The outgoing NCCR-Mageuzi Secretary General, Samuel Ruhuza’s last minute withdrawal from vying for the position allowed Mr Moses Nyambabe to emerge the winner with 57 out of 71 votes.
The Deputy Secretary General’s slot was won by Kasulu Urban Member of Parliament Mr Moses Machali.
Speaking to ‘Daily News’, the party’s election supervisor Mr Machali said Mr Ruhuza withdrew at the eleventh hour when the voting exercise was taking place during the party’s National Executive Council meeting on Sunday evening.
Mr Machali added that after Mr Ruhuza’s withdrawal from the polls, two contestants were left: Mr Nyambabe and Ms Rehema Sam who got 16 out of 71 votes cast.
Ruhuza has held the party’s Secretary General position since 1999. “After Ruhuza withdrew, Nyambabe won by 57 votes while the second contestant had 16 votes out of the 71 votes that were cast during the NEC meeting,” he explained.
During the deputy secretary general’s elections (mainland) Mr Machali scooped a whooping 69 votes out of 71 votes cast after his opponent Mr Faustine Sungura also decided to withdraw from the contest.
The deputy secretary general’s position for Zanzibar was retained by Mr Musa Kombo Musa who got 46 out of 71votes against Mr Amir Mshindani, who got 25 votes.
Ms Mariam Mwakingwe who did not have an opponent when vying for the position of the party’s treasurer, got 68 votes out of 71 votes cast.
The party’s national chairman Mr James Mbatia retained his seat defeating his challenger Mr Charles Makofila by a landslide during the party’s internal elections. Mr Mbatia scooped 201 votes while Mr Makofila got 26 votes out of 228 votes cast. One vote was spoilt.
By ROSE ATHUMANI, Tanzania Daily News
