Lowassa: It wasn’t me

Dar es Salaam. Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa yesterday opened a new chapter in the political history of the country, quitting CCM for the Opposition at a meeting where he vigorously defended his role in the Richmond scandal that blotted his high flying career.

And for the first time, Mr Lowassa who resigned in 2008 as PM over the emergence power supply scam shifted blame to “higher authorities,” revealing that he had been stopped from terminating the multi-billion shillings contract with a US company.

Richmond was a scandal that rocked the nation in the early years of President Jakaya Kikwete’s administration that saw Cabinet ministers Ibrahim Msabaha and Dr Nazir Karamagi also resign.

Without mentioning anyone, Mr Lowassa said that as the PM, he had advised that the contract be disbanded but his advice was blocked by “an order from above.”

Amid cheers from Chadema supporters and members at the press conference, Mr Lowassa added: “I even convened a meeting with the then Chief Secretary, in a bid to have that contract ended, but my efforts proved futile because my advice was ignored.”

He said it was unfortunate that at the end of the day the government lost a whopping $120 million (Sh240 billion), which was paid to Dowans following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in November 2011 over the Richmond saga.

Although the event was to announce his landmark move to ditch CCM where he has built his political career for decades, the Richmond power scandal took centre stage once again as he adopted a combative stance to shed it off.

Mr Lowassa resigned after a Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by Dr Harrison Mwakyembe laid blame on his office for not acting to stop the scandal. The committee ruled that while they didn’t find direct evidence linking the PM, he was obliged to take political responsibility.

He spoke at a Dar es Salaam hotel where he was publicly given a Chadema membership card. Mr Lowassa was accompanied by his wife Regina, his children and some close family members and friends.

Chadema Secretary General Dr Willibrod Slaa was conspicuously absent but his colleagues later explained that he had asked to be away to attend to other matters.

On why he defected, the former PM said it was because of the blatant disregard of the CCM constitution, regulations and rules during the CCM presidential nomination which gave victory to Infrastructure minister John Magufuli.

“What happened was pure rape of democracy because they made sure that my name did not appear with those which were submitted to the party’s Central Committee,’’ he said, adding:

“I will be lying Tanzanians if today I were to say I still love CCM, for it is no longer a party that brought me up and I can unequivocally state that it has lost the direction to lead this nation,’’ he said, adding:

“I now say enough is enough and just as Mwalimu Nyerere said: CCM is neither my mother nor my father; therefore, after a thorough assessment I have decided to join Ukawa through Chadema.

HIS WEALTH

Asked about the source of his wealth, which critics associate with dirty dealings, Mr Lowassa reiterated: “Let me state categorically that I hate poverty and if there’s anyone out there who wants leadership by glorifying poverty, then he or she is totally wrong and that is why I decided to vie for presidency to weed out poverty.’’

Mr Lowassa added that he forgives all who have been mudslinging him including his former party officials who ensured that he did not acquire any top post, saying he would not take revenge if elected president. His wife also decamped to Chadema and she was issued with Chadema membership card by the party chair Freeman Mbowe.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr Mbowe said Chadema was a party for all adding that Mr Lowassa was welcomed to the opposition because his party was seeking for a new beginning for the country and shun past issues that have lack evidence.

“I cannot lead a party that is permanently bent on revenge…I remember at some point my party accused Mr Lowassa of corruption but what if there is no evidence?’’ he queried.

Mr Mbowe said politics was a game of dynamics saying in politics it was possible even to change the gear of a vehicle on air. For him, welcoming Mr Lowassa was no big deal.

He underscored the need to extend war on graft which he said was in an entire system of CCM. “Even if today you brought an angel and dropped her in CCM, only three months will be enough to turn her to a Satan,’’ he remarked.

Mr Mbowe revealed the pain that the coalition underwent in the negotiations to rope in the former PM. “I received calls from CCM leaders asking us not to accept him here but we knew better,” he revealed.

He hinted that many more CCM bigwigs could be on the way to Ukawa as election near.