Now Ukawa seeks to edge CCM in 2015
Chadema National Executive Committee delegates and invited guests follow proceedings during Chadema’s electoral conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
PHOTO | SAID KHAMIS
What you need to know:
The three country’s key opposition parties have agreed to pick one candidate under the umbrella of the Coalition of People’s Constitution popularly known as ‘Ukawa’ they formed in the national Constituent Assembly early this year.
Dar es Salaam. Three major opposition parties, Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi, have agreed to field a single presidential candidate in the 2015 General Election, it was announced yesterday.
The three country’s key opposition parties have agreed to pick one candidate under the umbrella of the Coalition of People’s Constitution popularly known as ‘Ukawa’ they formed in the national Constituent Assembly early this year.
Ukawa co-chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba told the Chadema National Executive Committee meeting yesterday in the city that the strategy was aimed to end over fifty years of the ruling party, CCM’s dominance in the country’s politics.
Meanwhile, Ukawa co-chairman Freeman Mbowe, who is the national chairman of Chadema, directed his party leaders in every district to engage members in their respective areas in endless protests over the ongoing Constituent assembly (CA) sitting.
“We will no longer tolerate theft of public funds done through the invalid assembly sitting in Dodoma. We have agreed that the process should be adjourned until after the General Election,” he said.
Prof Lipumba, who is also the national chairman of CUF, announced yesterday that members from the three parties would convene a major meeting to discuss and recommend a candidate for the presidency.
“We will convene a major meeting to select a single presidential candidate. We shall keep aside corrupt leaders and fight poverty,” Prof Lipumba said.
“We will work together to bring changes and make the country’s natural resources benefit the citizens.”
For his part, Mr Mbowe said, opposition parties had a similar goal of toppling the ruling party, which he accused of poor governance.
He said the Constitution-writing process had enabled the opposition to come together, something which they failed to do over the last 20 years.
Speaking at the meeting, the ruling party national vice-chairman, Mr Philip Mangula, said differences in ideologies and manifestos should not be a source of hatred among the parties.
He stressed on the importance of embracing unity for the development of the country and its people.
