmony in Tanzania.

He claims that these narratives suggest that government and opposition leaders can convene amicably, obscuring the true dynamics of Tanzanian politics.

He cautioned Chadema members, warning them to remain vigilant amidst brewing tensions within the party's Nyasa Region, particularly concerning the upcoming intra-party elections.

His statement comes as the Special Committee of the Chadema Central Committee has nullified the results of the party’s chairman-elect in Njombe Region, following an appeal by one of the candidates, Ahadi Asajile Mtweve.

However, CCM’s Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, Mr Amos Makala, said on Tuesday, May 7, that the allegations made by Mr Lissu regarding the presence of ‘dirty’ money being injected into their party to disrupt elections need thorough investigation.

"Reports that the party has accepted illicit funds are concerning. A leading party in the opposition camp should not be involved in such activities. This revelation only strengthens our resolve to assert that this party is no longer worthy of people’s trust,” he told MCL journalists when he toured the media house.

He said the scandal is itself a major issue.

“Can an educated vice chairman of a major opposition party accuse his own party just like that? This is not something to be ignored,” he said.

He said the need to investigate the dirty money claims stems from the fact that terrorism is a serious matter across the world at present.

As such, allegations that dirty money has found its way into a key opposition party should not be taken lightly. Tanzanians, he said, need to understand where that dirty money comes from.

“This is not something we can dismiss. Firstly, the Registrar of Political Parties and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) should sit with Lissu to determine how much money has been transacted and who deposited it,” he said.

Additionally, he urged Chadema to take proactive measures to ensure the integrity of their party by unequivocally asserting their commitment to transparency and affirming that their financial resources are untainted.

“The Deputy Chairman has said there is dirty money, and they should take action against him, if he lied,” Mr Makala noted.

He further said, "We anticipate a response following Lissu's allegations of corruption within his own party's elections.

Without such a response, we are inclined to believe that this party has indeed engaged in corrupt practices.

It now falls upon citizens to decide between a party that upholds integrity and one that condones corrupt dealings."

He emphasised that within the ranks of CCM, such scandals are absent due to adherence to electoral regulations stipulating the compulsory registration of income sources with the Registrar of Political Parties.

In his view, a party entrusted with the responsibility of holding the government to account should maintain an unblemished record, but instead it now finds itself lacking the moral high ground to effectively address the imperative of transparency.

Meanwhile, the PCCB Director General, Mr Salum Hamduni, told The Citizen’s sister paper, Mwananchi, recently that his institution was following up on the reports.

“We usually work on information from any source. It’s not necessary for someone to come to our office. If the information is publicly disclosed, it falls under PCCB’s mandate and will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

When asked if they have started investigating the reports and if they will call Lissu for questioning, he said, “That is a matter of investigation and office protocol. If necessary, and if we see the need, (Lissu) will be called.”

On another development, Makala said the CCM secretariat’s officials have toured six regions holding public rallies, starting with Katavi, Rukwa, Songwe, Mbeya, Njombe, and Ruvuma, with four items on the agenda.

He outlined that the primary focus of these rallies is to assess the state of the party and the manner in which the grassroots branches are strengthening the party.

"We are also closely monitoring the preparations for the imminent national elections. It is gratifying to note that our members are cognizant of the forthcoming elections and are fully acquainted with the objectives we aim to achieve. Overall, we are content with the ongoing efforts to bolster the resilience and cohesion of CCM,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of CCM, asserting that the party stands poised for success in the upcoming elections.

"Throughout our nationwide tour, another crucial aspect we've been evaluating is the implementation of the CCM manifesto. We've been furnished with comprehensive reports from both governmental bodies and local party officials regarding the progress of various projects within the regions we've visited. Additionally, we've closely examined the methods through which district councils are translating the election manifesto into action, particularly through the judicious utilisation of locally generated revenues," he noted.

CCM Secretariat officials have also listened to 160 complaints in a scientific way, allowing citizens to express themselves more openly, sometimes privately, and sometimes socially.

However, he said that they were only listening to complaints that were not in court.

“My stance and that of the Secretary-General of CCM is that the party and the government respect the justice system as a constitutionally mandated institution. We respect the law, and the existing constitutional body for dispensing justice is the Court. We direct government officials to promptly resolve issues before they go to court, and that’s why we provide this opportunity to listen to complaints,” he said.