There is mounting hope that the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) will win in constituencies in the Lake Zone that went to the opposition as the electorate has seemingly lost faith in their current MPs.
CCM Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana
A survey conducted by the ‘Daily News’ during a tour of Maswa and Meatu districts by CCM Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana shows that voters are not happy with current representatives after CCM lost both Maswa and Meatu constituencies to Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) candidates in the 2010 general elections.
In Maswa, for example, a cross section of residents said that they do not know the whereabouts of their MP, Mr Sylvester Kasulumbai (Maswa East) and that he has never held a public rally even to thank those who voted him into office.
During election campaigns in 2010, Mr Kasulumbai likened himself to Jesus on the pretext that he would be a saviour to the people in the constituency, but he is now accused of abandoning his electorate.
“The decision to elect Kasulumbai as our MP is regretted by most of the people here in Maswa because the man is too detached from us, it is astonishing that since we elected him in 2010 to date, he has never thanked us for the votes,” said Mr John Sai.
Mr Sai’s opinion was also supported by several other youths in the area. Some who spoke on condition of anonymity said that they regret having Kasulumbai as their MP because they have not seen him working with voters to push for development.
“Our MP has proved to be ‘Jesus’ in the sense that despite the belief that Jesus would come back, it has taken him too long, we are not sure when our saviour will come back,” Ms Mwajuma Hassan said. Mr Kinana arrived in Meatu District on Sunday where he launched several projects and held a public rally.
Residents in the area also noted that their MP, Meshack Opulukwa, has been of less significance in the constituency as he has failed to find solutions to the myriad challenges in the area.
Maswa and Meatu districts are facing a serious shortage of clean and safe water and according to residents, their MPs have not done enough to solve matters.
“Our experience with opposition MP shows that we are moving so many steps backwards from where we used to be and we vow not to elect opposition MPs again,” said CCM’s Simiyu Regional Treasurer, Mr Salum Hamis Salum.
Commenting on the problem of water, Mr Kinana noted that the government through its newly established rural water supply agency, will make sure that water infrastructures are constructed in villages.
Mr Kinana thanked residents of Meatu for electing all councillors from CCM, promising not to repeat the same mistakes that led to the loss of the constituency.
The Legislator for Maswa West, Mr John Shibuda (Chadema) was invited on stage where he called for tolerance in multi-party politics.
“Oppositions and ruling party are there to challenge each other, we have a role of ensuring that the government does its work properly, like Christians and Muslims we attend each other’s functions,” he said.
While in Meatu, Mr Shibuda said he would discuss various challenges facing people with Mr Kinana ranging from scarcity of water and cotton prices, among others.
By ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO, Tanzania Daily News
