The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has stated that it does not need to rely on unfair advantages to win various elections, including those for local government, villages, and sub-villages, and has urged its leaders to prepare their speeches when addressing the public carefully to avoid unnecessary controversies.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to CCM and government leaders in Arusha, the party’s Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, Amos Makalla, emphasised that CCM cannot be propped up in elections.
On September 1, 2024, a video clip circulated online showing former Longido district commissioner Marko Henry Ngu’mbi admitting to widely held concerns that CCM, with the help of the country’s security forces, interfered in elections in favour of its candidates.
Mr Ngu’mbi told the councillors he was addressing that their elections are thanks to extralegal efforts by CCM to rig elections, including disqualifying opposition candidates so that CCM candidates can run unopposed. He also revealed that some of these rigging activities occur in the forests, a statement he couldn’t clarify.
Ngu’mbi’s remarks caused public uproar, leading President Samia Suluhu Hassan to revoke his appointment and replace him with Mr Salum Kali. According to Mr Makalla, the Head of State’s move is commendable.
“The speech he made does not reflect CCM’s stance,” Mr Makalla, sporting Maasai traditional robes, said during the meeting. “We ask leaders to carefully plan their speeches and write them properly instead of making up stories. Why would you go into the wilderness? What were you doing there?”
Makalla further stated that CCM has no reason to go into the wilderness, suggesting that Ngu’mbi went there alone to collect herbs or engage in other activities.
“He mentioned something about the bushes; I’m saying that he ran out of things to say and started coming up with his own words, which have nothing to do with us (CCM). Those are his issues; it was more of a conversation than actual news,” Makalla added.
“As the CCM spokesperson, I assure Tanzanians that the party is well-prepared for the local government and general elections next year, and we will win. We don’t need to wander aimlessly because we have a strong structure from the ward level and a good manifesto. We don’t need any unfair advantage,” said Makalla.
Ngu’mbi is the second official to be dismissed after commenting on election rigging. In July 2024, Nape Nnauye was also sacked following his statement suggesting that rigging is an option to ensure election victory, a claim that was also immediately denied by CCM after his dismissal.
