Tanzania: CCM And Chadema Take to the Skies in Final Push

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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

9 October 2008
Posted to the web 9 October 2008

Mussa Juma
Tarime

Tarime residents will today witness the campaigns for the parliamentary by-election moving into the sky after CCM announced yesterday that two helicopters would be brought in to boost its campaign effort.

Mara regional chairman Charles Makongoro Nyerere said here yesterday that the hiring of the helicopters has been completed and the choppers would land in Tarime at any moment.

Using the two helicopters is meant to cancel out snobbish stances by the rival Chadema, whose chairman Freeman Mbowe yesterday launched his campaign at Sirari ward.

"It is true we have two stand-by helicopters. We are waiting for Mbowe to start his campaign so that we follow him on the skies to prove that we are the ruling party," said Mr Makongoro at a campaign rally.

"We are prepared to make all effort to make sure that we take the Tarime seat we have leaders in every ward campaigning for CCM," he said. While the campaign takes to the skies, some CCM leaders sent here to boost the party's campaign including vice chairman Pius Msekwa are reported to have left Tarime.

Others who were in the campaign but left the town include the minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Steven Wassira, the deputy minister for Education and Vocational Training Ms Gaudensia Kabaka and CCM national executive committee member, Mr Nimrod Mkono.

In another development, a free call number has been released by election officers for inquiries by eligible voters whose names were missing in the voters' register and those whose names appears twice.

Through the number, complaining voters would be informed of rectification before the polling day, returning officer Trasiass Kagenzi said. 'The problem has been resolved and the uncertainties over a list of eligible voters released by the National Electoral Commission earlier this week no longer exist,' he said.

'Anyone who has his/her voting card can now send an SMS or call 0753 123179 to be informed of their polling station,' he said. The provision of a phone number is being done for the first time in a parliamentary by-election, he said, noting that the new list of eligible voters has been released and pinned on all polling stations.

He promised that the voting would be fairly conducted. Election officials would work closely with agents of political parties in counting votes and giving out the results in every polling station. 'My duty is to announce overall results from each polling centre so you can see there is no room for favours,' he affirmed.

Justice Lewis Makame (rtd), the chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), yesterday said the police presence in Tarime was not as intense as it has been reported.

He made the remark shortly after the returning officer read him a report on election arrangements at which he said Tarime residents have no reason to fear. The police presence was sufficient to ensure security, he said.

About 450 police officers were present in Tarime to cover 406 polling stations during the Sunday polling. Roughly one police officer will cover one polling station and the rest will be scattered in other areas, the polls chief noted.

Copies of letters in which Democratic Party (DP) chairman Christopher Mtikila is supposed to be apologizing to Tarime residents and Tanzanians for linking Chadema with the death of Chacha Zakayo Wangwe were being circulated here yesterday.

The late Tarime MP died in a car accident at Pandambili in Dodoma in July. Copies of the purported DP letter quoted Mtikila as saying that he was instructed to utter false charges against Chadema by CCM against his will. But Rev. Mtikila strongly disowned the letter, saying it was a forgery by the Chadema youth wing. He said he has reported the case to the police in Tarime.

Reverend Mtikila was last week hit and sustained injuries by a stone as he addressed a campaign rally. He is now accusing Chadema leaders Msafiri Mtewelwa, Hemed Sabura and John Mnyika for 'orchestrating the dirty campaign.' Ends

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