Why GNU would be the best option

A Government of National Union (GNU) – also referred to as ‘a National Unity Government, or National Union Government (NUG) – is usually a broad coalition government consisting of all major political parties in a national legislature. But… More on this later!

After more than 78 years of different political party systems by virtually the same politicians or their chosen successors, it is definitely past time for a change for the better. This is especially considering that, for about 30 years beginning in the 1994/95 Polls – Local Government Elections in 1994; Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in 1995 – the country has been under a multi-party political system that was legislated into being in 1992.

Well before that, our political systems was formalised on July 7, 1954, when the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was established to spearhead the struggle for Political Independence from alien rule – gained on December 9, 1961.

On February 5, 1977, TANU united with Zanzibar’s Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has been in power ever-since in what is today the United Republic of Tanzania (‘Tanzania’ for short).

Despite these changes, however, Tanzania has for all practical purposes been led and otherwise ruled by the same political parties over the years – with successor leaders virtually hand-picked by their predecessors!

An attempt was made by some opposition parties to unite in the 2014/15 Elections in efforts to topple the veteran ruling CCM. That attempt failed, although some parties did gain more Local Government (2014) and Parliamentary Seats (2015).

But, the next Elections (2019/20) were disastrous for opposition parties, whereby the President John Magufuli’s dominant party ‘won’ 99 percent of the Local Election seats. [africanews.com; https://www.africanews.com › mag...].

Also, CCM won the Presidency outright, and more than 90 percent of the Parliamentary seats! Pundits saw this as returning to the definitive One-Party State! [https://www.ifri.org].

Now is the right time to ask what the 2024/25 Polls will be like! Matter of fact, the National Chairman of the Number-One Opposition Party Chadema, Freeman Mbowe, is quoted as saying in so many words that he is now looking to winning-over more members for Chadema, rather than seeking to woo and wrangle with opportunistic Opposition Party Leaderships. In that, he has already received both applause and criticism from different quarters! [Mwananchi March 9, 2023].

In any case, he already welcomed into Chadema more than 400 new members form the CUF Party! [Mwananchi; March 13, 2023].

And – much to the chagrin of some opposition parties – Chadema is already forging links with the Party-in-Power, CCM, that are too close for the comfort of the Political Opposition!

Chadema – and, indeed, all right-thinking folk – are deeply appreciative of NOT only the performance of the CCM President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, in socioeconomically developing Tanzania and its people in ways more than one… They are ALSO deeply appreciative of her developmental vision and other positive national-cum-international relations.

That’s why I do NOT hesitate to propose from the bottom of my God-given Heart to the Top of My Mind that Tanzanians seriously consider forming a Government of National Unity following the 2024/25 General Elections – and based upon the results of the Elections.

If I have sinned in this, then I sincerely ask for God’s Forgiveness … Amen!