Why Bashiru is in hot water
Dr Bashiru Ally adresses a CCM meeting when he was the party's secretaru general. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Dr Bashiru Ally, a former University of Dar es Salaam academic, is under fire from members of CCM, which he served as secretary-general for nearly three years
Dar es Salaam. The ongoing debate over remarks made recently by former chief secretary and CCM secretary-general Bashiru Ally reveals the level of discontent that existed among a section of members of the ruling party during the Fifth Phase government, according to analysts.
A former lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Ally became one of the most powerful individuals in Tanzania during the reign of President John Magufuli when he was appointed CCM secretary-general in May 2018 before he become chief secretary on February 26, 2021, a position he served in for only one month.
Replaced as chief secretary
Upon coming into office on March 19, 2021, President Samia Suluhu Hassan replaced Dr Ally with former ambassador to Japan Hussein Kattanga.
Dr Ally’s remarks – which have set tongues wagging – were made in Morogoro during a meeting of a Network of Farmers’ Groups in Tanzania, better known by its Kiswahili acronym, Mviwata.
During the meeting, Dr Ally is on record telling participants that Mviwata was not meant to be a “praise singing organisation”, but rather one that fights for the interests and dignity of its members.
He said farmers’ collective voice should make “the exploiters worried”. He did not, however, categorically state who the exploiters were, but said, “We will not be any different from their agents who praise them by deceitfully telling them that they are performing wonders (wanaupiga mwingi)”.
Dr Ally used to be outspoken during his time as a UDSM don, but his statement has been roundly criticised this time around, with some analysts saying that it is a reflection of the fact that he was among the most powerful individuals during a regime that victimised some CCM cadres, the Opposition and other individuals.
Dr Bashiru was an influential individual during the time the government stopped at nothing to muzzle the Opposition and civil society, and diverted money meant to boost cashewnut production to other activities, sent businesspeople and individuals to court and confiscated their property in the infamous “money laundering” cases, as well attempt to turn the media into government praise singers.
It was in June 2018 when the government rejected appeals by MPs from cashew nut growing regions, and hijacked the cashew nut export levy.
The government changed the Cashewnut Industry Act (Cap,203) – through the Finance Act 2018 - with a view to ensuring that export levies were collected in the consolidated fund. It was a shift from the previous situation whereby 65 per cent of the crop export levy was being remitted to farmers through the Cashew nut Board of Tanzania (CBT) and the government remained with 35 percent of it.
Those who have openly castigated Dr Ally include CCM lawmakers Joseph Msukuma, Hamisi Kigwangalla and Livingtone Lusinde.
Opposition politician and former Iringa Urban MP Peter Msigwa said Dr Ally should distance others from his “frustration” emanating from his “current lack of power and influence”.
University of Dodoma lecturer Paul Loisulie told Mwananchi that although Dr Ally may have the freedom to air his views, positions he held in the recent past made it awkward for him to publicly speak about certain issues.
Dr Loisulie said being an MP nominated by the President, the former chief secretary and CCM secretary-general could no longer speak the way he used to during his days as a UDSM lecturer.
“CCM cadres are castigating him because they love their party, although there could be some who want to settle scores. Remember what happened to (Job) Ndugai, Nape (Nnauye) and (Abdulrahman) Kinana, among others,” he said.
Dr Loisulie added that politicians must walk the talk, saying people would not be surprised if they see Retired President Jakaya Kikwete talk about democracy because democracy blossomed during his time as Head of State.
“Kikwete has the moral authority to air his views on democracy because we all saw how democratic he was during his time as President. He was tolerant enough to listen to divergent views,” he said.
Dr Moses Eunus, an independent political analyst based in Mwanza, said Dr Ally should have given his opinion to the parliamentary committee responsible for agriculture, or find other people to speak out on his behalf.
This is based on the fact that the party had in the past expelled prominent members who were viewed as rebellious. Former Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Membe was expelled in early 2020 when the party was under Magufuli’s chairmanship.
Mr Membe and former party secretaries-general Abdulrahman Kinana and Yusuf Makamba were accused of “gross misconduct”.
The party said Mr Membe was supposed to use official channels within the party to present his views instead of making public statements.
According to Dr Eunus, Dr Ally said what he said because there is now freedom of expression in Tanzania.
“Dr Bashiru cannot remain silent because that is his nature. However, he should not expect those who were harassed and denied freedom of speech during Magufuli’s era to remain silent when he speaks. In fact, he has surprised many of us,” he said.
“A very different person”
Other experts agreed with Mr Msigwa, saying the Bashiru Ally of the pre-Magufuli years was very different from the person who served as secretary-general from 2018 to 2021.
“He should not tell us that he’s baptized now. I think the patience he had waiting for any promotion is over, so now he is seeking sympathy from the people through a sensitive sector such as agriculture,” Dr Yusuf Abdi of the State University of Zanzibar told The Citizen by telephone yesterday.
He added that instead of making “reckless” remarks, Dr Ally should tell Tanzanians why he changed so much during Magufuli’s time.
“He is supposed to publicly disclose what changed him so dramatically. He should emulate the truth and openness of President Samia, who has clearly shown that she regrets some of the things that happened when she was Vice President, and is now making amends.
“This is a free lesson to leaders. They should know that they are leading people who never forget, and learn that times do change,” Dr Abdi said.
