Drama as big guns swept aside in surprise results

Dar es Salaam. There were more surprises in parliamentary election results yesterday, with some political heavyweights losing their seats.

Among yesterday’s high-profile casualties were Prof Juma Kapuya, Mr Khamis Kagasheki, Mr John Shibuda, Mr Ezekiah Wenje, Mr Christopher ole Sendeka, Mr Augustine Mrema and Mr Godfrey Zambi.

Prof Kapuya, a long-serving CCM MP who had served as Cabinet minister in the governments of presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete, lost to a CUF candidate in the race for the Kaliua parliamentary seat.

Prof Kapuya was narrowly beaten by Ms Magdalena Sakaya, who polled 21,982 votes against her opponent’s 20,399.

Former Cabinet minister Khamis Kagasheki lost his bid to retain the Bukoba Urban parliamentary seat. His conqueror was Chadema’s Wilfred Lwakatare, who garnered 28,112 votes against Mr Kagasheki’s 25,565.

Mr Mrema, who in the early 1990s was appointed deputy prime minister by former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi but later crossed over to the opposition, was another prominent casualty in the October 25 General Election.

The Tanzania Labour Party chairman could only finish a distant third in the race for the Vunjo parliamentary seat, in which he lost to NCCR-Mageuzi’s James Mbatia, who polled 60,187 against the immediate former MP’s 6,416 votes. CCM’s Innocent Shirima was second with 16,617 votes.

Chadema’s Ezekiah Wenje failed to retain his seat in Nyamagana Constituency in Mwanza Region after losing to CCM’s Stanslaus Mabula, who scooped 81,017 votes against Mr Wenje’s 79,280.

Mr Godfrey Zambi, who is also the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, joined the growing list of ministers who failed to retain their seats.

He was narrowly beaten in Mbozi by Chadema’s Pascal Haonga, who polled 36,362 votes against the CCM candidate’s 34,586.

Other ministers and deputy ministers who lost earlier included Mr Stephen Wassira, Mr Christopher Chiza, Mrs Anne Kilango-Malecela and Mr. Aggrey Mwanri.

Mr John Shibuda of Tadea performed dismally in his bid to retain the Maswa West parliamentary seat in Shinyanga Region.

He polled only 3,739 votes compared to CCM’s Mashimba Ndaki, who easily won with 76,150 votes. Chadema’s Abdallah Patel was second with 12,191 votes. Shibuda joined Tadea after parting ways with Chadema, on whose ticket he won the seat in the 2010 elections.

Mr Christopher ole Sendeka of CCM lost in Simanjiro, Manyara Region, to Chadema’s James ole Millya, who polled 41,420 votes against his opponent’s 27,206 votes.

Others who have made it to Parliament include Mr Nape Nnauye (Mtama-CCM), Mr Saed Kubenea (Ubungo-Chadema), Mr James Mbatia (Vunjo-NCCR-Mageuzi), Ms Janeth Mbene (Ileje-CCM), Ms Mboni Mhita (Handeni Rural-CCM), Mr John Heche (Tarime Rural-Chadema) and Mr Anthony Mavunde (Dodoma Urban-CCM).

Those who have retained their seats include Mr Tundu Lissu (Singida East-Chadema), Ms Halima Mdee (Kawe-Chadema), Mr William Lukuvi (Isimani-CCM), Mr Sylvester Koka (Kibaha Urban-CCM) and Mr George Simbachawene (Kibakwe-CCM).