We’ll field the best candidate, vows Kikwete

Songea. President Jakaya Kikwete, who is also the CCM chairman, yesterday said the party would nominate and field the best candidate to run for the presidency and proceed to succeed him through the October elections.

He told a mammoth rally in Songea during the occasion to mark the ruling party’s 38th anniversary that the candidate would be one of the capable galvanising members. 

Mr Kikwete who was presiding over the last CCM anniversary as Head of State at Majimaji Stadium, said the party has many people who qualify to succeed him, recalling the words of founding chairman Mwalimu Julius Nyerere that the best president would “only be obtained from within CCM.”

“Father of the Nation in one of his speeches stated categorically that the best president would only from CCM, so we need to honour and cherish his advice by fielding the best flag bearer,’’ he said.

But addressing NEC members in 1995 before the General Election the Father of the Nation had also said Tanzanians wanted change, insisting that if they didn’t see changes in CCM, they were likely to look for change outside this party.

Yesterday, Mr Kikwete said if those who will pick nomination forms for the party primaries don’t fully qualify as per the requirement of CCM, they will be axed.

He said it won’t be surprising if some unexpected individuals come forward in due course to join the race.

“There’re many CCM members out there who don’t believe they qualify for the top seat, but I can tell you we’ll convince them so that we get the best and most acceptable candidate who will endear our party to the electorate,’’ he added, hinting that he was also advised by one of CCM elders to seek the best candidate for the country’s topmost job.

He reiterated that some CCM members who have been harbouring presidential ambitions but didn’t follow the rules and procedures would for sure miss the opportunity. He didn’t specify which of the aspirants who have already declared or shown interest to succeed him may have erred.  CCM early last year warned some senior members who were seen as embarking on early campaigning for the presidency in violation of regulations.

Those who have been linked to such early campaigns include Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Membe, Former Prime Ministers Frederick Sumaye and Edward Lowassa, Minister of State in the President’s Office Stephen Wassira, the then Energy and Minerals Minister William Ngeleja and Communication, Science and Technology deputy Minister, Mr January Makamba.

Other CCM members who have publicly declared they are in the race are Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, Nzega MP Hamis Kigwangala as well as Finance and Economic Affairs deputy minister Mwigulu Nchemba. Although Infrastructure Minister Samuel Sitta and Justice Affairs Constitution Affairs Minister Dr Asha-Rose Migiro have not publicly declared their presidential ambitions, they are in a group of cadres who have been mentioned severally as potential candidates.

Yesterday, Mr Kikwete stated categorically that those who will be found to have violated the CCM code of conduct will not be given a nod by the party.