From the countrywide crusade dubbed “Operesheni
Pamoja Daima” to last week’s by-elections in 27 wards, the party found
itself in a voluntary self-assessment situation.
Chadema’s dismal performance in the by-elections
has left many observers wondering whether the party is making any
headway or is shrinking as was the case with most local opposition
parties.
Chadema won in Kiboroloni Ward in Kilimanjaro Region, Sombetini Ward in Arusha Region and Njombe Urban Ward in Njombe Region.
The murky showing by Chadema comes at a time when
the ruling party, CCM, seems to be gaining more ground especially in
areas where it was thought that the party was losing popularity.
CCM captured some seats that were under Chadema in the recent by-elections.
Chadema was towards the end of last year embroiled
in a leadership wrangle that saw its party deputy secretary-general
Zitto Kabwe stripped off all his party positions.
He rushed to apply for a court order to stop any
further actions from his party which went ahead and stripped off posts
of its two other senior members.
CCM was crisscrossing the country by then,
strengthening its roots and drumming for support, the move which some
observers say might have contributed to Chadema’s poor performance in
the by-elections.
Their general feeling is that the party is losing
grip on the ground despite the enthusiasm that is evident among its
supporters in most parts of the country, especially in townships.
According to former Chadema senior member and
University of Dar es Salaam lecturer, Dr Kitila Mkumbo, the opposition’s
party’s future looks bumpy if the recent by-election results are
anything to go by. Dr Mkumbo says even as more people see the need to
replace the ruling party with another party, Chadema doesn’t seem to fit
the need.
He says although Chadema has managed to expose the
weaknesses of CCM, there was nothing different that could be taken as a
lesson from the opposition party.
“It is not that Chadema does not have good policies. No,” the
education psychology lecturer says, accusing Chadema leaders of being
obsessed with digging poles into CCM policies and deeds and throwing
sound bites without substance.
Emmanuel Chonza, a political analyst based in Dar
es Salaam, says Chadema made a grave mistake of misjudging its rival’s
position and changing its campaigning strategy.
“Chadema should have focused on the elections as
an independent case instead of a series of rallies to selected regions
in the name of Pamoja Daima Movement (PDM),” he says.
As a result, there were no focused campaigning
strategies to counter those of the ruling party’s. “Chadema should not
point an accusing finger at anyone other than its top leadership for
lacking appropriate winning strategies for the by elections,” he adds.
Despite the visibly slip up by Chadema, party
officials still see light at the end of the tunnel. John Heche, the
party’s youth wing national chairman says: “I know most Tanzanians have
been disappointed by the results…but for us, the results mean a lot.”
In over a half of the contested wards this year,
Chadema did not field candidates in the 2010 General Election owing to
different factors.
But the party had good candidates in all wards this time around, who made it garner over 41 per cent of all votes.
“This shows our network is vastly growing in every corner of the country,” he says.
The party’s sole challenge was to ensure all the youth were registered in the voter’s book and keep their voting cards.
“The playing field was not level…but our members have to keep vigil and guard our votes,” he cautions.
Senior press officer Mr Tumaini Makene says those
criticising the party’s performance in the elections are making a grave
mistake by relating the results with the PDM.
The operation was meant to arouse the electorate
to understand key issues facing the country including the constitution
making process, the spiraling tough living condition and others of
national importance, but never a campaign for the by-elections.
“Our critics should compare how we did in these elections
‘vis-à-vis’ the 2010 General Election...in Njombe Urban Ward, for
instance, we did not have a candidate altogether in 2010.”
He urges them to consider votes Chadema got even
in the wards CCM candidates were announced victors, saying “the gap was
very slim.”
He, however, promises that the party would make a
critical evaluation of what happened so as to prepare for the coming
elections.
The CUF deputy secretary-general for Tanzania
Mainland, Mr Julius Mtatiro, blames the poor performance by Chadema and
other opposition parties in the recent by-elections on “unfair playing
field”.
“If the situation will continue, the current political environment in the country will remain unchanged,” he cautions.
The governance mechanisms give the ruling party an
upper hand, with officials doing whatever it takes, including dirty
tactics, to win the elections.
“… there are no elections in this country…no free and fair elections,” he laments.
