2014, the year that threatened to tear nation apart: experts

Mama Maria Nyerere greets President Jakaya Kikwete upon his arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport from the US where he underwent a prostrate cancer surgery. Above: Foreign suspects in drug trafficking at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court. PHOTOS |FILE 

By By Bernard Lugongo The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.

Dar es Salaam. Commentators have described the year 2014 as politically difficult with a lot of challenges that threatened to tear the country apart. They singled out the Tegeta escrow account scandal as well as the writing of a new constitution as two serious issues that polarised the country.

But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.

Ukawa, an outfit born out of protests against the ruling party’s (Chama Cha Mapinduzi -- CCM) use of tyranny of numbers in the Constituent Assembly (CA), has grown stronger turning into what revolutionary politicians term a force to be reckoned with.

Ukawa, which stands for Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi or Coalition of defenders of people’s Constitution was formed after opposition political parties realised that separately they could hardly challenge CCM in determining important features of the Proposed Constitution.

It was first formed by three parties – Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Civic United Front (CUF) and NCCR-Mageuzi while the National League for Democracy (NLD) joined at a later date.

But it seems that the parties have noted the advantage of working together and they have in principle agreed to extend their unity beyond the constitution making process to other political activities such as elections.

Commentators who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday concur that this move has turned out to be a bad omen to the ruling CCM, which has started to find the going tough.

Some political commentators and members of the disbanded Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday recently said despite the challenges, major events which occurred in 2014 have given the country a new good direction, notably in the political arena.

Prof Mwesiga Baregu, a member of the disbanded CRC, said though that the year had a good beginning because the decision to write a new constitution had been made.

“However, its end became unfortunate, featuring political conflicts and divisions with people seemingly to losing hope in acquiring a new mother law as they desired it. This gives bad direction as far as the constitution making process is concerned,” Prof Baregu said.

Political lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Benson Bana, was of the views that the year was engulfed by a lot of challenges that signalled political changes. The writing of the new constitution that gave birth to Ukawa was a significant event, he said.

Dr Bana said Ukawa would give CCM a run for its money, thus improving political scenes in the country as people prepare to elect their top leaders in October in the General Election.