CCM Deputy Secretary General, Capt John Chiligati
CCM members here have nominated Mr Siyoi Sumari to carry the party’s flag in the next month by-elections in Arumeru East Constituency, after repeating primary elections on Thursday.
CCM’s repeated primaries, involving 1,122 members, a day after the party’s main rivals Chadema nominated Mr Joshua Nassary, to run for the seat. This is the second time that Nassary runs for the constituency on Chadema’s ticket, after he contested with the former area MP, the late Jeremiah Sumari, but the latter defeated him.
He is now set to compete against the deceased’s son Siyoi. Mr Sumari got 761 votes, which is more than 60 per cent of the total polls, according to the supervisor of the exercise, Mr Pius Msekwa, who is the mainland Vice-Chairman for CCM. His opponent, Mr Sarakikya, said he accepted the defeat and congratulated Mr Sumari.
However, according to CCM’s Deputy Secretary General, Capt John Chiligati ,the party’s National Electoral Committee will announce the official name of the contender, on Saturday. “Today’s winner’s name will not exactly determine the official flag bearer until the names have undergone trials by fire at District, Regional and National levels,” stated Mr Chiligati.
Meanwhile, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Arusha Region has arrested three CCM members on allegations of bribery in the party’s Arumeru East by-election primaries. The Arusha Region PCCB Commander, Mr Kasomamboto Mbengwa, named the suspects as Mr Thomas Mollel, the Ward Representative for Mirerani and an Arusha businessman, Mr Elirehema Kaaya and Mr Ezekiel Mollel, the CCM Youth-wing Secretary for Monduli District.
The three were arrested at Maji-ya-chai area of Meru District, on Wednesday night, while having dinner at Levis Restaurant along the Kwa- Aloyce street. However, Mr Thomas Mollel, one of the suspects said no cash changed hands during dinner with some party members and accused some senior politicians and government officials in Arusha for fabricating the charges.
The suspects were held briefly for questioning. PCCB officials said investigations on the matter were still going on. The three suspects were alleged to have tried to bribe some CCM members to influence their voting yesterday that involved Mr Siyoi Sumari and Mr William Sarakikya.
Meanwhile, Chadema has appealed to the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, to fulfil his promise of amending laws governing by-elections before the 2015 general election. Addressing journalists on Thursday, the Chadema Election Campaign Manager, Mr Msafiri Mtemelwa, said government officials have been violating the laws during by-elections at the village and locality levels.
By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily News
