Mbowe: Why we won’t pull out of talks with CCM

Dar es Salaam. Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe has declared that his party will continue holding discussions with CCM in an effort to reach an agreement on a new constitution that will benefit Tanzanians.

Speaking to Tanzanians living in the US, Mr Mbowe said that through the debates, they will vigorously advocate the adoption of a new constitution, which is crucial for creating effective institutions.

He said the drama surrounding the party’s 19 Special Seats legislators and the failure to lift the imposed ban on political rallies are insufficient reasons for his party to pull out of the discussions.

But on September this year, Chadema’s Central Committee (CC) allowed the party to continue with consensus talks between the two political parties on condition of lifting restrictions on political rallies.

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Briefing the media on the CC decisions previously, the party’s deputy secretary general (Zanzibar), Mr Salum Mwalimu, had said that the New Constitution Bill should be tabled in Parliament not later than November 2022 and that draconian laws hindering freedom of the press and political rights should also be amended.

“The CC also wants the 19 Special Seats lawmakers inaugurated mysteriously to be stripped off,” said Mr Mwalimu during the press briefing.

However, when closing the CCM general assembly in Dodoma on December 8, 2022, President Samia Suluhu Hassan reiterated her will to supervise consensus discussions with opposition political parties.

However, she observed that opposition parties should be aware that democracy was beyond the electoral commission and election processes.

“Opposition political parties should also know that the discussion procedures don’t remove CCM’s mandate as the ruling party. The new tradition makes the ruling party (CCM) to sit down with our colleagues to discuss and agree on the way of running our politics in a calm and a civilised way,” she said.

“However, we (the CCM) will remain the ruling party...,” she added.

But recently, arguments have been forcing the main opposition political party to pull out of the discussions following the government’s failure to respond to conditions issued by the party.

Speaking in Washington at the weekend, Mr Mbowe maintained that Chadema will not pull out of the discussions, instructing party supporters, members and cadres to intensify the fight as negotiations continue.

“At no time have we announced suspension of the party’s battle. Like what is done by Russia and Ukraine who are fighting while at the same time continuing with discussions, party members and cadres should do the same,” he said.

Mr Mbowe, who is a former Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, said the 19 Special Seats lawmakers wasn’t the Chadema’s agenda, noting that for him the new constitution was the most important thing for the country.

Furthermore, he said after struggling to make CCM leaders understand the importance of the new constitution, it is a baseless decision to withdraw from the discussions he took part in establishment.

“I can’t run away from the negotiation I have fully participated in establishment, may be the ruling party does so. I will not be scared by CCM decisions,” he said.

“People are discouraged to see the 19 Special Seats legislators in Parliament and authorities failure to lift imposed ban on political rallies, but these two issues cannot distract us from the bigger picture we have about the new constitution,” he insisted.

He assured supporters, members and cadres that they will succeed in the document’s mission, despite the feeling of fellow leaders and supporters that the ongoing discussions is the wastage.

“I’m annoyed with the thinking that I have tested the flavour of honey which is a reason of my silence. However, people in the party have been given freedom to talk. When you listen to Mr Lissu (Tundu), one would think the vice chairman is not in good terms with his chairman,” he explained.

“But remember he is a person who survived 16 shots. Other leaders were imprisoned with several have been forced to live in exile. It is unlike you (the Diaspora) who are voluntarily living abroad,” he added, noting that could be the reasons for them to get angry.

However, his belief remain that the ongoing discussions will provide room for the country to be provided with the new constitution which is an important document in building strong institutions.

He said the US was what it was today because of strongest institutions, providing room for its people to oppose tough leaders like former President Trump (Donald).

“But even if a mentally impaired person is entrusted to lead this country, the US institutions are solid which is what we want Tanzania to be. Therefore, Tanzania doesn’t need a strong leader, but strong institutions,” he said.

“What transpired in the 2019 local government polls and the 2025 General Election were not democratic elections, but disruptions,” he added.

According to him, the new constitution will accommodate many issues demanded by stakeholders and guarantee justice, freedom and prosperity to Tanzanians.

He mentioned some of the issues as the formation of independent electoral commission, electoral processes, the people’s rights to own properties, the right and citizen’s freedom to choose nationality and issues of human rights.

The former Hai Constituency MP said there was no way the country’s constitution should be ignored because of anything else.