Monduli MP, Edward Lowassa speaks after receives Commander of CCM youth wing (UVCCM) in Mbarali District, Mbeya region Ibrahimu Ismail Mwakabwang's, who leads Bodaboda delegation and friends of Lowassa after arrived at the MP home in Dodoma yesterday. Mr Lowassa, however, told a press conference here that he would no longer host groups of well wishers at his Dodoma residence until the ruling CCM clarifies the true meaning of an appeal made by its national chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, that people should approach those whom they think are fit for the presidency and convince them to vie for it.
Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa yesterday took a swipe at CCM publicity secretary Nape Nnauye for faulting him over hosting groups that supposedly want him to run for the presidency.
Mr Lowassa, however, told a press conference here that he would no longer host groups of well wishers at his Dodoma residence until the ruling CCM clarifies the true meaning of an appeal made by its national chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, that people should approach those whom they think are fit for the presidency and convince them to vie for it.
But the former PM added that those who wished to see him had the right to do so and should not be accused of harbouring any ulterior motives.
He spoke just a day after Mr Nnauye accused him of violating the party’s constitution on the procedures to follow on matters of presidential party nominations.
The CCM official attacked Mr Lowasa on Tuesday, saying that the latter was breaching the party’s code of conduct by receiving groups of people who since last weekend have been flocking to his residence here supposedly to convince him to seek party nomination for the country’s top job.
In his reaction, Mr Lowassa, who, however, did not mention Mr Nnauye by name, insisted that it was not proper for party officials to take matters regarding their members to public rallies or to the media; instead, such matters ought to be discussed in internal party meetings.
Mr Lowassa, who was quoted recently as saying that he has been convinced to vie for the top job by the support groups, said people who were pleading with him to pick the nomination forms were only responding to the call by President Kikwete that he made in Songea last month.
Mr Kikwete told a rally in Songea during the the ruling party’s 38th anniversary, that if members and supporters of CCM thought someone had all the requisite criteria and would be the best to sell to the electorate, they should persuade him to pick the forms.
“There’re many CCM members out there who don’t believe they qualify for the top seat, but I can tell you we’ll convince them so that we get the best and most acceptable candidate who will endear our party to the electorate,’’ he added, hinting that he was also advised by one of the CCM elders to seek the country’s highest post.
Speaking to reporters in Hai District on Tuesday, Mr Nnauye, who is currently on a tour to strengthen his party alongside the party’s Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana, said what Mr Lowassa was doing, was blatant disregard of the party’s code of conduct.
“Mr Lowassa understands that what he is currently doing is purely early campaigning. He is aware of what our constitution says about people who misbehave,’’ he was quoted by a section of the media as saying.
The ruling party tightened the lid on President Kikwete’s succession race by extending a campaign ban on six prominent party cadres who have shown interest to run for the presidency. Mr Lowassa was among them.
The citizen
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