Thousands attend rally as CCM launches campaigns with a bang

Dar es Salaam. The ruling CCM yesterday launched its election campaigns with pomp and pageantry.

CCM’s first campaign rally was held at the city’s sprawling Jangwani grounds and attended by a mammoth crowd of party members and supporters. People started arriving at the grounds as early as 9am by different means – on foot and aboard buses, trucks and cars. By midday, the place was a sea of green and yellow, the party’s official colours. The big crowd, however, had to wait for several hours under the scorching sun before the party’s bigwigs arrived at the venue. However, time flew for many as they were entertained by various groups and artists including Diamond Platinumz, Yamoto Band, Bushoke and the party’s own band, Tanzania One Theatre (TOT). The big shots started to arrive at around 2.30pm. Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal was the first to arrive, followed by Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein, who is seeking a second term in the isles. Party chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, made his entry at 3pm. He was followed a few minutes later by CCM’s presidential candidate, Dr John Pombe Magufuli, who drove onto the grounds in an open vehicle along with his running mate, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, and CCM secretary-general Abdulrahman Kinana who is also their campaign manager.

The heat and congestion was too much for scores of people, who fainted during the rally and the Red Cross had a hectic time attending to the casualties. Pickpockets and other petty criminals had a field day as they took advantage of the huge turnout at the rally to relieve unsuspecting victims of money, mobile phones and other valuables.

This reporter saw several suspected pickpockets in under police arrest.