CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary, Mr Nape Nnauye
“We have made radical reforms to check its weaknesses, including unethical conduct among the rank and file. Publicity and Ideology Secretary Nape Nnauye made the stance on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam when reacting to claims by three renowned CCM cadres, Mr Ibrahim Kaduma, Dr Hassy Kitine and Mr Joseph Butiku.
The veteran party members have of late criticized the party for “failing to address unethical conduct among some members, insisting that the party was heading towards its downfall. The three elders said during Channel Ten’s programme ‘Je Tutafika’ and quoted by one of the local dailies at the weekend that the party was now a corridor of impunity in addition to turning out to be a business entity for private gain.
Mr Nnauye trashed the claims, insisting that since April 2011 when it started implementing its transformation agenda, CCM has registered concrete reforms that have seen the party changing and accepted by many people. “We respect the founders of our party and the impression we get from their comments is that they love CCM, that is why they are coming out strongly to give their opinions which indeed, aim at making it strong and trustworthy in the eyes of the public’’, he said.
The ideology and publicity secretary reported that his party had tackled the problem of unethical conduct among its members by 50 per cent, adding that efforts to crack the whip on any misconduct was going on to ensure that the party was absolutely clean.
Mr Nnauye told reporters that the measures taken to reform the party was part of the ‘skin shedding’ process it initiated in April, last year, in tandem with concerted efforts to place the party in a better position to compete effectively and win more handsomely in the 2015 elections.
The need to reform the party was announced by the party’s National Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, when addressing members and supporters who thronged Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma last year at the climax of celebrations to mark the ruling party’s 34th anniversary. “CCM is an old party and this has its advantages and disadvantages. It should, however, always remain the party that people can look at in anticipation of new and better things’’, said Mr Kikwete.
The party chairman further underscored the need for the party to emulate snake’s attribute of peeling off its old skin and get a new one after a certain period. Meanwhile, Mr Nnauye expressed confidence in the party’s campaigns in readiness for the forthcoming Arumeru East parliamentary by-elections.
He said that his party was set for a landslide victory. Already, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has released the names of voters who will participate in the polls on Sunday.Eight political parties will be locked in a stiff competition to fill the seat that was left vacant by its former holder, Jeremiah Sumari, who died in February.
By KATARE MBASHIRU, Tanzania Daily News
