By Midraj Ibrahim and Habel Chidawali
The Citizen Reporters
Dodoma. The CCM secretary general, Mr Wilson Mukama, yesterday found himself at the receiving end when some long-serving party cadres accused him of not carrying out his duties judiciously.
Information obtained by The Citizen from the closed-door meeting said some members of the ruling party’s National Executive Council (NEC) warned Mr Mukama that his actions were detrimental to CCM’s very survival.
Insiders told this paper that at one time President Jakaya Kikwete, who was chairing the meeting, had to intervene, in order to rescue the party secretariat from an onslaught from the members who charged that Mr Mukama’s outfit was the major factor behind the party’s failure in Arumeru East by-election in April.
The President, who doubles as the CCM national chairman, intervened at a time when it seemed that some members were bent on demonstrating that the party secretariat was inept.
A CCM veteran who is one of the party’s trustees, Mr Peter Kisumo, told Mr Mukama point blank that he was turning out to be a major problem.
Mr Kisumo is said to have charged that ever since his appointment as secretary general, Mr Mukama has consistently failed to steer the party in the proper direction.
Speaking when debating the political situation agenda, the seasoned politician noted that Mr Mukama has spent most of his time engaging in “petty politics that do not reflect the weight of his position as secretary general.”
Among other things, our source said, Mr Kisumo accused Mr Mukama of failing to dissolve factions within the party as expected and was instead enhancing them. He warned Mr Mukama that if he won’t change his way of doing things, there was great possibility that the party would disintegrate.
In a scenario that showed Mr Kisumo had support from a substantial number of NEC members, his speech was frequently interrupted by animated clapping.
Meanwhile, up to the time the meeting was adjourned, Mr Mukama said nothing in his defence.
Mr Kisumo, according to our source, also said Mr Mukama failed to supervise regional and district secretaries and as a result, the party has been growing weak at the grassroots.
The source quoted the party stalwart as saying there has been weak strategies to counter opposition politicking at lower levels of the party in many parts of the country. He suggested that there was an urgent need to bring together all factions within the party and reach a consensus on how to work as one team, otherwise, CCM would continue shooting itself in the foot if it continues to operate the way it were doing.
Other sources from the meeting further said that an aenda on the outcome of the Arumeru East by-election, which was to be discussed yesterday, was shelved by Mr Kikwete. The party chairman directed that the agenda be returned to the Central Committee, a move that some members say it is aimed at saving the secretariat from further humiliation.
Reports from the meeting said many members were poised to censure the secretariat and propose its disbandment. They accused some members of the team of having abetted in the failure of CCM candidate in the Arumeru by-election, Mr Sioi Sumari.
According to sources, those in the secretariat who were targeted for allegedly failing the party during the Arumeru polls include the publicity secretary, Mr Nape Nnauye, the economy and finance secretary, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba as well as the minister of State, Mr Stephen Wassira.
When the Arusha regional chairman, Mr Onesmo Ole Nangoye, requested to chip into the agenda, he was stopped by Mr Kikwete who directed that the matter be returned to the CC for further discussions.
In another development, CCM has established a special organisation for students from higher learning institutions and appointed Mr Christopher Ngubiagai its first secretary. The party also appointed nine regional secretaries.
According to the NEC Publicity and Ideology secretary Mr Nape Nnauye, other secretaries appointed include Hilda Kapaya (Geita), Elikana Mauma (Mara), Shaibu Akwilombe (Simiyu), Hosea Mpagike, (Njombe) and Aziza Mapuri (West Region).
Others, according to Mr Nnauye, are Maganga Sengerema and Adelina Geffi who would be posted later.
“Establishing a new CCM region for students of higher learning institutions aims at widening the scope of political service which is the long-term strategic plan of CCM,” noted Mr Nnauye.
Additional reporting by Daniel Msangya
He said the move would provide an opportunity for members from higher learning students, most of whom are in their youth, to access constitutional opportunities and give their opinion and advise as well as direct participation in decision-making in the higher echelons of the ruling party.
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