Chadema officials up in arms over list of Special Seats MPs
According to the complaints, female members who have been at the forefront helping the party were left out while those appointed are members who have done nothing.
What you need to know:
According to the complainants, female members who have been at the forefront helping the party were left out while those appointed are members whom they said did not show their full support for the party in the just ended elections and in the past.
Mbeya. Some Chadema members and officials in Mbeya Region have complained about the composition of the list of individuals set to be appointed as special seats MPs, claiming there was an element of favouritism in the names released last week.
According to the complainants, female members who have been at the forefront helping the party were left out while those appointed are members whom they said did not show their full support for the party in the just ended elections and in the past.
Former chair of the Committee of Ukawa MPs candidates in the Southern Highlands, Jacob Kalua, said there was a feeling some members had been given privilege which they did not deserve by the party’s top leaders. He said some of the appointees have never been seen in the constituencies during the campaigns.
“I am speaking facts without fear or favour here. For example, the candidate who was nominated for Ruvuma is not even known to the regional leadership,” said Mr Kalua.
Favouritism was also extended to Iringa Region, according to the official, saying Iringa had been sloted for three positions, including a seat for a candidate who only joined the party in the last minutes yet other places did not get a single slot.
Mr Kalua said in Mbeya Region the one who was appointed had the least participation in the party, adding that in Songwe where Chadema won three constituencies no woman was appointed. “Is this fair?”, he questioned.
Mbarali Chadema’s Secretary, Nicolaus Lyaumi said he was surprised to see the names of the MPs appointed are not those expected by many members in Mbeya.
“You know the aim of these MPs are there to support and strengthen the party in the Parliament, but now with this selection we definitely believe there is still uncertainty ahead of us, as people we wanted were left out, ” he said
However, Mbeya Chadema chairperson Joseph Mwachembe when asked about the matter said he could not discuss anything, saying he has not received the list from its leaders.
He said as a region we have not received the names chosen. “So I will sit with my colleagues once we get the names and analyze the situation and then I will be in the position of commenting on it.”
