Should Nape have resigned? It depends on how one sees it

Dar es Salaam. The minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye, was dismissed from the Cabinet on Sunday following the circulation of a video clip showing him making controversial remarks.

In the clip, Mr Nnauye assured Stephen Byabato, the Member of Parliament for Bukoba Urban (CCM), of his election victory in the forthcoming General Election next year, suggesting that election results do not necessarily come from the ballot box.

He insinuated that there were other methods of determining election winners beyond the votes cast.

This statement caused a significant uproar across mainstream and social media, naturally, with many calling for his immediate resignation.

However, instead of stepping down, Mr Nnauye offered only partial apologies and showed no willingness to take full responsibility for his comments. The ensuing debate on various platforms centred around why Mr Nnauye did not resign following his statement.

On one side, some argue that he did nothing wrong, claiming that his remarks merely revealed the reality of the country’s electoral process.

They believe that the actual winners of elections are not necessarily those who receive the most votes, as the Constitution and laws provide, but rather those predetermined to win.

This group did not expect Mr Nnauye to resign for what they perceive as speaking the uncomfortable truth.

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They also pointed out that this was not the first time Mr Nnauye had made such statements, recalling his comments before the 2015 general election, where he was quoted by Mwananchi Newspaper saying that the ruling party, CCM, would win the election using any means necessary, including a “hand score or hand strike.”

This history makes some speculate whether his recent remarks were a slip of the tongue or a calculated move.

There are those who believe that Mr Nnauye's comments were part of a political strategy, although the specifics of such a strategy remain unclear.

This group wonders what kind of strategy could involve making such controversial remarks.

On the other hand, some argue that Mr Nnauye's statements were simply reckless, coming from a politician drunk with power and lacking a sense of responsibility.

They contend that, even if it is an open secret that not all elected officials win by securing the most votes, there is no need to publicly acknowledge this reality.

They believe that a seasoned politician such as Mr Nnauye should have exercised more restraint and discipline in his public statements.

This school of thought sees his remarks as outright wrong and dangerous, which could have potentially threatened the peace and security of the country by inciting public anger and protests had the Tanznaian populace been more politically sensitive.

Critics of Mr Nnauye argue that by not resigning, he missed an opportunity to salvage his image and demonstrate responsibility for his comments.

They believe that his resignation would have shown that he recognised the gravity of his mistake and was willing to take accountability.

The fact that Mr Nnauye did not resign reflects a broader issue within Tanzanian politics, according to some commentators: the lack of a culture of resignation among public leaders.

In Tanzania, officials rarely resign voluntarily. They often only leave office when forced out.

Even those who appear to resign, such as the former Speaker of Parliament, Job Ndugai, are perceived to do so by the public under significant pressure.

When Mr Ndugai resigned in January 2022, there were claims that his resignation letter was not genuinely his but written by someone else and presented as his own.

The fact that the letter was addressed to CCM rather than the proper authority suggests it was written hastily and under duress.

In subsequent media interviews, however, Mr Ndugai put to rest such doubts when he revealed that he had actually decided to resign of his own volition after being advised by the people he respected.

The lack of a culture of taking responsibility and resigning extends beyond Tanzania.

African chiefs did not resign.

“They died in office.”

Sometimes they were buried with some of their most loyal subjects.

As a result, across the continent, many leaders cling to power until they are forced out by circumstances rather than stepping down voluntarily.

This trend contributes to a political environment where accountability is rare and officials often remain in office despite significant controversies or public outcry.