From Selemani Dafa Shebughe.
[Views expressed here do not reflect the Vijana FM project or studio crew]
I will try to make it short and concise, in an attempt not to bore you with rather commonsense reasons against voting for Chadema in this coming presidential election. For starters, we vote for the best person and the best party (infrastructure) to govern our country. A vote is to be casted to the person and party that have the best chance to do what the government ought to do. We do not cast a vote to replace a party that has not delivered only to be replaced by the gang of other mediocre. The notion that the incumbents since 1961 have to be replaced because they have failed to deliver for Tanzanians, and also they are the perpetrators of corruption is very true. CCM governments have become complacent, lacked sense of urgency to reform the nation, and have been on business as usual mode for few decades. We the people have every right to use our democratic rights to show them that we ain’t gonna take it no more. We will go to the polls and demonstrate the people’s power. And essentially replace them with somebody else.
Here comes the money question. Who are we going to replace CCM with? Which other party we can trust with our economy, security, and well being? Whether you like it or not — CCM has been able to build a nation with identity and maintained that cohesiveness throughout the history of our young country. That is no small task by any means. They have been able to essentially eliminate illiteracy, maintain the rule of law, improving infrastructures, and now scaling up higher learning institutions. The consensus is they could have done more in social service deliverance and curbing the culture of corruption that undermines the very institutions they are presiding over. But if we are going to replace them, who can we trust for the job? And do they have all the necessary tools to match the work CCM has done?
Chadema, which by all accounts is the main opposition party in mainland Tanzania, has put forth an able man, Dr. Slaa. Only to be complimented by unknown politician Said Mzee Said. This is the very first weakness by Chadema. God forbid, something happen to Dr. Slaa, we are going to stuck with unknown and unable gentleman as our President. Chadema seemed to never take the VEEP slot seriously, and to them it was just the matter of fulfilling NEC requirements. This act speaks volume to us voters, into what style of governing they will employ and what will be the future of Muungano.
The incumbent party (that we are so dissatisfied with) put together a truly democratic primary season to elect her MP candidates. There were some reported corruption cases in their elections, and some of the primaries were not perfect. But it was truly a commendable act, which led to the downfall of many CCM heavyweights. And to those alleged of corruption, the party was matured enough to initiate corruption case against theirowns. On the other side, the party that is expected to usher new dawn of competent governance; waited on sidelines quietly collecting CCM’s sore losers. The same party has failed to field opposition in 10 constituencies, essentially giving CCM free seats. This is the party that has embraced Mabere Marando, the most opportunistic politician in our country. Recently, Chadema held a meeting to choose candidates for MP slots for viti maalumu. They spent an entire day without reaching consensus on TWO candidates. How hard is it to nominate two names? That it takes the party two days to decide. CCM has surprisingly acted more organized, and matured through this whole process and up to now during the campaign.
Now my fellow country men and women; we have to decide. CCM has noticeably been complacent in governing and we need to use democracy as a tool to remind them that. But Chadema and other opposition parties are not doing us any favor. If anything Chadema is more incompetent than CCM. The lineup of Dr. Slaa, Said Mzee Said, and Freeman Mbowe is not to be trusted with the well being of our country. Edmund Burke, an Irish political theorist warned about abstract reasoning by individuals will end up sweeping arrangements that stood the test of time. Political amateurs who promise rapid reforms will create fresh difficulties in attempt to re-engineer the society for their political gains. Chadema is disappointingly falling in this category. They have merely demonstrated formidable internal organization and have repeatedly showcased their lack of any strategic thinking. As much as we are inclined to punish the incumbents, voting Chadema for president would be a futile mistake. The best way to punish CCM is to give opposition enough (deserved) MP seats, and hoping that Upinzani will be more serious in the future before we can trust them with our country.
In mean time, I will be voting for CCM presidential candidate in this coming election. And I urge everybody else to do so.
What about the competancy and the opportunity to become better – does the incumbent party provide this for running parties? That is, do parties provide incentive for collaborative improvement?
How about voting CHADEMA in the parliamentary contests to increase the number of opposition MPs, and voting CHADEMA in the presidential race to decrease CCM’s sense of entitlement and monopoly on that office.
I predict Slaa is not going to win, but I would hate to see Kikwete win by a landslide. I say vote CHADEMA for MP and president, even if it’s just to increase the opposition seats and decrease Kikwete’s margin.
After all, you can’t judge a party before you give it the responsibility of government. Who is to say that CHADEMA will not rise to the occassion ? Without trying them we will never know.Frankly at this point CCM has disappointed so much CHADEMA could hardly do any worse. Moreover, about the CHADEMA running mate, in my books, being unknown is better than being known negatively. His blank slate is an advantage over Kikwete’s soiled slate.
@Sele. It is quite obvious that CCM is a mature party compared to any of the opposition, and for this reason it doesn’t mean that we should in anyway accept incompetence in that high office by a CCM candidate. I am not just comfortable to see the top man not having a self-thought vision of the country, being able to defend it and explain it concisely to the masses and critics abroad. I am irked by statements by a leader who states he doesn’t know why Tanzania is poor (viz. Financial Times interview), or telling voters dubious congratulatory remarks from Obama, or even justifying his trips abroad are necessary because he comes back with food for the nation.
You mention the party has managed to prosecute those candidates involved with corruption. Why then does the president stand in the same platform in his campaigns? (e.g. Mwakalebela situation) Why do we have a presidential nominee endorsing the same people who had heavy public finance cases in his tenure? (Mramba, Lowassa.)
Tanzania needs a leader with ‘teeth’ in fighting the gross mismanagement in public funds. A leader who doesn’t go to the Dar port and just point-fingers to corrupt officials and saying “I know the ones doing this mismanagement” but fails to mention them. In the end we end up getting embarassed with comments by activists in global platforms like WEF.
(See link below, from 6.40, and 37th and see how a leader of a nation answers questions in a global fora. Listen to Bob Geldof at 13:40 criticizing Tanzania’s softness on mismanagement:
http://www.changes-challenges.org/concluding-plenary )
That type of leader is not fulfilling. No matter which party he is from.
It is as though between 2005-2010 Tanzania was on auto-pilot.
Myopic vision!
“Chadema seemed to never take the VEEP slot seriously, and to them it was just the matter of fulfilling NEC requirements. This act speaks volume to us voters, into what style of governing they will employ and what will be the future of Muungano.”
I am troubled by the fact that right after mentioning the above, you fail to apply a similar projection of what “volumes” the following speaks to the kind of government we should expect from CCM.
“The incumbent party (that we are so dissatisfied with) put together a truly democratic primary season to elect her MP candidates. There were some reported corruption cases in their elections, and some of the primaries were not perfect.”
Selemani the bogus.
Selemani, you better think using your brain instead of your stomach. It is useless to waste your time trying to write a futile story. Be fair to fellow Tanzanians who are seeking for new Tanzania to be born.
Kwanza, Ahsante sana kwa Vijana FM kukubali kuniwekea bandiko langu. I refuse to agree that it is partisan. But rather, the reality that has happened to bend on CCM’s side. The idea was to provoke a discussion, and conversation amongst the youths of our beloved country. And thanks to Vijana FM, we have a platform to do that.
CCM (Kikwete) incompetence and their behaviors shouldn’t allow us to vote irrationally. I agree with everybody and I might add that there is no reason we should be this poor. Apart from Mwalimu’s experimenting with Ujamaa, Madeni, and SAPs, most of Tanzania’s misfortunes are self inflicted. And that is CCM’s fault. But I’m trying to argue that looking at Chadema objectively, they have demonstrated their inability to govern. And if we put them into the office, we will be going backwards. I’m in no way afraid of change, but it’s not just change that we need. Its the change that we can objectively believe in.
Tanzania inaendeshwa kiujanjaujanja na ndio maana tunataka mabadiliko. Hatutafika popote kwa ari hii tuliyonayo. Angalau wewe unajaribu kulifikiria suala objectively and kujaribu kuweka falsafa hapa, ila asilimia kubwa ya watanzania hawajui kwanini wanataka kumpigia kura Kikwete. (Jambo ambalo nalo ni tatizo.)
Wako tayari kushabikia CCM kama mpira wa miguu. Wakishabikia CCM bila kujiuliza ni yepi wanayofanya yanayoturudisha nyuma.
Wengi wa wanaotaka tuendelee na ari hii ni waliotosheka na ‘status quo’ au wanafaidika kwa namna fulani kwa uwepo wake. Kama sivyo basi wametosheka na mazoea, au wana uvivu wa kufikiri (objectively), au basi tu hawataki kuwa mabadiliko.
Tunahitaji kiongozi atakayeleta uwajibikaji kwa kuweka miongozo inayofuatwa na sheria kali. Kikwete hana dira na nchi hii. Yeye bado yupo tayari kusikia Tanzania ni ombaomba tu.
Nchi inaendeshwa kiujanjaujanja ndio maana wananchi wake wanaona sawa tu kila kitu kifanywe kiujanja ujanja (ununuzi wa viwanja, upatikanaji wa tenda, ukiukwaji wa kulipa kodi, uvujaji wa mitihani)
We have got the biggest problem in Tanzania. As far as the issue of the presidential candidate is concerned, in Kikwete we have nothing. If you watch the video clip suggested by Joji above, rais wetu alikuwa anatutia aibu. I dont think he will deserve to be a president in another African democratic country. Simply, he will not be elected.
As for Chedema, they seem to have what looks like a presidential candidate save for his private life which does not seem to matter in African culture. However, I doubt Chadema as party to form a strong government. I sense that they have power struggle within the party.
@Selemani: Thank you for coming back onto the platform to discuss these issues with those commenting: This attitude of continued engagement as opposed to one-off articles is an integral part of how we want to work here at Vijana FM.
@all: As this discussion develops, we would hope that you submit reports to our Ushahidi tool, TZelect (http://www.vijanafm.crowdmap.com), which aims to stimulate similar discussion on the elections amongst youth. Although the reports are moderated and filtered for constructive discussion-oriented content, commenting is open just as it is here.
So, thank you all once again, and hope to see you around at TZelect.
Ni upuuzi and an insult to our intelligence bwana Selemani kwa kufikiria sie wananchi hatuna macho, masikio wala hatujui kutumia akili zetu.Kwanza kwa wewe kupiga kura kuichagua CCM ni haki yako kama itakavyokua haki yetu kuchagua wabunge na raisi tunaowataka.
Kwa wewe kuichagua CCM lazima utakua na vigezo vyako, labda unaridhishwa na uwajibikaji wa viongozi wetu, labda umependezewa na JK kuwanadi Chenge, Mwakalebela, Mramba, Lowassa na wengine wote wenye tuhuma nzito za rushwa. Inawezekana unaridhika na usambazaji wa maji na umeme kwa wananchi, vitu ambavyo sio anasa kwetu, na pia hulalamiki na kukasirishwa na huduma za afya, jamii na elimu, kwako hivi vitu sio muhimu, na wala sizungumzii Dar es Salaam pekee, tafadhali tazama picha au temebelea mweyewe vitongoji vilivyo hapa mjini Dar na vya mikoani, ujionee mwenyewe jinsi hizo hela zilizotafunwa na viongozi na mafisadi, zingevyoweza kuleta mabadiliko.
Sasa kwa wewe kuja hapa na kutujulisha bado utaipigia kura CCM nilazima tujiulize, kwani wewe mwenzetu unafaidika na nini kwa CCM kurudi tena? Sitakuelewa kwa kusema eti unaogopa mtafaruki utakaotokea kama Slaa akishinda na hatakua na mgombea mwenza wa maana, sie wananchi tutakua tumefanya kazi yetu, kuchagua viongozi na vyama tunavyovitaka, itakua inabaki kwa waliochaguliwa kutengeneza serikali, na tunaamini wataweza, ni watu wazima, waliokubuhu kisiasa, lazima watafikia muafaka tu.
JK hajaonekana kwa wananchi wengi hasa mikoani kwa miaka mitano (infact akirudi tena madarakani ndio hawatamuona kabisa!). JK anajitetea alikuwa haonekani sababu ya kwenda majuu na bakuli, kuomba mahela na misaada ya kujenga barabara, kuchimba visima, kuleta vitabu vya watoto shule na sababu zingine nyepesi za kuchekesha, ila mimi nionanvyo namuuliza kweli kuna kuna haja yakufanya hayo yote?
Sio kila trip lazima aende, sio kila mkutano lazima atuwasilishe, maana tujuavyo kila raisi wetu afungapo safari inakua kasheshe, ni msafara mkubwa wenye wapambe na utakaoponda hela za umma bila huruma!
Kama akiendelea na mfumo wake wa sasa anapoomba kura, labda kurudi tena kwa wananchi vijini, baada ya kila mwaka, kutathmini ahadi alizotoa kama zimetimizwa basi tutashukuru, labda akae hapa hapa kwetu, na kuongoza hao viongozi, wawajibike kwa ngazi zote, kuongoza bunge, wizara, wilaya, halmashauri na vyombo vyote, basi hapo tutaona yuko nasi, mie narudia kusema kama ninavyowakumbusha rafiki zangu, hela za maendeleo ya nchi yetu ziko hapa hapa, tubane tu matumizi ya serikali, tena yote yanajulikana, hasa kupungiza wizara na mawaziri, mashangingi, vinywaji na vitafunio, matumizi mengine yasio kuwa na maana, bila kusahau kukusanya kodi na kupunguza exemptions.
Sasa wewe bado utanieleza hata serikali ikifanya yote hayo bado tutakuwa maskini, mie ntasema baada ya muda lazima tofauti itaonekana tu, huwezi kuniambia kwa hali tulionayo sasa inanipa moyo ya kuwarudisha viongozi wa CCM madarakani, hawastahili na ni wakati muafaka wetu wa kufundisha adabu!
how about giving your CCM an opposition slot for TEN years? Btw the VEEP is not an automatic first in line? Think the otherway nobody in Mainland CCM is ready to see Dr. Billal as our president, God forbid
Nafurahi sana mwandishi maana umeonyesha hali halisi ya kutambua mapungufu na uozo wa CCM, ila tatizo ulilonalo ni woga na hofu. Basi nakwambia kuwa hakuna mabadiliko na maendeleo makubwa duniani yaliyotokea bila kuwa shujaa, kujaribu na kuwa jasiri.
Mwangalie MLK, Mandela n.k. uone kama walikuwa na mawazo kama yako ya uwoga. Hujawapa Chadema madaraka, je, uwoga unatoka wapi? Au ndio hali ya mazoea? Tunajua wengine wafanyabiashara wanadanganywa huko Arusha eti wasipoichagua CCM biashara zao hazitakwenda; duh! Haya ni mawazo mgando kabisa. Kila kitu kilichopo kitakwenda kama kawaida tu, kwani Dr.Slaa au Raisi yeyote wa nchi anafanya maamuzi yake mwenyewe? Bunge halipo? Au wabunge wote ni Chadema?
Toa uwoga kijana ili uikomboe nchi yako, kumbuka kuwa watu kama ninyi ndio mnaozidi kuirudisha nyuma nchi yetu maana bado mna mawazo ya ujima na kuona bila chichiemu mabao hayaendi.
Hatudanganyiki mwaka huu.