Coalition of opposition parties still bickering

ALL is not well in the coalition of opposition parties (Ukawa) after the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) Chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe, yesterday stated that the agreement between the parties was not to simply dish out constituencies.

Speaking in a press conference at Ukawa campaign headquarters in Kawe, Dar es Salaam, Mr Mbowe said the survival and quest to get into power is only through hard work and having people at constituencies that deliver.

“Chadema operates under the philosophy of he who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat. With that in mind, it should be remembered that constituencies are not easy to get and one thing we don’t want to do is put people who are unable to perform to vie for political posts,” he stressed.

Mr Mbowe said that it was his conviction that those complaining have been bought out, adding that whilst the coalition has challenges to settle with constituency disputes, they were doing all to sort them out.

He said that he felt that there was a misconception going around and that the issue wasn’t which party represents which constituency, but rather whether the candidate has what it takes to win it.

The opposition NCCRMageuzi saga on Friday took a new twist after the party’s Chairman of Trustees’ Council, Mr Mohamed Tibanyendera, dismissed as baseless discontent claims aired by some party members and officials.

Responding to allegations by the party’s Deputy Chairperson, Ms Leticia Mossore, said that the party does not benefit from the coalition of opposition parties (Ukawa) and that they should withdraw from the said coalition.

Mr Tibanyendera said that the views were the deputy chairperson’s personal opinion and not the party’s official position, stressing that they would be the last party to withdraw from Ukawa

.Earlier this week, Ms Mossore and other officials expressed concern over the number of constituencies allocated for the party within the coalition. It was revealed that out of 265 constituencies, NCCRMageuzi was allocated only 12, the rest going to three other parties in the coalition.

Meanwhile, Ukawa has called on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to issue a statement regarding remarks made by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Parents’ Wing Chairman, Mr Abdallah Bulembo, who they alleged to have utterly treasonous comments at a campaign rally in Kigoma. Mr Mbowe said that they condemned the remarks because they can incite the masses and eventually cause disruption of peace.

“The utterances of Mr Bulembo are uncalled for and NEC need to take action against such persons. Saying that CCM will not accept another party taking over, means that these campaigns and voting is useless because it is like the results are already known,” he said.

Chadema chairman also used the opportunity to refute claims circulating on social media that he had abandoned the campaigns and was out of the country, describing the claims as baseless and mere propaganda by CCM. Mr Mbowe explained that not everyone can go to the front and that others needed to remain behind to handle other equally important duties.