JK: Be patient as we assess aspirants for the top office

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Dodoma. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday asked CCM members seeking nomination as presidential candidates to bear with the party as it embarks on its vetting process.

In his last address to the National Assembly, Mr Kikwete said CCM top organs, including the Central Committee that was supposed to meet last night, had a mammoth task picking the best candidate out of the 38 who have qualified to put in a bid. “I congratulate all those who have shown an interest in replacing me in this House,” President Kikwete said. “They are so many and all are top leaders. I ask them to bear with us as we embark on the journey to evaluate them.”

The CCM Central Committee is expected to come up with five candidates, out of the 39, whose names will be forwarded to the National Executive Committee for consideration. The names of the top three will be submitted to the General Congress, which will vote for the party flag bearer in the 25 October General Election.

At the  same time, the President said he would sign the controversial oil and gas bills that Parliament endorsed last week immediately he receives them, despite criticism.

He broke his silence yesterday after choosing to keep mum for almost two weeks even as pressure continued mounting over the Petrol Bill and the Oil and Gas Revenue Management Bill. The two Bills were tabled in Parliament under Certificate of Urgency.

Tanzania has recorded a remarkable achievement in gas discoveries, the Head of State said, and it needs laws to cover drilling, production, transportation and distribution of gas. Mr Kikwete noted: “The natural gas will help to strengthen the development of our country and do away with poverty. The only way to do this is to ensure that the government  implements the plan smoothly.” 

With the oil and gas policies already drafted, the President said, it was high time the country put in place laws to govern natural resources. He thanked MPs for passing the Bills and gave an assurance that he would sign them the moment they land on his desk. 

Mr Kikwete also took a swipe at those opposed to the Bills, saying the Petroleum Bill would help resolve grievances to do with the Union. “Those disputing this bill do not wish this country well and they have ill motives to our Union,” he added.

There were few opposition MPs in the House when Mr Kikwete was addressing the National Assembly.

Opposition lawmakers walked out and left for Dar es Salaam in solidarity with more than 40 MPs who were thrown out of the august House following the emotional protests against the tabling of the disputed Bills.

This is a replay of the 2010 inauguration, when opposition MPs largely drawn from Chadema walked out of the debating chamber as the newly sworn-in Head of State gave his speech before the start of official business.

The Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament, Mr Freeman Mbowe, said last weekend that it would weigh heavily on their consciences to take part in a flawed process meant to rob the country of its natural resources.