TZUK.com - Connecting Tanzanians In The UK

Presidential candidates on a marathon 71-day campaign trail have been making extravagant promises that have prompted analysts and political commentators to warn their outcome could be frustration among the citizenry and disaffection towards the next crop of leaders after the October 31 polls.

In the last two weeks alone of the campaigns across the country, politicians have stopped at nothing to declare what they would do if elected. It is all in what are seen as “desperate” efforts to woo the over 20 million registered voters expected to cast their vote in the General Election.     

The commentators are particularly concerned that some politicians are merely out to entice the electorate and are not telling the truth, since most  don’t even bother to tell how they plan to implement their huge promises.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s Jakaya Kikwete who is in the race to clinch a second and last five-year presidential term has been promising a string of goodies at every stop.

Among the highlights of President Kikwete’s campaign promises so far is to buy a new passenger ship to replace the 500-seat capacity MV Bukoba that capsized in Lake Victoria in 1996, killing at least 1000 people. There is no record for the MV Bukoba cost but it is believed the government would spend billions of shillings to deliver this ship over the unspecified period.

Mr Kikwete has also said his government would supply 400 motorcycle ambulances (bajaj) for ward dispensaries. That would translate to some Sh2 billion.

Home Affairs minister Lawrence Masha was yesterday accused of using his government position in an alleged attempt to retain his erstwhile Nyamagana parliamentary seat unopposed.
Chadema, whose candidate was also vying for the same seat in Mwanza region was initially blocked after his Tanzanian citizenship was queried, said it was contemplating to have the minister stripped of the right to stand in the October 31 General Election.
Pictured is Mr John Mnyika of Chadema
Addressing a press conference in Dar es Salaam following Tuesday’s decision by the National Electoral Commission to reinstate Mr Ezekieli Wenje as a parliamentary candidate for Nyamagana, Chadema acting deputy secretary general Mr John Mnyika yesterday accused Mr Masha of conducting himself in a manner that smacked of conflict of interest. For that, he said, the minister should be punished.  

Mr Mnyika said Chadema would also consider filing a legal suit against the minister for abuse of office.  He added that Chadema lawyers are working on the legal modalities.

However, reached for comment yesterday, Mr Masha dismissed the accusations and challenged the opposition party to prove their claims. He said the objection against Mr Wenje that had been filed with NEC was done by his party and therefore, there was nothing personal about it.

“Of course, we logged an objection against Wenje…but I have got nothing to do with the decision made by the Nyamagana returning officer. The allegations that I have used my powers in my favour are baseless,” said Mr Masha.