This follows an earlier post with articles, etc. from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Updated Tuesday, 2pm EAT – click here to jump to the new section
Monday 25th November
Front pages, via millardayo.com:
Newspapers:
Mwananchi: Zitto: Sitoki Chadema; Diwani amkosoa Lissu; Wazazi wamsindikiza Zitto ‘kujieleza’; Dk Kitila: Nilishiriki kuandaa, kuhariri waraka; Kigoma wapinga, Mbeya washangilia
The Citizen: Zitto fights back in effort to salvage political career
The Guardian: I’ll not quit, allegations against me false – Zitto
Nipashe: Zitto, Dk. Kitila waeleza siri zao
Daily News: Zitto says he won’t quit Chadema; Chadema seems to have far serious problems than what meets the eye
Habari Leo: Zitto ang’ang’ana hatoki Chadema; Kilichowaponza akina Zitto – 2; Nguvu wa Zitto, udhaifu wa Mbowe ndani ya Chadema
Tanzania Daima: Zitto: Sitoki CHADEMA; Zitto amshukuru Malinzi
Mtanzania / RAI: Zitto: Sing’oki Chadema
Some highlights from these articles:
As usual, Mwananchi has the best coverage, including particularly this interview with Chadema party elder, Edwin Mtei. Mtei was the party’s founder and first chairman, having previously held government posts as Minister of Finance and Governor of the Bank of Tanzania.
“Mtei amesema kuwa chama hicho kitaendelea kuwafukuza wote wanaokihujumu huku akieleza kwamba, anaunga mkono kuvuliwa uongozi kwa Zitto Kabwe na Dk Kitila Mkumbo.”
“’Naunga mkono uamuzi wote wa Kamati Kuu, kuwasimamisha na kuwavua uongozi Naibu Katibu Mkuu wetu Zitto Kabwe na Dk Kitila Mkumbo. Na kwa sababu Chadema inataka kusonga mbele, lazima iwafukuze mafisadi na wezi wanaoshirikiana kukihujumu chama,’ alisema Mtei.”
“’Katika suala la kushughulikia watu wanaokihujumu chama hakuna ‘compromise’ (mjadala),’ alihitimisha Mtei.”
“Mtei alisema hatua ya mbunge huyo [Zitto] kutangaza kutogombea tena ubunge na badala yake kujipanga kuwania urais mwaka 2015, imekuja mapema mno na kuonya kuwa itaibua mzozo ndani ya Chadema, akiweka wazi kuwa wakati ukifika chama hicho kitafanya uchaguzi sahihi.”
“Hata hivyo, Zitto alipinga kauli hiyo akisema: ‘Demokrasia haileti mizozo kwenye vyama vya siasa hata siku moja, bali humaliza mizozo. Udikteta, kuminya fikra huru na mawazo huru, ndivyo huleta mizozo kwenye vyama vya siasa.’”
“Alisema ni muhimu wazee wakawaacha vijana wawe huru kusema wanachofikiri, kwa kuwa uhuru wa fikra na mawazo ni moja ya haki za msingi na moja ya nguzo za demokrasia.”
This article drew some remarks from January Makamba, a contender for the Presidency from CCM, on Twitter – see here and here for the tweets.
Also in Mwananchi, there is confirmation from Dr Kitila Mkumbo that he was involved in preparing the document, which effectively confirms also that it is genuine (though he states, as does Zitto, that Zitto was not aware of it):
“Aliyekuwa Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Chadema, Dk Kitila Mkumbo … alisema alishiriki kuuandaa na kuuhariri ‘Waraka wa Mkakati wa Mabadiliko 2013’ uliokuwa mahususi kumwandaa aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho, Zitto Kabwe kuwa mwenyekiti.”
“Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam jana, Mhadhiri huyo wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, alisema: ‘Waraka ulilenga kujenga hoja ya kufanya mabadiliko ya uongozi na kuainisha mikakati ya ushindi kwa mgombea mlengwa katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Chadema ambao kwa ratiba ya awali ulikuwa ufanyike Desemba mwaka huu.’”
Daily News has taken the (good) advice of Zitto and his allies, to read the document that so upset their party’s leadership. Their conclusion is damning for Chadema:
“The main issues raised by the authors include that of a poor and yet despotic leadership that does not respect party procedures when it comes to reaching serious and sensitive decisions, as well as mismanagement of funds to the benefit of the party’s leaders and cronies.”
“Failure by the party’s mechanisms to delve into the accusations sends wrong messages to outsiders looking in. It would seem like the party’s leaders cannot or would not allow anyone to question them, confirming that the contents of the document are true.”
“Most importantly, however, is the dangerous premise that Chadema as a political party may someday win elections and form a government headed by the same politicians accused of Orwellian tactics, greed and lack of focus. That thought sends a chill down the spine!”
Not strictly related to this story, but in Nipashe, John Mnyika, also of Chadema, seems to be trying to move on. His Twitter account has been silent throughout this period, suggesting he doesn’t want to be associated either with Zitto or with those who are against him.
And finally, three cartoons:
Click to view slideshow.
Front pages:
Newspaper articles:
Mwananchi: Zitto ajiweka njia panda
Nipashe: Kitila: Nitakufa na Nchemba
Daily News: Chadema ‘stripping’ draws mixed feelings
Habari Leo: Chadema yaaswa
Tanzania Daima: UVCCM wamchafua Zitto
Mtanzania: Chadema: Zitto Kabwe muongo
Majira: Zitto, Mkumbo waibua mazito
Some highlights:
Tanzania Daima throws some more mud at Zitto:
“UMOJA wa Vijana wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (UVCCM), umeutia doa mkutano wa Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe, na waandishi wa habari uliofanyika juzi katika hoteli ya Serena baada ya maandalizi na uratibu wake kusimamiwa na vijana wa umoja huo.”
“Kwa hatua hiyo imeelezwa kuwa kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), kupitia umoja wao wa vijana kwamba ndio walioratibu, kusimamia na hata kuugharimia mkutano wa mbunge huyo pamoja na aliyekuwa mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu (CC) Dk. Kitila Mkumbo.”
“Vijana hao wa UVCCM ambao ndio waliosimamia mkutano huo, walipata kuwa wanachama na viongozi wa CHADEMA lakini baadaye walienguliwa kwa makosa ya usaliti na baadaye kujiunga na UVCCM.”
“CHAMA cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), kimesema aliyekuwa Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho, Zitto Kabwe na aliyekuwa Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya chama hicho, Dk. Kitila Mkumbo, ni waongo na wazushi.”
“Akizungumza na RAI, Ofisa Habari wa Chadema, Tumaini Makene, alisema baada ya Kamati Kuu kupitia taarifa ya Zitto na Dk. Kitila, imebaini kuna upotoshaji na uongo mkubwa ambao unahitaji kutolewa ufafanuzi.”
“Hata hivyo, Makene alishindwa kufafanua ni uongo upi uliopo kwenye taarifa zilizotolewa na Zitto na Kitila.”
“Alisema Kamati Kuu, ilikutana jana kwa dharura na kutafakari taarifa hizo na kuamua kuzitolea ufafanuzi leo hii.”
Some cartoons:
Click to view slideshow.Other commentary:
The best commentary today comes from the blogs, in particular those of Maria Sarungi and Maggid Mjengwa.
Maria’s first: Katika siasa hakuna malaika wala shetani
“Lazima tukubali kuwa lengo moja kuu (kama si lengo kuu pekee) ya chama chochote cha kisiasa ni kuingia madarakani. Vyama hivi vinaweza kutushawishi kuwa wanataka madaraka haya kwa sababu wanataka kutusaidia na ni haki na wajibu wetu kutathmini na kuamua ni chama kipi kitatusaidia kama jamii kufikia malengo tutakayokubaliana nayo. Lakini kwa kifupi wanataka madaraka. Tukishakubali hali hii, basi tunaweza kuangalia tukio lolote la kisiasa kama ushindani wa kutwaa madaraka.”
“Tunachokiona leo hii ndani ya CHADEMA ni changamoto kubwa lakini pia ni nafasi ya kipekee kwa chama hiki kikubwa cha upinzani kuandika historia. Kwani suluhu si kutimuana, “kuvuana nguo”, kuitana majina – hii itafanyika wakati wa mchakato rasmi – ila kwa sasa ni muda wa kujitafakari.”
“Mi binafsi nasema mpaka sasa tamko la Zitto na la Kitila kuwa hawaondoki ndani ya chama na watabaki ni habari njema. Kwani mikwaruzano, na malumbano haya ndani ya chama kinaweza kuimarisha chama kama pande ZOTE zitaweza kutambua kuwa lengo lao kuu hatimaye ni kushika madaraka ya nchi. Na sisi wananchi tutambue kuwa katika ushindani huu hakuna malaika wala shetani, ni mgongano wa mawazo.”
“Kitu ambacho sikubali kabisa ni pale watu wanapojaribu kusema eti “hii ni Tanzania, hatuendi hivyo”. Mi naomba nijibu hiyo hoja – demokrasia na mfumo wa vyama vingi havikutungwa Tanzania. Kama tumekubali kutumia huo mfumo tufuate kama ilivyolengwa. Vinginevyo turudi kwenye uchifu. Tanzania tunaweza kujenga jamii ya kidemokrasia na itajengwa na SISI wananchi na si wanasiasa. Kwa sababu wanasiasa wako bize kutwaa madaraka – mwanasiasa yoyote yule – tusidanganyike! Hivyo basi sisi wananchi tukiwa kama wanachama wa vyama, kama wapiga kura, tuhakikishe tunakuwa mashabiki wa demokrasia na uwazi kwanza na si mashabiki wa vyama na wanasiasa.”
Now Maggid: Chadema ‘civil war’ imepamba moto
“Tafsiri yangu kiini ni mgogoro wa uongozi ndani ya Chadema. Ni mgogoro wenye kuiweka Chadema kwenye hatari ya kugawanyika. Na kama nilivyobainisha juzi, unahusu uongozi na mamlaka na hususan kuelekea 2015 na mbele zaidi.”
“Kuna mahali wahusika, kama watataka kupata – win-win situation, itawabidi wakae meza moja na kukubaliana. Lakini, inavyoonekana sasa, hakuna mwenye haja ya matokeo ya suluhu. Ni lazima mmoja apigwe. Na kama nilivyobainisha juzi, kuwa atakayeshindwa, basi, itakuwa ni mwanzo wa mwisho wake wa kuwepo katika hali aliyo nayo sasa.”
“Na nilisema, kuwa ‘ Vita’ hii itapiganwa kwanza kwenye media. Na baada ya hapo itahamia kwenye mikutano ya hadhara. Ndio, na tuisubiri ‘ Kamukunji’”
And finally, here are the thoughts I put down myself last night:
mtega: CCM Hoyee! Zitto and Chadema in a mess. As usual, it’s all about 2015
“It’s tough at the top: as the party grew more viable, there was more for individual politicians with their personal ambitions to fight over. Mbowe in 2005 and Slaa in 2010 knew in their hearts that they couldn’t become president, but the party’s candidate for 2015 stands a chance. (Stood a chance). On this count, they’ve failed to overcome that challenge.”
“But one thing is for certain: Zitto will be back. There are very few with his commitment, ambition and ability. He is an inspiration to many, who will follow wherever he decides to lead. Indeed, he may well be back soon. If Mbowe and co. decide they are better off with Zitto inside their tent pissing out than on the outside pissing in, he may yet keep his card. And he may yet find a way of challenging for the party chairmanship and presidential nomination.”
“He may have to delay his presidential ambitions, he may have to spend some time off the front line. But I would not bet against him being back in the game within weeks or even days. I would not want to be Freeman Mbowe right now.”
Filed under: media, politics, Tanzania
