CCM, Chadema set for showdown in 2013

Dar es Salaam. All signs point to a grand showdown between CCM and Chadema in critical civic elections next year as these bitter rivals try to build political momentum ahead of the 2015 General Election. As eager-eyed hopefuls spew partisan vitriol in a bid to clinch coveted political positions, there are fears that growing antagonism between these two parties could turn chaotic when they go toe-to-toe at the polls. During its general conference in November, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) revealed a revamped strategy to put the party back on track after it was thrown off course by Chadema’s Movement for Change (M4C), which was meant to consolidate grassroots support for the opposition strongmen. President Jakaya Kikwete is on record accusing Chadema of propagating violence, and of sneering at the very real achievements of his party and the government. To shore up support for the ruling party, the CCM chairperson has directed cadres at all levels to “reach out to the people.” The opposition has succeeded in making people believe the administration has failed because CCM stalwarts are not doing their job: they are not moving to provide evidence to the contrary, according to Mr Kikwete. He has repeatedly told party members to “publicize” the good that the ruling party has done. There is already tension. Several Chadema members have recently traded in their khakis for CCM greens in a series of high-profile defections. On the other hand, the opposition party is rallying the public against what it calls “violations of human rights” by their ruling rivals, and is pushing for amendments to the Election Act. CCM deputy chairperson Philip Mangula told The Citizen on Sunday that 2013 is the year his party goes on a full-frontal political assault against challengers, while Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe plans to use public pressure to counter what he called “unnecessary use of state force to suppress the growth of opposition in the country.”  “2013 will be the year to prepare our members, to make them conscious of the battle ahead,” Mr Mangula said yesterday. “Next year we are retraining our entire party structure to get everyone ready to reach out,” he added. Asked to comment on concerns that the CCM-Chadema clash might spur public unrest, Mr Mangula said CCM’s approach is decidedly different from, and inherently better than, Chadema’s “People Power’s” movement. “We’re reaching out to our members, not the general public,” he said adding, “I don’t see how it will turn violent.” He does, however, admit that over the course of the next twelve months, the situation in Tanzania might get tense, partly because the ruling party plans to send out “a big army” to counter Chadema’s growing political influence. “We’re going to have a massive army [of supporters]; that’s going to be the key difference between us and Chadema,” said Mr Mangula. At Kinondoni however, they do not seem terribly worried. Chadema is pushing ahead with its grassroots-centric approach, according to party chair Mr Mbowe. He told this reporter that in 2013, they are going to stir the public into forcing the CCM government to put an end to human rights violations and the suppression of political opponents. “We have been patient for a very long time [so] 2013 will be the year of struggle,” said Mr Mbowe. He clarified: “I don’t mean armed struggle, but we will be asking for public support in demanding our rights.” It is tragic that government is employing decidedly unconstitutional and oppressive tools to curb Chadema’s growing influence, according to Mr Mbowe. “Under normal circumstances one would expect to see the growth of a political party viewed positively but what we see today is totally the opposite,” he said. Mr Mbowe, who is also the MP for Hai, argued that CCM’s heavy-handed treatment of opponents essentially teaches political parties to resort to force. “The government or regime that uses force to oppress its opponents teaches its opponents to use force against it,” he said in reference to a statement by former South African President Nelson Mandela. As the two parties brace for a showdown, however, analysts warn a political face-off will do very little for Tanzania’s democracy. Instead of slugging it out on the pulpit, both parties should channel their efforts towards the Katiba review process. University of Dar es Salaam don Chris Maina sees little threat to peace provided CCM and Chadema respect the laws of the country. State organs and law enforcement must also remain neutral, he said. “Problems emerge when state organs fail to exercise neutrality,” said Prof Maina. Still, the UDSM scholar thinks the parties’ time will be better spent helping Tanzanians create a better constitution. “All they want is power in 2015. However, if they don’t help the country get a better Katiba, what supreme laws are they going to use to govern this nation?” asked Prof Maina. On the other hand, Prof Gaudence Mpangala thinks the CCM-Chadema dichotomy is part of a natural political transition. “We’ve seen this [happen] in Zanzibar [when] CCM failed to accommodate CUF. The mainland is seeing the same phenomenon today,” he said. According to him, things will come to a head only if the ruling party uses state powers to suppress the opposition.Dar es Salaam. All signs point to a grand showdown between CCM and Chadema in critical civic elections next year as these bitter rivals try to build political momentum ahead of the 2015 General Election. As eager-eyed hopefuls spew partisan vitriol in a bid to clinch coveted political positions, there are fears that growing antagonism between these two parties could turn chaotic when they go toe-to-toe at the polls. During its general conference in November, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) revealed a revamped strategy to put the party back on track after it was thrown off course by Chadema’s Movement for Change (M4C), which was meant to consolidate grassroots support for the opposition strongmen. President Jakaya Kikwete is on record accusing Chadema of propagating violence, and of sneering at the very real achievements of his party and the government. To shore up support for the ruling party, the CCM chairperson has directed cadres at all levels to “reach out to the people.” The opposition has succeeded in making people believe the administration has failed because CCM stalwarts are not doing their job: they are not moving to provide evidence to the contrary, according to Mr Kikwete. He has repeatedly told party members to “publicize” the good that the ruling party has done. There is already tension. Several Chadema members have recently traded in their khakis for CCM greens in a series of high-profile defections. On the other hand, the opposition party is rallying the public against what it calls “violations of human rights” by their ruling rivals, and is pushing for amendments to the Election Act. CCM deputy chairperson Philip Mangula told The Citizen on Sunday that 2013 is the year his party goes on a full-frontal political assault against challengers, while Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe plans to use public pressure to counter what he called “unnecessary use of state force to suppress the growth of opposition in the country.”  “2013 will be the year to prepare our members, to make them conscious of the battle ahead,” Mr Mangula said yesterday. “Next year we are retraining our entire party structure to get everyone ready to reach out,” he added.  Asked to comment on concerns that the CCM-Chadema clash might spur public unrest, Mr Mangula said CCM’s approach is decidedly different from, and inherently better than, Chadema’s “People Power’s” movement. “We’re reaching out to our members, not the general public,” he said adding, “I don’t see how it will turn violent.” He does, however, admit that over the course of the next twelve months, the situation in Tanzania might get tense, partly because the ruling party plans to send out “a big army” to counter Chadema’s growing political influence. “We’re going to have a massive army [of supporters]; that’s going to be the key difference between us and Chadema,” said Mr Mangula. At Kinondoni however, they do not seem terribly worried. Chadema is pushing ahead with its grassroots-centric approach, according to party chair Mr Mbowe. He told this reporter that in 2013, they are going to stir the public into forcing the CCM government to put an end to human rights violations and the suppression of political opponents. “We have been patient for a very long time [so] 2013 will be the year of struggle,” said Mr Mbowe. He clarified: “I don’t mean armed struggle, but we will be asking for public support in demanding our rights.” It is tragic that government is employing decidedly unconstitutional and oppressive tools to curb Chadema’s growing influence, according to Mr Mbowe. “Under normal circumstances one would expect to see the growth of a political party viewed positively but what we see today is totally the opposite,” he said. Mr Mbowe, who is also the MP for Hai, argued that CCM’s heavy-handed treatment of opponents essentially teaches political parties to resort to force. “The government or regime that uses force to oppress its opponents teaches its opponents to use force against it,” he said in reference to a statement by former South African President Nelson Mandela. As the two parties brace for a showdown, however, analysts warn a political face-off will do very little for Tanzania’s democracy. Instead of slugging it out on the pulpit, both parties should channel their efforts towards the Katiba review process. University of Dar es Salaam don Chris Maina sees little threat to peace provided CCM and Chadema respect the laws of the country. State organs and law enforcement must also remain neutral, he said. “Problems emerge when state organs fail to exercise neutrality,” said Prof Maina. Still, the UDSM scholar thinks the parties’ time will be better spent helping Tanzanians create a better constitution. “All they want is power in 2015. However, if they don’t help the country get a better Katiba, what supreme laws are they going to use to govern this nation?” asked Prof Maina. On the other hand, Prof Gaudence Mpangala thinks the CCM-Chadema dichotomy is part of a natural political transition. “We’ve seen this [happen] in Zanzibar [when] CCM failed to accommodate CUF. The mainland is seeing the same phenomenon today,” he said. According to him, things will come to a head only if the ruling party uses state powers to suppress the opposition.