Waraka wa Magavilla (Opinion)

This is an opinion post that I have formulated over time and it serves the sole purpose of strengthening the effectiveness of our political endeavor whether it be through CCM, CHADEMA or otherwise but I focus specifically on CHADEMA and CCM to drive my point home.

I write this with no party bias undertones (so if you register any my apologies in advance) but I must declare my Nyerere bias.

I do not believe that CHADEMA is judged by the public solely on the merits of a ‘party’ as would be the case with CCM. CCM is clearly a superior party on almost all measures maybe except for the ones that have made CHADEMA a force to reckon with in recent years. CHADEMA represents a movement of the people against the establishment, in this case CCM, the Governments it has formed over more than half a century and the resulting class of ‘insiders’. This movement, it can be argued, was fueled more by the actions or non-actions of CCM itself as it is the ruling party and custodian effective of Governance. That is not to say that CHADEMA has had no part in this equation; not at all.

The pioneering efforts of Dr Slaa, Kabwe to name a few in the parliament of 2005 availed a platform for opposition, not in the ‘party’ sense but in the ‘voice’ of the people sense that Tanzanians were very much longing for. Tanzanian’s found in CHADEMA a vehicle that could air their thoughts and opinions often in opposition to the establishment as CCM chose (and continues to choose) to take a partisan approach. Like Nyerere proved in 1991/2 that this type of opposition can even come from within the party (CCM) and still be very effective but multipartiism has rid CCM of this once formidable rejuvenation tool.

This is critical insight for both parties in formulating their strategies going forward. It is quite telling when a party (CHADEMA) that was, from inception, perceived to be associated to a certain tribe has forged a footing in almost all major towns of Tanzania. There is no evident claim to a superior ideology or strategy for the Nation, just a ‘watchdog’ alertness about the vices eating away at this Nation and the bravado to speak out against an all powerful establishment that has won CHADEMA the hearts of the otherwise voiceless people.

It is important that our political parties remember that politics is ultimately not about the party and that it’s not even about personalities that popularise these parties, as much as it is about the people (especially the wide bottom on which the narrow top’s stability is dependent) and the issues that affect them.

Stick to the issues and the rest will follow.