THE PITFALLS OF OPPOSITION POLITICS IN TANZANIA

Some political analysts argue that ruling parties in Africa never lose elections,and if they do,which is rarely,it is likely not because they failed to deliver to the people who put the parties in power but rather either due to their internal conflicts or laxity.One could easily blame majority of opposition parties in Africa for their failures in organizing themselves in quest to remove ruling parties from power.But the fact is,in most African countries,the idea of an opposition party coming into power spells inexplicable uncertainty to the rulers,largely due to their "sins" during their terms of leadership.

In Tanzania,opposition parties have consistently cried foul during elections accusing the ruling party,CCM,of sabotaging them by either inciting conflicts in the parties or "bribing" their leaders to defect.CCM has also been accused of reluctance to reform the electoral system,which the opposition parties,see as unfair and biased.

I strongly believe that our nation's interest should come first,mainly because political parties may come and go but the nation should always remain intact,peacefully and flourishing.Had every Tanzanian looked beyond partisan politics,it is fair to conclude that those who criticize the ruling party for its perceived failure to deals with mafisadi (economic saboteurs),for instance,would not be considered as giving ammunitions to opposition parties but instead they would be given enormous support.

A while ago,I came across this story which in my view would stir trouble in Tanzania's opposition politics.

Mtikila atamka mazito kifo cha Wangwe

Na Waandishi Wetu  WAKATI mazingira ya kifo cha aliyekuwa Mbunge wa Tarime marehemu Chacha Wangwe yakiendelea kuwa tete, Mwenyekiti wa Democratic Party (DP) Mchungaji Christopher Mtikila, ameibuka na kile alichodai, taarifa za mpango kamili hadi mauaji ya mwanasiasa huyo.  Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam jana, Mchungaji Mtikila alidai mipango ya kumuua marehemu Wangwe ilianza kusukwa mkoani Dodoma na baadaye vikao vya kukamilisha mkakati huo, vilifanyika jijini Dar es Salaam wilayani Kinondoni.  Aliongeza kuwa wahusika baada ya kukamilisha mpango huo na jinsi utakavyotekelezwa, walikwenda nchini Kenya kukodi watu wawili ambao alidai walilipwa sh. milioni 120 kama ujira wa 'kazi' hiyo.  Mchungaji Mtikila alidai kuwa wauaji hao, ndio walioshirikiana na Bw.Deus Mallya ambaye anadaiwa wakati huo alikuwa amejenga uhusiano mzuri na marehemu Wangwe.  Alidai siku ya tukio, marehemu Wangwe hakutaka kusafiri lakini alishinikizwa zaidi ya mara tatu na Bw. Mallya ambaye hadi sasa anashitakiwa kwa kosa la kusababisha ajali na kuendesha gari bila leseni. "Baada ya kushinikizwa sana, marehemu Wangwe alikubali kuanza safari ambapo Bw. Mallya aliwasiliana na washirika wake ambao muda huo walikuwa eneo la tukio wakiwasubiri," alidai Mchungaji Mtikila na kuongeza kuwa;  "Wakati huo ilikuwa bado mapema hivyo walimshauri apoteze muda japo wa nusu saa, ndipo alipozusha hitilafu ndani ya gari na kurudi gereji na baada ya muda huo kupita ndipo walianza safari kuelekea jijini Dar es Salaam."  Huku akidai kuwa ana ushahidi wa tukio hilo na yupo tayari kutoa ushirikiano kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete, Mchungaji Mtikila alizidi kueleza kuwa Bw. Mallya aliendelea kuwasiliana na washirika wake hadi walipofika eneo Pandambili, wilayani Kongwa na kusimamisha gari.  "Baada ya kusimamisha gari, washirika wa Mallya walipanda na kumpulizia dawa ya usingizi usoni mara nne na hapo hapo alipoteza fahamu," alieleza Mchungaji Mtikila na kuongeza kuwa baada ya hapo ndipo alipigwa kwa kitu cha ncha kali kisogoni.  "Kwa kuwa Mungu alimpenda sana hakukata roho, aliendelea kuhema ndipo alipopigwa na nyundo na kummalizia kabisa," alidai. Aliongeza kuwa baada ya kutimiza hilo waliweka jiwe kwenye kiongeza mwendo gari likaondoka kwa kasi na lilipindua ili kuonesha kuwa marehemu alikufa kwa ajali lakini muda huo Mallya alikuwa hayuko kwenye gari,"  Alidai kuwa kabla ya kupindua gari hilo, walimfunga marehemu mkanda na kumwibia sh. milioni tisa alizokuwa nazo pamoja na kompyuta yake ndogo 'Lap top' ambayo ilikuwa na nyaraka zake za siri.  Alidai kuwa baada ya kufanikisha mauaji hayo, Bw. Mallya alitoa 'line' yake ya simu ambayo alikuwa akiitumia kuwasiliana na washirika wake na kuitupa. Alidai kuwa hadi anakamatwa simu yake haikuwa na 'line' yoyote.  Kwa mujibu wa Mchungaji Mtikila mauaji hayo yalifanyika kati ya 1.30 hadi saa 2.00 usiku, muda mfupi baada ya kumaliza kuwasiliana na familia yake saa 1.27.  Huku akijata majina ya watu wanaodaiwa kuhusika kwenye mpango huo, alieleza kuwa kipindi cha mchakato wa mpango wa kumuua, Bw. Wangwe, walikuwa wakisafiri kwenda nchini Kenya kusuka mpango huo.  Mchungaji Mtikila alielekeza lawama zake kwa askari wote waliohusika na uchunguzi wa mauaji hayo kwa akidai kuwa hawakusema ukweli hivyo nao wanastahili kuunganishwa kwenye kesi hiyo.  Kutokana na mazingira ya kifo cha marehemu Wangwe kugubikwa na maswali mengi, Mchungaji Mtikila amemuomba Rais Kikwete kuunda tume ya kuchunguza mazingira ya kifo chake kama alivyofanya kwa wafanyabiashara wa madini wa Mahenge, Morogoro ambao wanadaiwa kuuawa na Polisi.  Alidai kwa wadhifa aliokuwa nao marehemu Wangwe katika jamii akiwa Mbunge wa Tarime, Rais ana nafasi ya kuunda tume. "Naupongeza uamuzi wake wa kuunda tume ya kuchunguza vifo vya wafanyabiashara lakini na kwa hili aunde tume na mimi nitakuwa tayari kutoa ushirikiano,"alisisitiza.  Aliongeza kuwa kama Rais hatafanya hivyo, yeye ataleta wataalam wake kutoka nje kufanya uchunguzi kwani ameishafanya mazungumzo na ubalozi wa nchi moja ambao hakuutaja.  Mchungaji Mtikila alidai kuwa atakwenda jimboni Tarime wakati huu wa kampeni ili kuwaeleza wananchi ukweli kuhusu kifo cha marehemu Wangwe. Alisema amesimamisha mgombea kupitia chama chake, Bw. Benson Makanya, ili apate jukwaa la kueleza ukweli kuhusiana na kifo hicho.  Marehemu Wangwe alikufa kwa ajali ya gari iliyotokea eneo la Pandambili mkoani Dodoma Julai 28 mwaka huu lakini tangu kifo chake, yameibuka maswali mengi huku baadhi ya watu wakidai kuwa aliuawa.  Hata hivyo uchunguzi uliofanywa na madaktari wawili kwa nyakati tofauti ulionesha kuwa hakupigwa risasi bali kifo chake kilisababishwa na ajali ya gari.

According to one local paper,the suspects are Freeman Mbowe,Dr Wilbroad Slaa and Tindu Lissu.This is how I look at the picture:If the accused trio decide to ignore Mtikila,it goes without saying that the public would buy the story,and it could bring their political careers to an abrupt end.Going to the court might be the only option left on their table,but Mtikila has a long history of winning charges brought against him in various courts.It should be all smiles in the ruling party's quarters as a Swahili saying goes "adui yako mwombee mabaya" (wish evil things to your enemy)