I foremost opted to refrain from commenting, or rather providing a rejoinder on a “critical jab” thrown to Zitto Kabwe and ACT Wazalendo by one fictional columnist, “Macos Crabat.”
However, even though I am neither the spokesperson of Zitto nor ACT Wazalendo, I am altogether irked by hypocrisy, mediocrity and misogyny that characterise the author’s May 6 publication on this very platform. And on this note, I have opted to jot down this rejoinder.
Prior to getting into the nitty-gritty of issues, I wish to compliment Ayker Peter on her prompt rebuttal, and thus wish to further build up on her Damned If You, Damned If You Don’t article as a response to “Macos Crabat.” But unlike her, and like Macos Crabat, I opt to use a pen name of my own: Huey Garvey.
Two great footballing minds, the famous worldwide special one, Jose Mourinho, and Tanzania’s special one, Julio Kihwelu, have altogether issued their fair share of reservations against football pundits.
The two have expressed that football pundits – or rather critics– are nothing but a bunch of unprofessional and unqualified haters and mouthpieces that find pride and make a living in misconstruing facts and issues.
Just like football, political pundits like Macos Crabat have mastered the art of misconstruing facts. Without even cross-checking, the self-proclaimed critic asserts that Dorothy Semu is, as of now, ACT Wazalendo’s presidential nominee.
Probably, Dorothy may, in the meantime, be the “leading” candidate, but the valid and actual fact is that she is yet to be the party’s presidential candidate, as so far two party members have vied to be the party’s flag bearers in the presidential race.
The mere assertion that Dorothy Semu is as of the moment the party’s presidential candidate not only distorts the truth and the actual preexisting facts; but also it is altogether disgraceful to Aaron Kamugisha Kalikawe, the other party’s presidential aspirant, and any other party member who intends to challenge for the top-notch position of presidency.
Isn’t it that punditry and criticism require a high level of professionalism and credibility? Unfortunately, just like in football, that isn’t the requirement for political pundits and critics, who pose as masters of analysis and know all, yet they are not genuinely factual.
Dorothy’s alleged incompetence
The self-claimed critic profiles Dorothy Semu as a “relatively unknown, politically weak, non-competitive, soft” person and presidential candidate, who altogether “lacks charisma, national recognition and political weight.” Just to note and stress, the profile, or character, “weak” has been repeated four times in the “critical” article. Hence, according to the critics, so called Macos Crabat, Dorothy is nothing but a “weak” person.
This profiling depicts nothing but the misogynistic elements and traits possessed by the so-called critic and his gang of critics. It is definitely and unfortunately unsurprising to have this line of thought in a society like ours, which is insanely conservative and patriarchal. But it is also altogether necessary, in the quest for upholding a dignified and respectful community, not to tolerate and utterly condemn such machoistic tendencies.
How is it possible to characterise Dorothy Semu, a qualified physiotherapist, mother of three and established “oppositional” politician, “generally” weak? How is it that Dorothy Semu is politically weak and yet she served as the shadow prime minister for ACT Wazalendo’s most vibrant shadow cabinet, at a time when CCM took democracy at heist and many “critical” voices went mute?
READ MORE: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don’t: Misreading Silence as Complicity in Tanzanian Politics
How is she politically weak, as she served as an interim chairperson and was able to lead and sail the party through the turbulent waters upon the demise of the legendary Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad?
Whereas Dorothy Semu serves as the (supreme) party leader of ACT Wazalendo, a party that forms part of government in Zanzibar and holds the spot of the third biggest party nationally with about and over a million members national-wide and also holds the Vice Chairperson post at the Tanzania Center for Democracy (TCD); how is it therefore plausible to stress that she is politically weak, relatively unknown and lacks national recognition and political weight?
How is it that Dorothy Semu, who contested for the Party Leadership position and went into a serious in-party battle for the party’s “supreme” post, be characterised as non-competitive? And how is it possible and gender-ly unbiased to associate Dorothy Semu as soft and yet she recently faced the ruthless police heads on, as she demanded her right to attend the court, in show of solidarity to Tundu Lissu, her counterpart leader in opposition, who is facing most ridiculous and absurd charges.
Nothing but hypocrisy
I truly find it nothing but hypocritical that the critic and his gang take note of the fact that the presidential race is a powerful platform to influence public opinion, amongst others; and yet they do not see the value in Dorothy Semu, who has served within the party, risen ranks to the highest order, and has throughout the years charismatically publicized the party’s policies and ideology, to be an ideal presidential aspirant and contestant and utilize the presidential race in advocating for the party’s manifesto.
It is very unfortunate that the not so dear political critic and his gang have been so dispossessed by the spirit and curse of political nuisances, populist tendencies and political rhetorics and theatrics as the contemporary norm of Tanzanian politics.
READ MORE: ACT Wazalendo: Can Tanzania’s Left-Leaning Party Overcome the Odds to Challenge CCM in 2025?
As a parting shot, I find Macos Crabat’s argument and assertion to be so full of mediocrity. His suggestion that Zitto Kabwe is an ideal candidate defeats his own analysis of Dorothy Semu.
Whereas Dorothy Semu serves as the party’s leader and hence party’s image, it is thus reasonable to roundup that her character and tendencies shall apply to the party and its members. Hence, is it sound to dissect, how is it that a “qualified” Zitto is allowed to be led by an unqualified Dorothy?
Macos Crabat, his fellow critics and his alleged party insiders are depicting nothing but political cowardice. They should either “get a life” or opt to contest Dorothy Semu to settle the scores on her “softness and weakness.”
Huey Garvey is a pen name, describing himself as “a critic of his own; he does not mince words, tolerates nonsensical traits, gender bullies and distorters of facts.” Still, the opinions expressed here remain the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
