THE SHADOW OF A STICK CANNOT HIDE A PERSON

Adeladius Makwega – MBAGALA

 

A week ago, Mwanakwetu passed through Dodoma City, near the White House building of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). As he passed through the area, he noticed a large electronics shop nearby and decided to stop to buy a battery for his camera, after one of his previous batteries had run out of power.

 

Remember, taking photographs is one of the duties of a journalist. Therefore, a camera must have a strong and reliable battery.

 

Unfortunately, he could not find the battery he needed in that shop, so he decided to return the way he had come.

 

As he walked past the building, two major issues came to his mind.

 

The first was the period when Tanzania introduced the multiparty political system in 1992.

 

The Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF/JWTZ) had been part of the one-party system, and therefore personnel from the security organs were required to make a choice: politics or the military.

 

Some chose the military, while others chose politics. I have no intention of mentioning their names, although today some of them present themselves as major politicians. Yet, they are still military men and not civilians, because they retain their military ranks and continue to command considerable respect because of those positions.

 

During that same period, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi, in seeking to protect itself and ensure a separation between politics and the security organs, established the CCM National Leaders Protection Department. This was a very important department.

For those who remember, the department was established and began operating effectively. It helped separate party responsibilities from government responsibilities, because Tanzania is not a one-party state.

 

“When the President was engaged in party activities as the Chairman of CCM and was wearing CCM attire, all his security personnel were drawn from the CCM National Leaders Protection Department, which was responsible for protecting its leaders.”

 

To explain this matter further, according to my recollection, I believe this department was headed by retired Colonel Mhando, a gentleman from Tanga. I am not sure whether this former TPDF fighter is still alive. Anyone with accurate information about this, please let me know.

 

My reader, remember that Mwanakwetu was passing near this CCM building, and all these memories were coming back to him, while he carried one disappointment in his heart: he had failed to find the battery for his camera.

 

Mwanakwetu reflected that, in the past, whenever he came to Dodoma, he would enter this building because there were people he knew by name. Some he knew through UVCCM, while others were people who had chosen politics and left the military.

 

He had gone to school with many of them, particularly some of his older brothers who had preceded him in primary school and later in secondary school.

The issue of the Leaders Protection Department reminded Mwanakwetu of many things as he continued on his way. He began asking himself:

 

Does that department still exist, and is it carrying out its responsibilities properly? Why is the situation different today?

 

Mwanakwetu remembered:

Article 147(3) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977.

It states:

“It shall be prohibited for any member of the armed forces to join any political party, except that he shall have the right to vote as provided for under Article 5 of this Constitution.”

The question is simple:

Our fellow Tanzanians leave those security organs, yet they enter party meetings as legitimate delegates, even though others from the security and defence organs remain in active employment. Is this arrangement not contrary to the Constitution?

 

What, then, was the purpose of people such as Colonel Mhando being required to choose one path at that time?

This is because the rights of a political party member include attending party meetings and having the right to vote or be elected. For example, if you are a member of a District or Regional Political Committee, you have the right, in that meeting, to vote or to be elected.

 

A Regional Commissioner or District Commissioner in such a position effectively has a “ghost membership card.” When such an official becomes a member of a District or Regional Political Committee, he occupies one of the available positions in that Political Committee, taking away one political opportunity from us, the members of CCM.

 

This is not fair, and, in my view, it amounts to violating the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.

For those who remember, this is what happened and what eventually weakened the CCM National Leaders Protection Department, as well as diminishing the strength of the CCM National Green Guard.

And Mwanakwetu says:

This is not right.

 

There were people who said the following:

 

“This department was subjected to a great deal of political intrigue. First, what happened was that they created divisions among those young men who had left the military and entered politics by giving senior positions to people who had held lower ranks while they were in the military. For example, you know that Makwega was a Colonel when he was in the military, and then, in the Leaders Protection Department, you give a Captain a senior responsibility over a Colonel.

 

This created controversy, and the department eventually lost its strength. Many believe this was simply a strategy driven by vested interests. Now, those responsible for protecting leaders while remaining employed by the security organs participate in government meetings as well as party meetings, and this is not right.”

Here, we CCM members are talking about our party and about opportunities being taken away from us within our own party.

 

The situation was described this way:

“I think they realized that their allowances were declining because the CCM Leaders Protection Department had become strong. For example, when a presidential candidate was on the campaign trail, it was the CCM National Leaders Protection Department that was on duty throughout.”

 

Mwanakwetu says that doing things this way is not right.

 

The party hat and the government hat must be kept separate.

 

Young people within Chama Cha Mapinduzi should be given opportunities, while those serving in government through the security organs should perform government duties and protect leaders in their government responsibilities.

 

But when it comes to party activities, the Leaders Protection Department should carry out its responsibilities for party-related functions.

 

The decisions made in 1992 to separate politics from the defence and security organs must be respected.

 

Violating this principle is like hiding in the shadow of a stick, and, as the Swahili saying goes:

THE SHADOW OF A STICK CANNOT HIDE A PERSON.

CCM should stop hiding in the shadow of a stick.

My reader, remember I told you that I had two issues in mind.

The second issue remains for another day.

Mwanakwetu, are you there?

Remember:

“The Shadow of a Stick Cannot Hide a Person.”

Have a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com

0717649257