Writes Leo Odera Omolo
The son of the Tanzania’s founding president Julius Kambarage Nyerere are among the political heavyweight whose names have been submitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi {CC for possible nomination to the East African Legislative Assembly {EALA}.
The nomination will take place in the political capital of Dodoma this after noon when Parliament resumed it sittings
The Clerk to the National Assembly Dr Thomas Kashilila confirmed last night that the CCM has proposed 24 names of candidates approved to contest the EALA eight seats positions apportioned to it, while the opposition parties represented in parliament have been allocated one seat bringing to nine ,the total number of equal East African Community partner states representation in the prestigious regional legislative body.
CCM ideology and publicity secretary Nap[e Nnanye confirmed that among CCM candidates are Makongoro Nyerere, the son of Tanzania founding president the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere who is the current CCM branch chairman in his North Mara region home turf.
Makongoro Nyerere’s entry into regional politics is expected by observers o rekindle Nyerere’s long cherished dream of a united and prosperous East Africa.
The election to the EALA has also aroused political interest because for the first time, it has attracted the sons of prominent former and sitting high profile ruling party CCM leaders.
Others names floated by the CCM for nomination included those of Abdallah Ali Mwinyi, sons of former president Ali Hassan Mwinyi, William John Malecela, son of the former Prime Minister and long serving Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs John Malecela, and Dr Said Gharib Bilal, who is related to the incumbent Vice President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal.
Other CCM aspirants are Ruth Blasio Msafiri,Shy-Rose Bhanji, Siraju Juma Kaboyonga,Angela Juma Kazigha, and Adam Omar Kmbisa. The list also includes Happyness Lukiko, Norah Petero Mukumi, Simon Sales Berege,Mrisho Gambo, Handley Mpoki Matwega, Nussa Elias Mnyeti, Safia Ali Rjiali and Maryam Ussi Yahya.
Others listed in the same CCM lists of recommended aspirants includes Rukia Seif Msellem, Sabah Saleh Ali, Haji Mwita Haji, Ahmada Hamad Khatib,Abdul-Aziz Abdul Aziz and Bennard Simon Murunya, while the opposition CHADEMA has submitted one name of its nominated Antony Ecalit Komu.
Political pundits commented that “ It would be worrying if the ordinary candidates would outshone the sons of the political heavyweights in this race’ But international trade lawyer Edward Lekaita was quoted as saying that MPs should not look at big names, but instead pick EALA MPs based on merit.
“The election is not about CHADEMA or CCM candidates, but I is about getting serious country representatives o the ambitions of the EAC integration process,”
Meanwhile Kenya’s nomination of representatives to the EALA is will be a clear departure from the past when they were hand-picked by political parties.
Candidates seeking nomination to the Arusha based regional parliament will now be scrutinized by the Defense and Foreign Relations Committee before being vote for by MPs with the Clerk of the National Assembly acting as a returning officer.
Ends