CCM orders fresh rounds in five primaries

CCM has ordered that fresh primaries be held in five constituencies tomorrow following complaints of irregularities and diversion of election materials in some areas.

 

The party’s ideology and publicity secretary, Nape Nnauye, told journalists here yesterday that the Central Committee made the decision at its morning meeting.

 

He said the committee was “fully convinced” that nominations in the five constituencies were marred by “various irregularities”.

“CCM is determined to conduct transparent, free, fair and credible elections. The steps we have taken show that the party is capable of solving its internal problems,” he noted.

 

The constituencies in question are Ukonga in Dar es Salaam Region, Rufiji (Coast), Busega (Simiyu), Makete and Kilolo (Iringa).

 

 “After serious deliberations, the central committee came to the conclusion that a lot of abnormalities had prevailed in the nominations of the said constituencies, calling for a repeat of the process,” said Nnauye, who declined to specify the irregularities.

 

His press briefing came less than 40 minutes after the CC meeting, chaired party national chairman President Jakaya Kikwete, opened. 

Kikwete arrived at the meeting just before to 11.00 am and joined other delegates who had already assembled at the hall by 9 am. 

In his opening remarks, Kikwete said the meeting had the responsibility of “screening” and the names of those nominated in the recently concluded primary polls.

 

“The public is eagerly waiting to know those approved to stand as CCM’s flag bearers in the coming (October) elections. You should therefore do this diligently and swiftly to meet their expectations,” he said.

 

It was at the screening was completed that it was resolved that fresh nominations be conducted in the five constituencies.

 

The development is expected to see two cabinet ministers who were beaten in the first round of the primaries heave sighs of relief. 

The two Health and Social Welfare minister Seif Rashid and his Livestock and Fisheries Development counterpart, Dr Titus Kamani.

 

But Water and Irrigation deputy minister Binilith Mahenge, who won nomination to defend the Makete parliamentary seat, will now have fight it out once again.

 

Former Kilolo Member of Parliament Venance Mwamoto, who garnered 11,200 votes to outgoing MP Prof Peter Msola’s 10,014, will also have to fight it afresh tomorrow.

 

The Ukonga parliamentary seat, which fell vacant in June following legislator Eugen Mwaiposa’s death, attracted many aspirants in a race that saw outgoing Ilala municipality mayor Jerry Silaa declared winner.

 

According to Nnauye, tomorrow’s polls will help “clear the air” over key appeals made after the primary polls.

Without giving any figures, he said there were a lot of complaints and appeals against some of those who won the elections “but the party organs are still working on them”.

 

The CCM central committee began meetings yesterday morning could not start earlier because the party’s Ethics Committee was busy working on the agenda until late on Monday night.

 

Nape explained that the CC would complete its tasks by yesterday and submit its resolutions to the party’s National Executive Committee, which is scheduled to start meeting this morning.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN