Why CCM nomination is shrouded in secrecy

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The CCM national chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, confers with Secretary-General Abdulrahman Kinana during the Central Committee meeting in Dodoma yesterday. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN 

Dodoma. Behind-the-scenes meetings to choose the CCM candidate for the presidency delayed the ruling party’s committee meetings for two days.

The top echelons of the party were apparently involved in negotiations with interested parties in the high-stakes nomination to forestall a split in the party.

Meetings to kick-start the process to nominate the party’s presidential flag-bearer were scheduled to start on Wednesday but it was not until yesterday that they finally began.

Meetings of the Ethics Committee, the Central Committee (CC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) had to be held on the same day (yesterday) due to the prolonged delay.

The three meetings are crucial as they are tasked to trim the 38 candidates who want to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete to just three to be picked for the final vote at the party’s congress.

CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary Nape Nnauye last night said it was possible the CC meeting could end well after midnight and would be followed by the NEC meeting today.

The party is facing one of its most challenging nominations, according to our sources, and was stuck in negotiations on how to deal with the stiff competition for the presidential ticket and successfully navigate the delicate process and avoid a fatal falling out.

After leaving journalists guessing their movements and timetable in the past two days, Mr Nnauye revealed on Thursday that a lot had taken place away from public scrutiny in an effort to reach a compromise.

Mr Nnauye earlier yesterday told reporters at the party headquarters in Dodoma that the meetings would finally kick off after behind-the-scenes consultations.

“Both the Ethics, CC and NEC committees meetings will be held today (yesterday) and the national delegates conference will go on as planned tomorrow (today),” said Mr Nnauye. President Kikwete chairs all the committee meetings.

According to Mr Nnauye, the delay was due to President Kikwete’s busy schedule. He is also the CCM national chairman.

The Head of State addressed Parliament before dissolving it on Thursday and also inaugurated the mega CCM Conference centre in the city. He was also involved in undisclosed consultations that took place at the Chamwino State Lodge.