{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Tanzania’s election is based on issues not on tribal sentiments, - News
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Tanzania's election is based on issues not on tribal sentiments,
Supporters who painted their faces with party colours attend campaign rallies in Tanzania ahead of the elections on October 25, 2015. Save for the perceived tension in Zanzibar, the Tanzania election campaigns have been peaceful. AFP PHOTO | DANIEL HAYDUK | TONY KARUMBA
At the Kilimanjaro International Airport, the atmosphere changes as you exit. Outside, the airport taxi drivers hassle you for business, belying the laid back feeling in the arrivals lounge.
As our driver Martin and guide Musa negotiate our way out of the airport to Holili, I notice a presidential convoy parked on one side of the airport. Right outside the airport, is an imposing billboard, with CCM's candidate John Magufuli's image screaming "Sitawaangusha" Swahili word for "I will not fail you."
"So how are the elections campaign going for you guys?" I ask, breaking the silence. "These elections are the most electrifying we have seen. More so because the two candidates are good orators and attract large crowds. People are excited that we may just see the opposition winning," Martin says, with his tone betraying his party support.
"So who will you vote for? I ask Musa.
"I am a CCM person, so I will go with Dr Magufuli. He wasn't one of our frontrunners at nominations but is our flag bearer any way. I have checked his track record. It is impressive and I am hopeful he will deliver on his pledges," Musa says.
Back in Kenya, we probably don't care about track records. It all boils down to tribe and maybe personality. Martin, on the other hand, says he will vote for the opposition's Edward Lowassa of the Ukawa coalition. He admits being a former CCM supporter, who decamped to the opposition after his favourite candidate Mr Lowassa was locked out of the CCM race.
The grey-haired 62-year-old Lowassa, has since brought excitement back into the campaigns, especially after being chosen as the country's leading opposition candidate.
"Mr Kikwete has done fairly well, but like other Tanzanian youth, I am disappointed in his performance in several areas. His government has failed to deliver on the pledges of employment and reliable electricity. Corruption in his second term was also unabated, leaving the costs of living high for us ordinary Tanzanians," Musa says.
It comes out from Musas' arguments that after decades in power, many Tanzanians could be growing impatient with CCM and are looking for change. Maybe that explains the excitement over Lowassa. But isn't he a former CCM senior cadre?
My two Tanzania friends admit that corruption, costs of living and energy crisis are some of the issues tainting his legacy, issues that are now central in the campaigns.
What is striking though is that, despite belonging to different political outfits, the two men are accommodative of each other, in sharing both their frustrations and expectations of their respective candidates. They both listen keenly as the other articulates his political position, something I find odd, given the heated political debates we have in Nairobi that sometimes degenerate into insults and violence.
Musa goes ahead to explain that he will stick with Dr Magufuli because prior to that, and as an opposition supporter, their main agenda was fighting corruption but when they picked Mr Lowassa as their main candidate, they lost all moral authority to champion the anti-corruption campaign.
As we drive through to Weru Weru, the different flags sticking out of houses and premises, in a way indicating how the owners of these premises will vote. It's even more intriguing to see the opposition and CCM party flags fly side by side.
Musa explains that Kenya's elections border on insanity because the supporters turn on each other, have little respect for their opponent's opinions and is always characterised by violence.
"Have you heard that we have fought one another in these campaigns?" he asks. Save for the perceived tension in Zanzibar, the Tanzania election campaigns have been peaceful.
As we arrive in Holili, and we have to briefly part ways, I ask them whom between the two candidates would Tanzania's founding Julius Nyerere vote for, were he to come back.
Musa laughs and wishes me well in my assignment. Martin says Nyerere would probably not vote for either, because he would be disappointed that the party he founded, is not what is ruling Tanzania at the moment.
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