Deo Filikunjombe waves to supporters as he boards a helicopter in his campaign recently. It is the same helicopter with which he was killed when it crashed in Selous Game Reserve on Thursday. PHOTO | File
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ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe wrote in his Facebook page that the nation has lost a hardworking and patriotic young politician
Dar es Salaam. Pressure and intensity of highly competitive elections could be taking its toll on parliamentary candidates.
Yesterday, the number of dead candidates reached six.
Confirmation of the death of former CCM outspoken MP Deo Filikunjombe and three other people in a helicopter crash on Thursday shocked the nation and left observers wondering whether the unprecedented number of deaths of parliamentary candidates this election period could have something to do with high pressure associated with the polls.
Filikunjombe’s death comes only a day after the demise, on Wednesday, of the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman, Dr Emmanuel Makaidi, who was contesting the Masasi parliamentary seat. He died in Nyangao Hospital in Lindi after falling ill few days earlier while campaigning.
Filikunjombe, 43, along with chopper captain William Silaa, and two other passengers, Kasablanka Haule and Egid Mkwela, died after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed at Selous Game Reserve.
ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe wrote in his Facebook page that the nation has lost a hardworking and patriotic young politician.
“I have lost a true friend, a relative and a man of high integrity. I believe God has his own plans,” said Mr Kabwe.
Other parliamentary candidates who have died since campaigns started in August include Chadema’s candidate for Lushoto constituency, Mohamed Mtoi, who died in a car crash on September 13 and ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate for Arusha Urban, Estomih Mallah, who died after a short illness on October 9.
Others include the minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management), Celina Kombani, and the minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, who died in an Indian hospital on September 25 and October 12 respectively.
On October 4 the chairman of Democratic Party, the Rev Christopher Mtikila, died in a car accident in Coast Region. He was not contesting any elective position after being eliminated from the presidential race by the National Electoral Commission.
Some politicians and independent observers told The Citizen yesterday that the election pressures could indeed be exerting pressure on candidates, posing health and safety risks.
Other analysts, however, said it was difficult to link all or some of the deaths to the campaign pressure.
The Chaumma presidential candidate, Mr Hashim Rungwe, while admitting that the election fever this year was unprecedented, urged candidates and their campaign teams to calm down, ensure safety procedures for the means of transport that they use are followed properly.
He also advises campaigners to adhere to election laws and the security rules when conducting campaigns in the remaining eight days.
“It is understandable that this year’s General Election is the most competitive ever in the history of the country, and, obviously, some politicians have panicked especially as the voting day approaches,” he said.
The Legal and Human Right Centre executive director, Dr Helen Kijo-Bisimba, said not only can the campaign pressure and tension pose safety and health risks to candidates but also the election results could pose mental and physical health dangers to those who lose.
“I think there is a need for politicians to receive psychological counselling to accept results after the October 25 polls,” she said. Chadema information officer Tumaini Makene said although the election fever could be taking its toll on candidates’ health and safety, CCM seemed to be more under pressure. “CCM candidates are in uncharted waters this year.”
He said the high tension and pressure in the election is reflected in candidates’ pronouncements in the campaign rallies.
“As we get closer to the election date, you can see some candidates making strange comments on campaign rallies. They speak senseless things because of campaign pressure and high competition posed by their opponents in their respective areas and their political parties at large,” he said.
A University of Dar es Salaam political science lecturer, Dr Benson Bana, however, said despite the high tension as the election day approaches, no death could be associated with the election.
“There is high tension and pressure because some people have invested a lot in this business and as days come closer, they realise more challenges on the possibility of winning polls, but it is difficult to associate deaths whether of natural causes or accidents to election campaigns,” he said.
He said the best thing is for candidates to get prepared psychologically so that they can receive any kind of results after October 25.
“CCM should get prepared to become an opposition party, Chadema should also be prepared of continuing to be the leading opposition party, and Ukawa must get prepared to vanish after October 25,” he said.
University of Dar es Salaam’s Prof Kitila Mkumbo said each election leads to high pressure among candidates. However, he said it was difficult to associate politicians’ deaths with ongoing election campaigns.
